05/22/13
The end of excuses and victimization
BY: Armstrong Williams
The end of excuses and victimization culture
I may be hard on the President, mainly because we differ greatly on political ideology, but I must give him all due respect for the commencement speech he gave at Morehouse College. He laid it bare and told the students of the historically black all male school that there are no more excuses.
Many of the graduates came from broken homes, neighborhoods, and communities. They had every deck stacked against them and every excuse to fall into a cycle of crime, prison, and absentee fatherhood; yet they did not.
They made a choice to work harder, to be their best self. They were determined to become winners.
And standing before them was a perfect example of why we have no real reason we cannot succeed- the President himself. A man that those embracing victimhood said could never exist: a black president.
Simply put, President Obama represents the end of excuses and victimization culture.
05/20/13
The dangers of Big Government
BY: Armstrong Williams
The dangers of Big Government
Logistics alone make it impossible for a government to solve every citizen’s problem. Yet, a bigger government is expected to do just that.
Big government is inflexible; it cannot respond to priorities because, over time, there are too many competing priorities. The greater the bureaucracy grows the more it becomes impersonal, wasteful, over-stretched, and difficult to reign in.
Furthermore, big government does not trust you to know how best to run your life, yet other imperfect beings are somehow capable of properly directing your life as soon as they are employed by the government. People are fallible, and so is the state.
If liberals are right about the role of government, then how did these scandals happen? Do we truly need more government to stop these things from happening?
05/17/13
Cyber Security
BY: Armstrong Williams
Cyber Security
We can relate to the hate from the Nazis to the Ku Klux Klan . However, we have no perspective of the hate that the Middle East, Russians, and Chinese have for the American way of life. This hatred fuels there desire to leverage mass cyber attacks to steal our IP. They would like no more than to disrupt our nation critical infrastructure and steal our cash. The weapons they use are not AK47 but are cyber sophisticated cyber attacks that we are not prepared to defend.
Discussions about cyber defense or computer network defense tend to focus on only one aspect of the cyber opertional spectrum---defensive responses and actions on the network. Likewise, discussions about intelligence in support of the defensive mission are often limited to the network activity itself, as if it were a self-generating activity. It is not. Network activity comprises merely a portion of total activity influencing operations in cyberspace. Furthermore, network activity represents only one level of cyber defense and intelligence activities in support of it. Moreover, actions at this level are typically reactive and generally occur only after the adversary is already "inside the wire". Ultimately, network activity and behavior is driven by human interaction and has a story of intent that can be told.
05/16/13
Weaponizing the IRS
BY: Armstrong Williams
Weaponizing the IRS
President Obama is either sleeping on the job or deceiving us. He claims not to have known about the IRS scandal before the American people, and for now we should give him the benefit of the doubt. He also claims that he had no prior knowledge of the AP scandal until the public was made aware. Long ago he also lay claim to be unaware of the "Fast and Furious" gun trafficking. Finally he didn't know about Benghazi until much later in the developing story. We the People deserve a president who his on top of critical developments in his administration. In most organizations the CEO is responsible and takes full responsibility for what happens. In the Benghazi affair former Secretary of State Clinton took the fall. Yesterday the acting IRS commissioner who was scheduled to resign in two weeks before this disaster, took the fall. The president has a habit of blaming other subordinates before being forced to accept full responsibility .
Remember during the last presidential race the IRS was accused of leaking Romney's tax records to the Obama campaign. Unfortunately using the IRS as a weapon against political enemies has a long history in our nation. Do the American people truly want to place Obamacare in the trust of the IRS ?
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05/14/13
Immigration and a nation of laws
BY: Armstrong Williams
Immigration
I’ve heard the argument that we must choose between giving illegals a free ticket or risk shutting down the economy. This is just not true. It’s a false choice to argue that we either give illegals a free ticket here in the US, or force the economy to shut down. First of all, an argument can be made that illegals drain the economy as much as they stimulate it. Secondly, claiming that Americans will not perform certain cheap labor is both erroneous and insulting. Americans have a vast history of performing hard work for low pay and there’s no proof that they wouldn’t continue that tendency today. Furthermore, this claim insults both the American (you’re a fat cat) and the undocumented worker (you’re not worthy of a real job). Merely talking about this aspect of the immigration debate encourages racism, bigotry, and a return to a class society.
No one with half a heart wants to separate families, but this is a nation of laws, not of feel-good policies. Without a solid system in place, nobody will respect the law. And the problems stemming from illegal immigration today are a perfect example of why we create and enforce tough laws. The reality is that under proposed legislation put forth by republicans, illegals will eventually be able to reunite with their family in the US. After an illegal comes forth, documents their work, pays a fine, and returns to their country, they will be able to legally come back to America to work and join their family. This legislation will improve national security, give relief to tax payers, and ensure that immigrants truly become part of American society.
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05/10/13
Focus
BY: Armstrong Williams
Focus
Education goes beyond formal education. Success also requires learning on the job so that a person constantly improves skills to add more value to his employer, clients, patients, audience and customers.
Commitment is another ingredient of perspiration. “When times get tough, the tough get going.” Successful people do not let barriers, difficulties or failure discourage them. Commitment requires a positive attitude. Commitment also means putting business, profession obligations, and study before conflicting temptations of pleasure and leisure. A student going to a frat party the night before his medical school exam is probably not committed to being a doctor.
Focus keeps the successful on track. It is rare for a person to be good at everything at the same time. For example very few successful professional athletes can pursue a career in the learned professions at the same time. Successful research scientists are rarely professional actors at the same time. Successful entrepreneurs focus on industries that they know best whether it is computers, software, electronics, real estate or entertainment.
Hard work both literally and metaphorically results in perspiration. The successful athlete must constantly challenge his ability in practice to be successful. A natural boxer who does not practice will lose to the less gifted athlete who practices constantly to hone his strength and skill. I am in the gym 4:30 am and arrive at my office every day by 6:00 am and leave at 7:08 pm. There is a constant sign in my mind as I work and network throughout the day: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” "The more I pray and choose not to yield to temptation, the more at peace and confident I become."
05/09/13
Signs when the economy is improving
BY: Armstrong Williams
Signs when the economy is improving
Last week the unemployment rate dropped to 7.5%, the lowest in four years and housing sales are appearing to gain strength. Yesterday the down jones industrial average closed above 15000 and the political academic community is jumping up and down with euphoria. They are inferring that the economy has made a rebound. This may appear to be good news but look at the underlying fundamentals. On unemployment the participation rate is still at a record low. The unemployment rate is improving primarily because baby boomers are retiring and withdrawing from the labor force. Housing sales and prices are improving not because Americans are making more money, but because the feds are printing more money.
The actual median family income has declined over the last several years. The dow jones has climb above 15000, because the fed has printed money which has driven interest rates to record lows. For example two year treasury notes are .23%. The only reason money has gone into the stock market is because it gets no return from being held in banks.
As a businessman I will be convinced of an economic recovery when several things happen. First, the labor participation rate, or the number of Americans working actually increases. 2. When average earnings for the median family actually increase. 3. When housing prices increase, because Americans are making more money and not because banks are lending them cheap money. Finally, when the federal budget deficit is below 3% of the GNP.
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05/08/13
SC media bias against Mark Sanford
BY: Armstrong Williams
SC Media bias against Mark Sanford
The bias media elite was trumpeting for the past week that SC congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch was leading former SC Governor Mark Sanford by a margin of 10%. The headlines declared that Sanford's adulterous history had finally come back with a vengeance, that he could no longer overcome to win the SC 1st Congressional district race. I will state it on this page again and again, that those manipulated advantages peddled by the media, were all pure unadulterated lies. Mrs. Busch never had a chance in defeating Mr. Sanford and it didn't matter how much money Pelosi and the Democratic machine poured in the race, the results would be the same, a resounding victory for the former Governor.
We wonder why many don't trust the media and pollsters. The SC congressional race is a fine and adequate example. If you want your candidate to win, continue spreading lies about the poll numbers and hopefully soon enough the perceived ill informed voter will believe you and vote for the candidate, such as Mrs. Elizabeth Colbert Busch. It didn't happen good folks, for we the people will allow them to think we're stupid and on judgement day give these hustlers a grim reality check. Congratulations Mark Sanford for your recent victory.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 6-7 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/07/13
Moral Laws
BY: Armstrong Williams
Moral Laws
Throughout our history we have had moral laws. "Some call them absolutes," naively claiming that, like the law of gravity, they're incontrovertible and, whether divinely delivered or intrinsic to the human experience, cannot be broken----should not be broken. Those on the other side of the perennial debate say there's no such thing as a moral absolute; what's right and wrong is not black and white, but situational and culturally driven. Everything is relative; what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander; your god is not my god; that's your truth, not mine.
Clearly though everyone of us has a stake in everyone else's moral lives. This isn't to justify to justify a state governed by Big Brother with a tattletale populace. Far from it. I'm a free-market conservative who believes in individual responsibility and accountability. What I'm calling for is an individual-by-individual look inward that focuses on the outward impact of our daily decisions to act morally. If we don't do this, I'm afraid the very existence of our society is at risk. This nation has been the engine for the greatest good----freedom, justice, human rights and financial opportunity----in the history of man. We must not allow moral decay and sloth to rot us from the inside
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05/02/13
Jason Collins: New Media Sensation
BY: Armstrong Williams
Jason Collins: New Media Sensation
Jason Collins has gone from a player with few fans to hundreds of thousands in a flash. His twitter subscribers alone jumped from 4000 to over 100,000 in a day. Most of his new fans only like him now, because of his announcement. To me, that is as absurd as liking a person only based on the color of their skin. But be that as it may, Collins is now THE spokesman for gay athletes in America- past, present, and future.
And now that he has made his private life public, that will be exploited for gossip- who is he dating, is he marching in this parade, is he properly representing the gay community.
Hopefully, Collins has the fortitude to stand up under this intense scrutiny.
for me personally, I do not care about Jason Collins’s sexuality, and neither should you. Rather, I care that Jason is a good person, son, brother, and teammate. That is all that really matters.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 6-7 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/01/13
We are gift's to each other
BY: Armstrong Williams
We are gift's to each other
Good morning to the many faithful's that read my daily blog that is posted on this site. Just know that I personally read every post daily and often cringe at many of the responses. I am just amazed at how no matter what issue I am writing about, many of our highly intelligent members always find a way to inject race and make it the answer. This experience has taught me the best lessons in patience, tolerance, and reinforcing the strength of my own values and out look on life. The best part is when often I am at my wits end someone will write in with total agreement and just shock my sensibilities into realizing that progress is a slow but worthy endeavor. This continues to be a blessing for me and it's often reflected in my TV appearances, live syndicated radio broadcasts, and my writings. While this page can be a tough dose of medicine, I continue to remain grateful for your honesty and willingness to express what you feel, despite the sometime respectful but hostile opposition on this page.
Tolerance is measured by how you deal with those who are different from you and your peers. It is revealed by not acting on some prejudice and discriminating in a negative fashion, and dedicating yourself to treating your fellow men and women with respect, compassion and understanding. This does not mean that one has to like everyone or agree with their often bizarre views of the world. We all have the right not to like another person. Tolerance also means accepting those feelings respectfully and moving on with your lives. By showing greater tolerance and even forgiveness of those who are different, we hold a mirror up to their own beliefs. In doing so, they come to see that we aren't so different, that everyone is a fallible human being with his or her own dreams and troubles.
Whether we realize it now or later, but we are truly gifts to each other. Enjoy your day.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 6-7 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
04/30/13
President Obama's FAA miscalculations
BY: Armstrong Williams
President Obama's FAA miscalculations
Why did President Obama need Congress to micro manage the FAA? The President of the United States has unimagined authority in allocating spending within various budget categories. Why would Mr. Obama not recognize that commercial air travel is one of those essential services provided by our Federal Government? The inconvenience of air travel delays transcends the individuals involved in the delays. Air travel is one of the life bloods of commerce in America. Our president should have realized this before the FAA cuts of Air Traffic Controllers was implemented. He should have exercise the wisdom to allocate money from other budget items so that this essential service was not disrupted. Thank you Congress for forcing the issue.
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04/29/13
Eco agitators
BY: Armstrong Williams
Eco agitators
The eco-agitators are forever uncomfortable with man's dominion over the earth. For them, man is a virus, endlessly programmed to consume and waste. They grow alarmed as man sucks the marrow from his host environment, plucking all of her fruit and casually belching poisons into the air. They warn that our factory toxins are burning holes in the sky. They reel off any number of doomsday scenarios: tidal shifts that will send small Third World villages careening into the sea; famine; disease; changes in global climate so pervasive that fat men start walking around with their shirts off - frightening indeed. The eco-agitators are on a mission to save the earth. They bind their bodies to trees here. They spout rhetoric into Radio Shack megaphones there. Sensible people point out that the earth is not so easily subdued. And indeed, it is true that much of the eco-doomsday scenarios are based upon loose conjecture and anachronistic statistics that fail to take into account current - or even comprehensive long-term - trends. Never mind that even the most fundamental procedure of measuring air quality involves a host of variables (environmental wild cards if you will) that leave a lot of gray area.
Since doomsday scenarios make for engaging headlines, the eco-agitators tend to dominate the printed space. Far less attention is paid to the fact that the world population has actually been ebbing over the past four decades, thus discrediting all of those straight line projections that had the global population exceeding its own food supply and exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Much of the hubbub about a holocaust on our trees was similarly exaggerated. In fact, global forest cover has actually increased over the last half century None of which is to say that pollution is of little concern. Plainly, the wonton destruction of our environment represents a crime against our quality of life. However, if we are to divert funding from childcare, hospitals, etc., to the environment, we ought to have a clear, present and absolutely unambiguous understanding of how our national interests will be served. We ought not rush to judgment based upon exaggeration. After all, two decades ago scientists were warning that a new ice age was upon us. Now they claim that the oceans will rise and temperatures around the globe will increase significantly, severely altering life, as we know it. Apocalyptic hooey? Maybe. The dilemma is over whether we wait and carefully gather and calmly analyze as much data as we can and then make a levelheaded prognosis, or do we blindly rush in? The answer is self-evident: Contrary to the example set by the eco-agitators, we should avoid letting passion and rhetoric take over the reins of science.
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04/25/13
Republicans and Racism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Republicans and Racism
In the United States, if you’re a Republican, the left considers you a racist by default, almost no matter what you say or do. If you’re a Democrat, your colleagues on the right think you can say or do almost anything no matter how offensive, and get away with it, virtually guaranteed never to be called a racist.
I bet – and it’s crazy to have to think this way – that whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, when you read the paragraph above, you probably agreed with it. The Republican readers probably thought to themselves “How sad it is that my economic and social conservatism makes me a de facto racist;” and you Democratic readers probably thought, “Exactly!” “Republicans are all racist and I’m not and couldn’t possibly be.” So by now you’re wondering what exact point am I trying to make.
Tolerance or rather the lack thereof, is my point. By automatically labeling one whole segment of the political spectrum as racist, the left has attempted to delegitimize all conservative thought. It’s a red herring. Rather than listen to and consider the true merits or flaws of conservatism, especially in regards to how policies will affect minorities, every idea is labeled as racially insensitive and therefore, inherently bad. The virtue of tolerance demands that you check your prejudices at the door and consider the person and their beliefs based on their merits not on your potential biases. We ask that all people do this when dealing with someone of a different race or ethnic background, yet how quickly we forget to exercise the same ideawhen discussing politics.
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04/24/13
China and Japan, please pay attention
BY: Armstrong Williams
China and Japan, please pay attention
Tensions between China and Japan have increased nearly to the boiling point this past week. The simmering dispute is over a few rather insignificant Islands in the sea that separates. This dispute is escalating to new levels as China threatens to invade Islands Japan has occupied since 1972.
If China and Japan were to engage in even a minor altercation in the world's economic market place, everyone around the globe will be impacted. Both of these economic power houses have had setbacks in recent years but both are beginning to recover .
If the sea lanes between China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula become hostile territory and patrolled by Military vessels, whose captains trigger fingers are close to their ships weapons, a great deal of the world's international commerce which passes through this region will be significantly impacted. The international stock markets which we discovered yet again yesterday, reacts violently to rumors, let alone real news could drop the market precipitously . This will trigger hundreds of billions of dollars in losses to people's savings accounts and pension funds.
Just as the single shot in Sarajevo against the Arch Duke Ferdinand set off world war I, the flash point of these Islands also become the trigger to a much wider conflict, than just merely some dispute between China and Japan.
Secretary of State Kerry rather than embarrassing the United States on the Obama administration periodic apology tour, should be concentrating his time and efforts diffusing this dispute. The congress should question and perhaps hold hearings asking the Department of State what they are doing to act as an intermediary between these two Pacific super powers.
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04/23/13
Why is Labor force participation rate so low?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why is Labor force participation rate so low ?
Ten thousand baby boomers are retiring daily. You turn 66 and retire. These baby boomers are not being replaced at the same rate by new workers entering the workforce.
There are many discouraged workers who have been unemployed a long time and see the prospect for employment as not being promising. This could include working couples . One member is employed and the other decide it's not worth seeking a job . It includes students who decide to stay in school rather than work. It includes people who are working part time jobs but are not looking for full time employment. It also includes individuals who have been out of work for two years and no longer must show at the unemployment office to get their unemployment insurance.
People are more likely to enter the labor force when times are good rather than when times are bad.
This is the fifth year of this recession/anemic recovery. In my business career of 30 plus years I have never seen a period of economic pessimism as pervasive as it is today.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 6-7 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
04/22/13
Liberty and Justice for all
BY: Armstrong Williams
Liberty and Justice for all
Recently someone asked me why do Blacks overwhelmingly support President Obama. My reply was simple. Historically blacks have been oppressed and have not felt as though any one in power represented them. President Obama represents to them an opportunity to identify in a positive way with the essence of power. Therefore they cannot separate the emotional and pride component from the enthusiastic support of the individual. This does not mean that blacks are unthinking or intellectually challenged when it comes to voting, rather it imply they are human beings as everyone else. They are subject to the same emotions and likely to react in the same ways.
Just look closely at the Jewish community and even today for the better part they keep their business within their community and many of the close higher tier executives they hire are also Jewish. Does that mean the Jewish community are prejudice or non thinking in terms of their hiring, association, and prideful practices? There may be some component of preference associated with the fact that people are more comfortable with those people and those things in which they are familiar. There is no reason to expect that many blacks would not react in the same way or any other ethic group. There are still a segment of White Americans who will only vote and hire whites in this nation for the same reasons. Many would term this racism while others see it as pride or voting for that which they are familiar with.
In many ways some feel that blacks should emulate the Jewish model of keeping and turning the dollar over in their own community at least a few times before it goes out into the larger community. This is in fact how wealth is built. As the wealth is built it is important for the beneficiaries to extend a hand up to those who made it possible for them to become wealthy.
All of this is not to justify preferential treatment or emotional voting but rather to explain it. We should still continue to work towards a color blind society with liberty and justice for all.
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04/19/13
A Terrifying thought
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Terrifying thought
It is definitely feasible that Americans committed the bloody crime at the Boston marathon, especially when you consider their willingness to shoot innocent people in US movie theatres and elementary schools. If and only if the assassins turn out to be Americans, what is shocking is the apparent sophistication in carrying out the attack. Assembling the bombs, timing them to detonate near simultaneously, this indicates a level of sophistication that set it apart from run of the mill violent crimes committed in this country.
This may indicate the next phase in our fight against terrorists, rather than journeying from abroad to strike us, they may be our neighbors living right next door to us. This is truly a terrifying thought.
04/18/13
Gun vote, the right vote
BY: Armstrong Williams
Gun vote, the right vote
Imagine a nation where the people have come to feel so victimized by gun violence that they give up trying to stop criminals. Imagine the President of the United States hauling in victims of gun violence on Air force One, using them as props for his misguided agenda. The already devastated family members from New town and across the country are the most easily identifiable emotional symbol of this administration, to pass gun legislation that will have no impact on the violence in the short or long run. To these frightened souls, it feels good to yell ad hominem attacks at Members of Congress after yesterday's vote . It feels good to vent their fears. Mainstream media, both TV and print, tell sad and compelling stories about how innocents are gunned down across our nation, to convince we the people that the solution is more gun control legislation.
Other people empathize with their stories. They too have seen the destruction that these weapons can wreak, and they’re fed up with the gun problem. The media manipulate them into blaming gun manufacturers and the NRA for funneling handguns into poor, urban and Suburban areas where they often end up in the hands of criminals. According to the liberal school of thought, negligent marketing by gun manufacturers is turning minority and now suburban communities into “war zones.”
These people feel as if they’re empowering themselves. In reality, they are merely embracing a sort of all-encompassing narrative that places the onus of responsibility for gun violence solely on gun manufacturers — as opposed to the criminals who are actually pulling the triggers.
That is not to say gun violence is not a serious problem. Plainly it is. But a bigger problem lies in an implicit message that the NRA, Republicans and gun manufacturers are responsible for gun violence, a message that we are all victims.
We should congratulate and commend the US Senator's last night, who had the courage to defy the President and political correctness to make a principle and courageous vote.
04/16/13
How do we respond to terrorist ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
How do we respond to Terrorist
How do we achieve order following an unprecedented attack recently during the Boston Marathon ? Sometimes, we make ourselves feel more secure by attacking other tribes around us. This has been the way that humans have traditionally come to terms with their resentments. For the past 200 years, America has attempted something different. Rather than kill or convert those who are different from us, we have sought to secure their basic rights, then draw strength from our common humanity. Perhaps this is the best explanation as to why these attacks must be treated not as criminal assaults, but as acts of war against humanity. Accordingly, the United States must break from recent practice and assign blame not only to the individual terrorists, but to the anti-human governments that support, train and shield these zealots. Our freedoms make America an easy target for individual terrorists. Jail a few, more will follow. We must continue to obliterate the networks that nurture these organizations. This will involve more than an isolated strike. It will necessitate a world coalition dedicated to rooting out and destroying these insidious, anti-human terrorist groups. But, at home, there will be an equally important test: to avoid peddling broad ethnic hate; to avoid hurling rocks at mosques, or blaming Rightwing groups. This can be the only reaction from a nation grounded in the Bill of Rights. Our response must be that of a unified nation. We cannot allow fear to blacken our hearts or for hate to erode our common humanity. If we separate in anger and prejudice, than the terrorists will have won. I do not wish to give them such a victory.
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04/15/13
Entrepreneurship
BY: Armstrong Williams
Entreprenuership
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career fields are booming, yet blacks are graduating fewer and fewer into these fields. They are not quick payoff careers, but are a clear path into the upper middle class or higher. Many students claim these fields are intimidating in their perceived difficulty, but is that more intimidating than a life of low paying, menial jobs?
But more visible mentors opening learning centers will only do so far if we do not encourage our children at home. In all other ethnic communities you can see parents and communities fostering kids’ interests in STEM and business. When I look around most of the black communities, I do not see any urgency to inspire kids in such disciplines, rather I see ridicule and disinterest and pressure to find that magic lottery ticket. Many of the businesses in the inner city and urban communities are dominated by Koreans, Asians, Chinese and families from the Caribbean. These family's are usually intact with a two parent house hold, education is essential, teenage pregnancy is rare, church is critical and they encourage and instill a culture of entrepreneurship in their children.
The pathologies that continue to erode the black family and community has to stop. We must take matters into our own hands and make a change. It is critical that African American congregations on Sunday's encourages their members towards entrepreneurship and ownership and discourage looking to the government and uncle Sam as their source of existence.
04/12/13
Morality is the nucleus of all things
By: Armstrong Williams
Morality is the nucleus of all things
It does not matter what social institution, system, organization or cause- it will stand or fall based on the moral integrity of its members or the threat of coercion. I challenge you to come up with a third way of creating successful, safe interactions among members of the human race. Whether the system is small – i.e., a Craigslist transaction between two people who have never met before – or as large as the People’s Republic of China, every endeavor has to be embarked upon with a minimal expectation that all involved will act morally. Otherwise, the Hobbesian maxim that life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” would indeed be true. No one wants that kind of life. It follows, then, that the best way to ensure the survival of the human race is to perpetuate and strengthen the moral code that has allowed us to flourish thus far.
04/05/13
Where are the Entrepreneurs in the Black Community?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Where are the Entrepreneurs in the Black Community ?
Conventional entrepreneurs are rare in the minority community. Many people who are intelligent and academically motivated are encouraged to join the learned profession or work for government and big business. Rarely does young African Americans are encouraged to start a small business or become entrepreneurs. As a result the number of African American businesses in black neighborhoods have significantly declined over the last 50 years. The number of African Americans involved in Silicon Valley start ups is minuscule. Why are there many Asian, Korean, Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs running small businesses in the African American community? Why are these same groups well represented in the startups of Silicon Valley ? There is something in the African American culture that does not encourage it's young to become entrepreneurs. Is it the family or the break down of traditional family ? Is it the weakening ties of religion ? Is it affirmative action which makes it less risky for young African Americans to look for jobs in big business, government, and the professions ? Is it the political leadership which encourages permanent dependency? Or is the victim mentality so prevalent that it demoralizes young people from taking risk ? This community needs to reassess and think seriously about what will encourage young people to become small business owners and entrepreneurs.
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04/04/13
Rethinking Economics
BY: Armstrong Williams
Rethinking economics
We need to rethink economics. When most economist talk about stimulating the economy they refer to fiscal policy of spending and taxation; monetary policy including supply of money and interest rates; investment in capital ; and labor, including wage policy and training. I think economist need to broaden their vision. Culture is a key ingredient to economics. This goes back to Max Weber in "Protestantism and the spirit of capitalism". Weber recognize that certain cultural attributes promoted a strong economy. These included the postponement of gratification and concern for the future. In Western culture today we no longer are willing to postpone gratification. Gratification must be instant. With the breakdown of the family Westerners, including American's are less concerned about the economic impact of their current actions on future generations. These are cultural issues and not economic issues that impact the economy in very critical ways, including low saving rates; not investing in the future in such things as infrastructure and education. There is more spending on the older rather than the younger generation. Individuals are willing to trade individual responsibility and freedom for the siren song of government dependency and security.
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04/03/13
Returning to the Virtuous path
BY: Armstrong Williams
Returning to the virtuous path
To all my fellow travelers along the road of life
who have at some point or another fallen asleep at the wheel,
to all those who woke up in time to avert disaster
and get back on the righteous path,
to those who crashed and survived,
and to those who now adhere vigilantly to a virtuous path
because they know it is only the price one pays
for true and lasting freedom. (From my book Reawakening Virtues).
Just spoke with SC former Governor Mark Sanford and congratulated him on his landslide victory last night in the Republican primary run off, for the 1st district of Charleston, SC. It is a blessing when "we the people" can look beyond an individuals fault and continue to see their good. I have known Mark for 25 years and can tell you emphatically that despite his past adulterous behavior, he's one of the finest and most gentle individuals I have ever known.
I too was given another chance in my profession after my controversial No Child Left Behind in 2004. Like Mark we all learn how to better humans and without a doubt our wisdom, judgement, and discernment grows exponentially. There are many lessons we can learn when we fall from grace and are blessed to find our way back through grace and mercy.
Just ecstatic that he won again and that any of us who have fallen or will fall know that there is always the possibility of redemption and greater success; if and only we critically self examine our choices, motives, and learn from our valley experience.
04/02/13
Republicans and racism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Republicans and racism
In the United States, if you’re a Republican, the left considers you a racist by default, almost no matter what you say or do. If you’re a Democrat, your colleagues on the right think you can say or do almost anything – no matter how offensive – and get away with it, virtually guaranteed never to be called a racist.
I bet – and it’s crazy to have to think this way – that whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, as you read the above paragraph, you likely agreed with it. You Republican readers probably thought to yourselves, “You’re right. How sad that my economic and social conservatism makes me a de facto racist;” and you Democratic read- ers probably thought, “Exactly! Republicans are all racist and I’m not and couldn’t possibly be. Your point is?”
Tolerance, or rather the lack thereof, is my point. By automati- cally labeling one whole segment of the political spectrum as racist, the left has attempted to delegitimize all conservative thought. It’s a red herring. Rather than listen to and consider the true merits or flaws of conservatism, especially in regards to how policies will affect minorities, every idea is labeled as racially insensitive and therefore, inherently bad.
The virtue of tolerance demands that you check your prejudices at the door and consider the person and their beliefs based on their merits. We ask that all people do this when dealing with someone of a different race, yet how quickly we forget to exercise the same ideal when discussing politics.
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03/29/13
Good Friday reflections
BY: Armstrong Williams
Good Friday reflections
As Christians, we feel comfortable with other Christians. We feel safety in worshipping together. We feel peace in socializing together. And we feel righteousness in standing against those who seek to bring moral and ethical decay to the culture of this nation. But is it enough to just stand together? Is it enough to just stand against? Should we not also, as Christ did, reach out to those who believe and behave differently from us? When was the last time you saw someone in desperation and extended your hand?
We should not make the mistake of thinking that those who believe and behave differently from us cannot be good people. It is too easy to say that those who believe as we do are good and those who believe otherwise are bad. That worldview, while convenient and expedient, is compassionless and ill conceived.
Christians must reach out to those who do not believe. We must provide an example that will inspire others to follow. We must see the good in others. We must condemn behavior and not people. We have nothing to fear in reaching out. Those who believe differently will not shake our beliefs. Those who act differently will not change our behavior. As long as we are grounded in faith, we can walk securely with anyone, anywhere.
03/28/13
Progressive definitions
BY: Armstrong Williams
Progressive definitions
If we were to open up the New Progressive’s Dictionary and Thesaurus, you would probably see the following definitions:
Knuckle dragger- a Christian Conservative.
Racist- anyone that did not vote for Obama or even disagrees with an Obama administration policy.
Bigot- everyone in the GOP; also every Christian
Pro-life- Conservative codeword for justifiable misogyny
2nd Amendment Proponents- slack jawed yokels who hate children.
Intolerance- Anyone that believe something we do not.
Marriage- Monotheistic method of oppression against same sex couples, who will someday soon become the standard bearer of what a marriage should be.
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03/27/13
Too much Government
BY: Armstrong Williams
Too much Government
One has to either make enough money that income taxes do not matter, find loopholes so one does not have to pay taxes, or become so poor that the government will throw every program and benefit available in the system.
Our system is now growing the class divide in a way that segregation never did. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer, and there is no room in between for those who want to make an honest living and live comfortably. We are split into a society of “haves” and “have-nots” like many living in the segregated South were split into whites and colored.
If we enable those in the lower-class to succeed through economic empowerment, we can enable those disenfranchised to build businesses and succeed as leaders in their community.
03/26/13
The Challenges of Affordable Care
The challenges of affordable care
BY Armstrong Williams
One of the biggest challenges of the affordable care act is the fact is that it is not affordable. With each passing day more details are revealed in a 2500 page monstrosity that is a bureaucrats dream but a patients nightmare. The cost of insurance per family is suppose to drop significantly but instead has gone up by more than $2500 per family.
The number of physicians in a recent survey that are planning early retirement because of the affordable care act has risen to 60%. Not only is there an issue of money but there is also an issue of who is going to care for the additional 30 million people who have been placed on the societal rolls.
One of the major pillars of our current healthcare systems are insurance company's that profit by denying people care. This is a fundamental conflict of interest that has not been addressed in a meaningful way in the affordable care act. Unless we address these fundamental flaws we are truly just wasting time and money. Another glaring omission is tort reform, which was excluded because the trial lawyers association is a powerful lobby with great influence over the administration. The fear of malpractice suits leads to defensive medicine which drives the cost up for everyone in a very significant manner. Also medical malpractice lawsuits jog our legal system and negatively impact medical resources, which must spend time addressing cases which in the vast majority of instances are found to have no merit.
This will perhaps be the best example in history of how rampant out of control government bureaucracy can destroy a previously functional system. This is not to say that healthcare reform was not necessary, but needs to be done in a rational and efficient way and not just done for the sake of doing it. If we can learn that lesson perhaps the whole exercise may have been worthwhile.
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03/22/13
It's time we demand greater accountability
The Beltway fat-cats must be held accountable for wasteful
BY: Armstrong Williams
Who are we kidding? The DC area has 6 of the 10 richest counties in America surrounding it. Most of these folks working in government or lobbying did not get rich looking out for the best interests of the American people; they got that way taking advantage of a system that promotes wasteful spending.
It’s time we demand greater accountability.
While both parties are out there pointing fingers at each other, we need to point fingers at them.
You don’t need to raise taxes or furlough employees, you simply need to look at yourselves and look at your pet agencies to see where pennies amounting to billions of dollars can be saved.
Just look at some of the projects where our government is spending millions of dollars.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), for example, just got a grant for $1.5 million to study why three-fourths of lesbians are obese and why gay males are not.
Their excuse? The NIH claims these issues are a “significant” threat to our public health.
The National Science Foundation just recently awarded a grant of $384,949 to Yale University for a study on “Sexual Conflict, Social Behavior and the Evolution of Waterfowl Genitalia.”
Believe it or not, the study met the criteria of the NSF panel of scientific peers as part of the grant approval process- all for studying the reproductive organs of ducks.
There is still an overwhelming amount of wasteful spending despite our best efforts to pinch pennies in government. It is time we the people demand a halt to this wasteful spending.
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03/21/13
Wasteful spending
BY: Armstrong Williams
Wasteful spending
Who are we kidding? The DC area has 6 of the 10 richest counties in America surrounding it. These folks didn’t get rich looking out for the best interests of the American people, they got that way taking advantage of a system that promotes wasteful spending.
It’s time we demand greater accountability.
While both parties are out there pointing fingers at each other, we need to point fingers at them. You don’t need to raise taxes or furlough employees, you simply need to look at yourselves and look at your pet agencies to see where pennies amounting to billions of dollars can be saved.
03/20/13
Harry Reed's shame
BY:Armstrong Williams
Harry Reid's shame
Yesterday a mortar shell explosion killed at least seven Marines during mountain warfare training in Nevada's high desert. What a sad tragedy and we must keep the family and loved ones who suffered loss in our thoughts and prayers.
It was shocking to hear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid implying that the the marine training camp tragedy was connected with the Sequester. It is outrageous that Mr. Reid believes somehow if the sequester had not occurred, this loss of life would have never been possible. How pathetic that such an irresponsible statement could be made by the leader of the Senate, given that he is a key component of our nation's leadership. You can virtually guarantee that the main stream media will ignore this faux pas, which is a tragedy in and of itself. Reeds comments emboldens these fringe leaders to do irresponsible things and make irresponsible statements. He clearly recognizes that they can feed red meat to their extreme constituents and suffer no consequences.
03/19/13
Sad Government waste
BY: Armstrong Williams
Sad Government Waste
With all the talk of Fiscal Cliff, Sequestration, the continuing resolution, and raising the debt ceiling (again); I’ve yet to hear any politician on either side of the aisle focus on government waste.
It is fact that both parties so egregiously waste money that they come to blows and hurt family paychecks when they could be looking at ways to save that would benefit everyone.
We have programs that are double, even triple funded to do the same thing. Why? Because some Congressman or Senator wants there name on a legacy project. I’ve talked to administrators that have begged Congressional staff to dissuade the passage of such redundant bills. They get told that the bill will be passed anyway because the Senator wants to tell his constituents that he did something about some cause or another. The result produces zero impact on the cause du jour and more millions down the toilet.
And then we have the much-ballyhooed “Congressional Squatters.” These are Congressmen that refuse to use the housing stipend they receive to rent a place in the DC area and instead pocket the money and sleep in their offices. They usually claim it’s to keep them in the mindset of serving the people, but what is does is show a penny wise and pound-foolish attitude. Due to these misers, Capitol Hill is forced to keep the heating, cooling, and electricity running 24/7 costing us taxpayers millions a year. They save themselves a few thousand by refusing to rent a crash pad with several other congressmen and cost the nation literally millions.
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03/15/13
Emulate Athlete's work ethic
BY: Armstrong Williams
Emulate Athlete's work ethic
Most people always envy athletes for their fame and money, but really they should envy their work ethic. Unlike many in society, they have to to earn their success based on their merits, they weren’t given anything.
Serena Williams is number one in the world again, becoming the oldest woman at age 31 in the history of tennis to do so.
That drive of athletes is why I still to some degree admire Lance Armstrong. Yes he did steroids and was a cheater, and even worse he sued people who he knew were telling the truth. But to recover from near death cancer, to have the belief and desire to think he could win a Tour de France, then to go out and train 15hours a day in the Texas heat, is pretty inhuman. Tiger Woods has said he practices for 14 hours a day, hitting balls, chipping, and putting again and again and again. The late Ed Bradley in a sixty minutes piece a few years ago described it as “A never ending quest for perfection.”
03/14/13
Who is a conservative?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Who is a conservative ?
CPAC starts it's annual national meetings today. Many people see this event as a GOP convention, but conservatism should be present in all political party's. Conservatism has to do with preserving traditional values and there is no reason that Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans shouldn't all recognize those values that have serve to promote freedom and equality in our society.
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all conservative values and their preservation should be the goal and priority of all Americans. It has everything to do with the American way of life and nothing to do with one's race or social status. When individuals attempt to inflame the American populace by emphasizing differences rather than proposing visionary goals behind which everyone can place their energy , it is destructive to these conservative values.
One of the greatest dangers facing America today is fiscal irresponsibility . One need not be a Republican to understand the implications of unfettered governmental expansion and resultant spending. One who fails to understand this has limited analytical capacity and we must all engage in a program to educate our fellow citizens.
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03/12/13
Hero or Villain
BY: Armstrong Williams
Hero or Villain
Paul Ryan is the subject of much criticism because he is tainted as one who has no concern for the poor and the elderly. This is because he has advocated fiscal responsibility and curtailment of out of control entitlement spending. The real villain are those who continue too undermine financial stability of the nation and destroy the prospect of future generations for the American dream. When the financial structure of our nation collapses under the weight of unbearable debt, who will then be the villain? Those who try to warn us and put in place responsible fiscal policies or those who simply tell us the future will take care of itself. People such as Ryan are truly heroes, for they are willing to be criticize and sacrifice their own personal popularity for the sake of future generations.
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03/11/13
Weaponizing a Nuclear device
BY: Armstrong Williams
Weaponizing a Nuclear device
I find it fascinating that every time North Korea, or the Iranians, continue to make progress on weaponizing a nuclear device, our leaders say, “Yeh, but they’re still years away from developing a bomb…”
Like that’s supposed to make me feel better? Pretty soon, the future becomes the present, and then what do we do? What’s with this attitude that something (or someone) will take care of our enemies’ hatred?
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 128, 6pm-7pm est and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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03/08/13
Leveraging Debt
BY: Armstrong Williams
Leveraging Debt
When it comes to leverage – debt – it has to be managed very carefully. I believe that it should only be used when you have enough in reserve to cover defaults. People who are overleveraged – like those who bought property with low income and no down payment (equity) – are vulnerable to any shift in the market. If you are overleveraged, or get into a variable adjusted rate mortgage, you end up paying more for the property than necessary, and when things become difficult, you may find yourself in trouble, living way beyond your means.
These basic principles – the virtues of saving, work and thrift – must form the basic foundation of capitalism in this country again. And It’s something what we have to get back to in order to restore sanity to financial markets. It’s what we must reawaken in ourselves and everyone else if we want to re-establish America’s rightful place at the head of the table among the leading economies of the world.
03/01/13
Cash Flow Challenges
BY: Armstrong Williams
Cash Flow Challenges
Are banks and state governments unwittingly colluding to prevent millions of Americans from being able to afford to pay their bills or profitably run their small businesses? Several pieces of economic data have raised serious questions about the ability of a whole subsection of Americans and small business owners to take the first steps toward building wealth — namely, lack of credit.
For many Americans, this will preclude their ability to meet short-term financial commitments let alone achieve long-term financial stability. What is driving these negative trends in consumer and business credit? It is the same banking regulators who are supposed to be looking out for and protecting consumers. In fact, the constriction of consumer credit is the product of banking regulators who have continued to add to the hurdles that banks must meet to make loans, including raising the banks' reserve requirements. As a result, it makes it nearly impossible for the banks to meet the credit needs of this growing population of Americans — nearly 100 million strong.
Imagine Americans with stagnant wages trying to meet their household financial obligations, save for college and even retirement. It is daunting even without access to credit. What about small business owners with declining revenues who should be driving job growth? Even in good times, they depend on their access to credit to manage their cash flow, cover operating expenses, meet payroll and — gasp — health care and other benefits. The non-bank financial sector may be the answer to the credit crisis. Although these non-traditional financial service companies have long been vilified, they provide critical access to much needed credit, as well as the only way millions of others can establish and build their credit.
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02/27/13
Children under age 5, Identity Theft
BY Armstrong Williams
Children under age 5 years old, Identity Theft
Identity thieves will stop at nothing to pawn others identities for their own personal gain. But you know the newest trend in identity theft has reached an ultimate low when identity thieves start to target innocent children to advance their own personal gain.
Why are children being targeted for these crimes when they cannot even have driving records, credit scores, or criminal records you ask?
Criminals see clean-slate identities from others as a way to hide their own identities and sell them to stolen identity rings. Identity thieves will do this by stealing children’s social security numbers, birth certificates, and other information to decrease the likelihood that someone will challenge them on a stolen identity.
A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report released in March 2009 showed just how easy it is to forge birth certificates when an inspector was able to obtain four passports under a fake birth certificate each time. A criminal just has to forge a birth certificate under a child’s name and adjust the birthdate to make a new identity.
These criminals will go identity “dumpster-diving” through public birth and death records, newspaper announcements, and court documents to obtain this information. Once they have the information, they take a trip to the local Department of Motor Vehicles to use the fraudulently-gathered information as documentation that will enable them to obtain a state-issued driver’s license or non-driver ID card with the child’s name plastered upon an ID that shows an adult photo and age.
If we are to protect the integrity of our children and our nation as a whole, we need to crack down on identity fraud and make it harder for criminals to misrepresent the most vulnerable in our population.
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02/26/13
Blind loyalty to political party's
BY: Armstrong Williams
Blind loyalty to political party's
People who are unaffiliated with a political party, rather than being people who are indecisive, are actually people who demonstrate the ability to think for themselves. Anyone who is blindly loyal to the platform of a political party has given up their God given right to exercise their independent thought processes. They degrade their own worth.
If we are to solve the massive economic problems facing our nation we will need innovative independent thinkers from all walks of life. They can contribute to solutions that will eventually benefit all of us, rather than blindly following the dictates of a political power structure that is only interested in it's own self aggrandizement.
"We the People" need to awaken to the sad fact that our nation is being exploited by both political power structures. They pass laws that apply to the masses and not themselves. They become adolescents and point fingers when this nation face devastating challenges and cries out for principle leadership. They manipulate the American people with lies, rhetoric, deceit and continuously to exploit the ignorance and lack of understanding of the people who elected them. How is it possible that the best and brightest in the Executive and Legislative Branch of our Government, can't find common sense solutions on the critical issues that confront us today ? We need to focus less on electing the intellectual and Ivy League elite of our nation and return farmers, factory workers, carpenters, Teachers, Law Enforcement, and Military leaders to the highest offices of the land. When electing the individuals that our Congress envision during our founding, we will return a modicum of common sense and true leadership to our nation. When this happens, then and only then will America return to the pinnacle of spiritual and economic success.
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02/25/13
Why the Sequestration needs to happen
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why the Sequestration needs to happen.
The GOP in congress have already lost three rounds of the fight for a balance budget. In December they agreed to raise taxes with no "quid pro quo". Later in 2013 they agreed to suspend the debt ceiling and finally they delayed the sequestration until March. Unfortunately as is usually the case with President Obama, the Republicans got nothing in exchange for compromising their fiscal principles.
In round 4 they are now being ask to eliminate the sequestration cuts, to once again kick the can down the road and address this serious matter later in the year. Unfortunately the strategy of kicking the can down the road does not solve our deficit problem. In fact it make matters much worst. America would be in a much better bargaining position if the Republican allowed the sequester cuts to occur. It's easier for elected officials to add spending than to cut spending. After the cuts occur let President Obama convince Americans that we need to increase the deficit. That is a much more difficult burden when the federal government has just had four trillion dollar deficits and no fiscal balance in sight.
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02/22/13
Young people must develop work ethic
BY: Armstrong Williams
Young people must establish work ethic early in life
Young people need to learn to work. Their parents must not let them be idle all year for, as they say, idle hands are the devil's workshop. When I was growing up, it was early to bed, early to rise. My family worked hard, every one of us, starting even before the sun rose. Sure, I wanted to rest many times, but my parents wouldn't let me until our work was done. They needed a rest more than anybody. They taught by example and instilled in us a strong work ethnic.
Today, many parents fail to provide that example. Now, I am not saying that young children should be put to work. We do not want a return to a time before child labor laws went into effect. Little children need and deserve their playtime. We should not take away their childhood. But once they reach a certain age, they must realize that it is time to accept a certain degree of maturity and responsibility, part of which involves going to work. Whether it is flipping burgers at McDonald's, delivering newspapers, washing cars, cutting lawns, or walking dogs, as long as they are working, they stay out of trouble, they learn better how to interact with adults. Plus, they get to make a little money. The trouble is, many young people today want something for nothing. They don't want to have to work for anything. They expect to be handed everything, and many parents often give in to their demands. What those parents should do instead is to force their sons and daughters to see the value of hard work. Being handed everything diminishes the value of everything. The rewards are much greater when you have to work for them. When you work for something you feel a real sense of worth, both in yourself and in the object or goal you are trying to reach.
02/21/13
Scape goating gun Manufacturers
BY: Armstrong Williams
Gun Manufacturers are scape goats
Imagine a city where the citizens have come to feel so victimized by gun violence that they give up trying to stop criminals. Instead, they choose the most easily identifiable symbol of their problem - gun manufacturers - and start yelling at them. To these frightened souls, it feels good to yell at gun manufacturers. It feels good to vent their fears. A Mainstream media both TV and Print are now telling sad and compelling stories about how innocent citizens are gunned down across our nation, to convince we the people that the solution is more gun control legislation.
Other citizens empathize with their stories. They too have seen the destruction that these weapons can wreak and they're fed up with the gun problem. The media manipulates them into blaming gun manufacturers for funneling handguns into poor, urban areas where they often end up in the hands of criminals. According to the liberal school of thought, negligent marketing by gun manufacturers is turning minority communities into "war zones."
These citizens feel as if they're empowering themselves. In reality, they are merely embracing some sort of all-encompassing truth that places the onus of responsibility for gun violence solely on gun manufacturers, as opposed to the criminals who are actually pulling the triggers.
That is not to say gun violence is not a serious problem. Plainly it is. However a bigger problem lies in an implicit message that gun manufacturers are responsible for gun violence. We are all victims. Not victims of hardened criminals who stalk our streets, but rather victims of gun manufacturers. Such a viewpoint places the emphasis on social retribution, rather than individual responsibility. Get it? The gun manufacturers are being blamed for the harsh acts of criminals.
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02/20/13
Immigration and a nation of laws
BY: Armstrong Williams
Immigration and a nation of laws
I’ve heard the argument that we must choose between giving illegals a free ticket or risk shutting down the economy. This is just not true. It’s a false choice to argue that we either give illegals a free ticket here in the US, or force the economy to shut down. First of all, an argument can be made that illegals drain the economy as much as they stimulate it. Secondly, claiming that Americans will not perform certain cheap labor is both erroneous and insulting. Americans have a vast history of performing hard work for low pay and there’s no proof that they wouldn’t continue that tendency today. Furthermore, this claim insults both the American (you’re a fat cat) and the undocumented worker (you’re not worthy of a real job). Merely talking about this aspect of the immigration debate encourages racism, bigotry, and a return to a class society.
No one with half a heart wants to separate families, but this is a nation of laws, not of feel-good policies. Without a solid system in place, nobody will respect the law. And the problems stemming from illegal immigration today are a perfect example of why we create and enforce tough laws. The reality is that under proposed legislation put forth by republicans, illegals will eventually be able to reunite with their family in the US. After an illegal comes forth, documents their work, pays a fine, and returns to their country, they will be able to legally come back to America to work and join their family. This legislation will improve national security, give relief to tax payers, and ensure that immigrants truly become part of American society.
Once new immigration laws take effect and undocumented workers are accounted for or return to their home country we can get down to the root of the problem: keeping track of who enters this country. If we are going to get serious about immigration in this country and truly address the problems surrounding it, we must monitor who enters this country legally and illegally. We should all be able to agree on that! Border security does not mean that Americans are anti-immigration – any educated American knows that immigrants founded this country – it simply means that for security, economic, and health reasons, we must know who lives within our borders.
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02/19/13
Government meddling with disastrous results
BY: Armstrong Williams
Government meddling with disastrous results
The Obama administration has a new solution to address very high unemployment in the American Black community. They intend to bring lawsuits against company's that refuse to hire individuals with criminal records. Since a disproportionately high number of this population are black Americans, this policy should improve their employment challenges. However it is just as likely to make it worst, because no one would want to interview someone with a criminal record for fear of being accused of not hiring because of their criminal background .
This is another example of government meddling . These attempts to control the lives and actions of society, are not consistent with the spirit of our constitution . This administration has cease upon the fact that it can get away with virtually everything. This is because the watch dog media has turned into the lap dog media. They are willing to endorse or ignore egregious actions by their idol, President Obama.
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02/15/13
Forget the fiscal cliff
BY: Armstrong Williams
Forget the fiscal cliff
President Obama wants more spending—29 programs, in fact—but he says it won’t cost a dime. That must mean he wants to raise taxes. So much for the fiscal cliff deal. The consensus on the Hill is that they are “done” with taxes, at least until well after the Three Crises—sequestration, continuing resolution, and debt ceiling. All tax bills on the House side have been essentially tabled for now. But the President speaks as if he hadn’t just raised taxes on the wealthy, and, in the White House’s own words, imposed “the most progressive tax code in decades.” Now he wants to chase the rich out of our country some more. There goes investment in the economy, there goes entrepreneurship, there goes charitable donations.
Williams is live Monday - Friday on Sirius XM 128, 6pm-7-pm est. Read him Monday's in the Washington Times.
02/13/13
Obama's Fundamental change
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Fundamental Change ?
Is change always good? Some change is good, certainly. The entire history of science and technology is one of accumulated knowledge. But in other aspects of life—philosophy, religion, culture—things are not always getting better. Progress is not inevitable; it takes work. Liberty is always only one generation away from extinction, as President Reagan said.
We have the largest national debt of any nation in the history of mankind. That’s certainly a change from the booming postwar years, in which we became the wealthiest and fastest-growing nation in the history of mankind. What a change a generation makes.
Even our most basic institutions are changing.
And so we are becoming Europe not only in our inability to pay our debts, but also in our ability to defend ourselves. As Justice Scalia has lamented, this is quickly becoming a country I do not recognize, and, sadly, change is coming in increasingly negative ways. Greece is a small country: its implosion is only a fraction of what the American implosion will look like. We’re not entitled to high national self-esteem. We need to be honest about the direction of this country, and reverse course where necessary.
In other words, we need change.
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02/12/13
Responsible Healthcare
BY: Armstrong Williams
Responsible Healthcare
HSA's (Health Savings Accounts) are an extremely good idea, for they place responsibility for an individual health in that individuals hand. The money that is place in the HSA stays there and can only be used for the legitimate medical purpose. It can accumulate over a lifetime and you should be able to transfer your entire account at the time of death. It would teach the owners to shop for healthcare efficiently rather than simply assuming that some third party is going to take care of the expenses . It will force the providers of healthcare to enter the free market arena and provide competitive pricing. This will of course drive down the cost of healthcare and will greatly reduce the amount of traffic in emergency rooms , which are very expensive. It will quickly become an anathema with anyone with an HSA. The beneficiaries will be local clinics and local practitioners who are much better equipped to provide on going and preventive health care.
For the indigent and disable who are already on government dole, the same money that is used to support their healthcare needs now can be divided and shifted to their HSA. It will be necessary too devise incentives for those who are not indigent to contribute to their own HSA. It will also be necessary to provide incentives for employers to contribute to the HSA of their employees. These are the basic tenants of an effective HSA system. The details should be worked out in a bipartisan manner so that their is total buy in by everyone.
This will also necessitate finding other mechanisms to address catastrophic healthcare, which can also be addressed in a logical fashion without expanding the tax burden or other bureaucratic entities.
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02/11/13
Dr. Ben Carson's tithing wisdom
BY: Armstrong Williams
Dr. Ben Carson tithing wisdom
I was intrigue with the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins University, Dr. Ben Carson's perspective on Tithing and our tax system during his recent address at the National Prayer Breakfast..
The reason that tithing is such a fair way to tax people is because it's proportional. As soon as you move away from proportional taxing, ideology takes over. As a result ideology is quite frankly arbitrary and depends upon the flavor of the month. A growing number of people seriously think that the rich should pay more, while some feel they should pay less. When you introduce the tithing concepts of proportionality all of those arguments disappear immediately. One could legitimately make the argument that if the top one percent pay 37% of the income taxes and the top 5% pay 59%, this clearly demonstrates their tax base should be lower. The top 5% don't make 59% of the income and yet they pay 59% of the taxes. Therefore it is simple and fair to make the argument that they are being over tax. One could delve into all types of arguments depending on their ideology and that is why simplification is the only true and fair solution.
Tithing represents 10% of one's increase . A proportional tax system does not have to reside at 10%. It can be higher or lower depending on the needs of the government. Because it would be applied proportionally to the entire population, the government would be unlikely to raise taxes to a very high level, for it would effect everyone and not just a small group of voters. This is a clear advantage of a proportional tax rate where everyone participates. Again a logical analysis of a system where 50% of the people pay no income taxes, but are allowed to vote to make the other people pay more taxes, makes absolutely no sense. If one goes back and analyze not only tithing but many of the principles advocated in the Bible, I think they can rediscover what true fairness is.
I also strongly encourage you to read more about Dr. Ben Carson, especially his latest NY Times best selling book "America the Beautiful".
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02/08/13
Pointless Make work
BY: Armstrong Williams
Pointless makework
A nuclear Iran and an America $136 trillion in debt makes anything else into pointless makework. If you turned on your television, you might think that the biggest issue facing our country is 20-year olds stealing their mothers’ guns, or illegal immigration, as if we have never had these problems ever before, and as if they are destroying our country. They are neither new, nor are they going away, no matter if we, as a woman suggests in All Quiet on the Western Front, cut off boys’ trigger fingers, or put up a gigantic fence around the entire continent. As for their consequences, they pale, along with just about everything else in the entire world, in comparison with even a fraction of our debt, or with even one nuclear bomb in Persian hands.
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02/07/13
Strom Thurmond's mix race daughter passing
BY: Armstrong Williams
Strom Thurmond's mix race daughter passing
People die, but the truth lives and breathes freely on its own.
We now mourn the passing of 87-year old Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who in December 2003 confirmed one of the oldest rumors of Southern political folklore: that she was the mixed-race daughter of former US Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC).
Now that Mrs. Essie Mae has passed on there will be a few days of dissecting their relationship again and reminding the public that the Senator was ashamed of his daughter. But this was not the case.
In a conversation I had with Mrs. Williams years ago, she told me how they finally bonded before his death in 2003. Mrs. Williams’ passing is more about her legacy with her children, grandchildren, and her larger community, than about her being the mixed-race child of legendary South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond. While the media continue making the connection between the two, let us also resolve to tell the public about her life beyond her famous father: Essie Mae Williams was a well-educated leader, organizer, philanthropist, strategist, and servant of God her entire life.
Many of us were aware of her struggles with illness for a long time. Finally, she has found peace, and her legacy will endure will her family and the many lives she touched along the way.
Williams did not make any financial claims on theThurmond estate. "We are not looking for money. We are merely seeking closure by way of the truth for Essie Mae Washington-Williams," said her attorney, Frank Wheaton,to The Washington Post. After nearly eight decades of subverting certain basic and essential facts about her identity, it seems that Williams at the time wished only to be honest with herself—and with society, for that matter—about who she was.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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02/06/13
Learning through images
BY: Armstrong Williams
Learning through images
No longer do we learn through subject and verb, but rather through a verbal hybrid of images and slogans designed to spare us the rigors of closely examining issues for ourselves.
Our preoccupation with television imagery has helped make this generation curiously artificial and particularly susceptible to the counterfeit. Essayist Michael J Arlen has called it "The tyranny of the visual." And countless other critics have lamented about the perils of images supplanting words in this culture.
It has also made us susceptible to a new kind of intellectual deficiency. Television images have become remarkably successful at distilling complex issues into the broadest and most knee-jerk dimensions. This is particularly true of political programming, which has perfected the rapid fire style of discourse that leaves little time for thoughtful analysis.
We are constantly bombarded with images that reduce complex issues of our economy into the most easily identifiable symbols. These images condition us to make immediate visual connections: Republican equals evil and liberal equals what is good for the nation. Television isn't reality. Its reality personified. Black, white, Hispanic, Republican, Democrat-they're all distilled into the most easily digestible image.
And a public that has grown up learning more through images than words just swallows it whole, then spits it back at one another in a passive form of intolerance and condemnation -the sort that leads us to visually sum people up without ever bothering to listen to what hey might actually have to say.
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02/01/13
Why are we surprise
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why are we surprise ?
Our Liberal media and academic economist are feigning surprise at the decline of economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2012. One does not need a PHD and Nobel Prize in economics to see the obvious drag on the economy during the fourth quarter and the present first quarter of 2013.
The decline in GDP for the fourth quarter of 2012 should not have been a surprise. Businesses and consumers were facing the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff. As a result businesses and consumers spent less than they may have otherwise have spent. The impending 2013 tax increases also muted 2012 spending. The government spending declined in their fourth quarter as well, especially for states and local government that had run out of federal stimulus money. The only perverse benefit to spending in the fourth quarter, were high net worth and high income individuals who accelerated 2013 income into the fourth quarter of 2012 in order to avoid the 2013 tax increases.
Do not expect 2013 first quarter to be robust. As noted above wealthy individuals transferred their 2013 income to 2012. There is a two percent social security tax increase on all wages below $110,000.00, which will reduce consumer spending. There is the effective 9 percent income tax increase on wealthy individuals which will reduce spending by wealthy individuals even more than that of the middle class, subject to the two percent tax increase.
The true cost of Obamacare is just beginning to kick in with imposing higher premium cost on businesses and individuals.
Congress is yet to address the structural economic issues holding back the US economy. As a matter of fact it has kicked the can down the road two or three months without any realistic solution in sight. America can expect anemic economic and employment growth for the foreseeable future.
ps. That is my optimistic point of view.
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01/31/13
Civil Rights 2013: Invisible to Victimized
BY: Armstrong Williams
Civil Rights 2013. From invisible to victimized
The civil rights movement was born out of an intense struggle to enjoy those basic human rights we associate with happiness. Early leaders of the movement settled on the theory that American society was primarily characterized by racism and that American institutions were grounded in the maintenance of racial privilege. Many of the black politicians who swept into office on the heels of the movement consciously embodied this organizing principle. Their legislative remedies were predicated on the belief that the problems of black people, whether its high crime rates, drug use, poor educational performance, were, primarily, if not entirely, the result of white racism. Their obligation was to promote and protect their constituents by offering remedies to specific aspects of racial discrimination (i.e., segregated schools, disparity in pay, public accommodations, etc.) In other words, they wed their legitimacy to the belief that all the problems confronting blacks were rooted in racism.
To this day, many black officeholders depend on the perception of on-going, widespread racism in order to remain competitive in the electoral process. They underplay the dramatic improvements in economic and social status experienced by blacks over the last 40 years. Large numbers of their constituents, particularly those who came to age during the overt racism of the past half century, continue to believe that the problems confronting the black lower class stem primarily from racism.
Herein lies the greatest missed opportunity of the civil rights movement. They never prepared for the day when the hand of God moved the conscious of a nation and many whites joined the spiritual movement to start treating minorities as equals. Their entire public image, their very legitimacy as political and cultural spokespersons--was predicated on the rhetoric of a black versus white war. As my mentor Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once observed, the [civil rights] revolution missed a larger point by merely changing the status [of minorities] from invisible to victimized.
Tragically, this point was also missed by the pop culture, which glorifies images of black misogyny, violence and victimization. We hold up gansta rappers as models of achievement. Hey, they’re just keeping it real we say. Meanwhile our children stare at these sociopath's with adoring eyes. They emulate their mean sense of entitlement, their broken English, and their violence, because this is what the popular culture tells us it means to be black.
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01/30/13
Logical conclusions
BY: Armstrong Williams
Logical conclusions
Obamacare is supposedly the panacea to cure rapidly rising healthcare cost and lack of access for millions of uninsured Americans. It's continuing to prove just the opposite with healthcare cost rising in many cases quite dramatic. This has forced several businesses to reconsider whether they will offer health care coverage or accept the penalty, which in many cases is less expensive than offering the healthcare coverage. The other solution that many businesses are adopting is cutting workers to less than 30 hours which is the trigger for requiring healthcare coverage. In the long run this mean that people will have less access and for those that do, the cost will be increased . Yet millions of people will listen to the mainstream media and the administration and continue to conclude that they have hit the healthcare lottery. This is a prime example of what happens when partisan politics and bias media are allowed to run rampant.
Continuing the theme of bias media, yesterday Senator Mary Landrieu stated that there is no federal discretionary spending problem. But rather the problem was fox news trying to convince the electorate that there was a problem. President Obama basically stated the same a few days earlier. One would need to have a severe case of brain freeze not to realize that we face a serious crisis with federal spending. For Mr. Obama to say that we don't, is like listening to someone tell you while in the middle of a blizzard, that it's a warm sunny day. If you believe that, you are foolish and this administration depends on people who are unable to make logical conclusions in the face of obvious evidence.
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01/29/13
One size does not fit all
BY: Armstrong Williams
One size does not fit all
Some states have suggested that welfare benefits be tied to the academic performance of school age children. On the surface this sounds like a very good idea, for it make parents more responsible in terms of getting the children to school and monitoring their performances. However one must consider that some parents are completely devoid of reason due to alcoholism, drug addiction, or personality disorders. So is it fair to make the entire family suffer because of such individuals? Additionally some children are not intellectually gifted. They have a difficult time barely managing any type of adequate academic performance. Fortunately such children are few and far between but they do exist. Therefore if one were to implement such a program it could only be done after interviewing and assessing each family individually.
This conversation illustrates the serious problems with cookie cutter solutions. We must learn how to use computer technology and many other sources of information gathering to craft policies that work for diverse societies. Otherwise we will continually develop policies that generally want work in the long run.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
01/24/13
Annihilate the GOP and American Exceptionalism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's agenda. Annihilate the GOP and American Exceptionalism.
Speaker John Boehner is spot on in concluding that president's Obama ultimate goal is to annihilate the Republican party. Obama has no intentions of reaching across the aisle and incorrectly assumes that the American people are so misinformed regarding the critical issues, that they will gladly support his warp and diabolical agenda. When will the American people stop listening to Obama and his mainstream media public relations machine and finally weigh the consequences of is extreme Liberal position. This president at every opportunity tries his best to dismantle the idea of American exceptionalism.
The President has derided American exceptionalism throughout his—I admit—very brief but transforming political career.
The relativism of his position notwithstanding, he fails to understand what makes us exceptional. America has been different for decades: unlike the rest of the developed world, we had freedom, we were a religious people, we were a hard-working people. No government dared to disarm us. But now we are freely casting away those freedoms that made us different, better than other merely developed nations. The President’s skepticism about American exceptionalism is self-fulfilling and it’s the President who is skeptical about it.
He plunders our wealth; he wants us disarmed. He takes away our right to practice our religion. This is madness, and it must stop. And so it was bittersweet as I attended and watch as he was inaugurated for a second term: It was clear from his address that he has no desire of moving from his left wing base of supporters. What his election indicates is something I love about this country—tolerance—but what he has pledged to do to our country is take away so much that makes us great.
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01/23/13
Media's contribution to the degeneration of society
BY: Armstrong Williams
Media's contribution to the degeneration of society.
Many have noted that are our society is in decline. Many, including President Obama bristle at that notion, but an honest appraisal of the situation would certainly demonstrate otherwise. There was a time when every program that ended on TV, was punctuated by the seal of good practice. This meant that there was uplifting and moral content in the programming. That disappeared decades ago. There is no longer any attempt to elevate the thinking of American society. In fact the media seems engaged in an attempt to neutralize morality and to impose "Hollywood Morality". In Hollywood it is quite acceptable to swap wives, have multiple marriage partners, and multiple sexual partners outside of marriage. Drug culture is glorified. Excessive spending is idolized by that group, while demonizing the same spending by the Wall Street crowd. Unfortunately the Main stream news media has joined in with the entertainment media to destroy the moral fiber of our nation. They are however doing it unwittingly simply desiring to be popular and failing to realize the destructive nature of their folly.
It is not however too late for reclaiming the tenants of faith and morality that propelled this nation to the pinnacle of success in record time. It is not too late in fact to be one nation under God. Unfortunately unless we have appropriate leadership this will not occur and we will continue the inexorably decline has characterized every other pinnacle nation before us.
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01/22/13
Justifying the spending addiction
BY: Armstrong Williams
Justifying the spending addiction
Republican leaders should—and I’m confident that they will—take a principle position to save our nation from further bankruptcy, which is what a rational populace would call our situation. The president knows only the blame game; he doesn’t know about accepting responsibility. Someone has to step up and take on the role of grownup: don’t count on it being Obama. In his four total years in the Senate, he (along with Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Charles Schumer, Patty Murray, and, oh yeah, Joe Biden) opposed raising the debt ceiling, and now as president viciously demagogues those who do the same thing he did in 2007. He is shameless.
It is characteristic of addiction that the addict tries to justify his actions. If they do not make sense, then he will come up with equally nonsensical rationalizations. And so his pathology spreads throughout his entire psyche, as each error must be rationalized by another, and another, and another.
Right now, the per capital debt in America is greater than the per capita debt in Greece. We have seen the Greek spending addicts, their rioting, their protests, their descent into permanent indigence. We have seen this, and yet we will not repent. Sounds like the addict to me.
How can we be so cruel to the most innocent of all, the children? As we mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (and 50 million legally murdered as a result), it’s obvious that our cruelty to our children, both in killing them or in saddling them with our debts, is a result of the same rex malorum, cupiditas. May God have mercy on this country.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
01/16/13
A Democracy under siege
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Democracy under siege
Our President has unilaterally decided that he can rearrange the separation of powers, by simply ignoring the powers and authority of the Legislative and Judicial branch of our government. This would normally be impossible because the outcry would be tremendous. However in the case of Emperor Obama anything that he decides to do is sanction by the left wing media, who are supposed to be the watch dogs of a free society. Instead they have become the lap dogs of an impending dictatorship. The people are too preoccupied trying to survive a dismal economy to pay attention to the erosion of what once was, the most admired governmental structure in the world. While the pillars of a free Democratic society crumble we can only hope and pray that resposible elements of society will continue to protest and provide valuable alternatives to a desperate situation that has been witnessed on the world stage many times before.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
01/15/13
The courage to be blame
BY: Armstrong Williams
The courage to be blame
Yesterday during Obama's press conference he once again threw down the gauntlet to Republicans, emphasizing discussions of spending cuts during the debt ceiling debate were not going to be addressed. He also made it clear that if the Republicans tried making it an issue, they would be responsible for Veterans and social security recipients not getting there checks, and more financial turmoil. As with the fiscal cliff debate he his hoping that the Republicans will be frightened into submission and they will forget the fact that he also bears responsibility for any fiscal consequences that will probably ensue. Because of the allegiance of the main stream media to the president he feels he can always set the agenda and control the narrative, therefore veracity is not necessary. The only true way to defend the American people and our way of life is for those who oppose Mr. Obma's policies of limitless spending, is to forget about the consequences of being blame. In fact you will already be blame so why not simply state that you'll be blame and take a principle position to save our nation from further bankruptcy. The president is an adept expert at the blame game and is extremely inept at accepting any responsibility. If our country is going to be saved soon, someone has to step up and take on the role of grownup. It is very unlikely that person will be someone that stated as a Senator in 2007, raising the debt ceiling was irresponsible and as president in 2013 states not raising it is irresponsible.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
01/14/13
The Government House always wins
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Government House always wins
The President is not a socialist. However, he is a statist. The current term for this is crony capitalism. He does not want the state to own the means of production and the assets in economy, but he wants the state to control the economy indirectly, through regulation for the benefit of the “friends” of the state: the private sector still owns businesses and assumes business risks, but the government tells individuals and businesses who to hire, what to pay, what to make, how to invest, and how much to pay the government in tribute for its “protection.” Much like in a casino, the house always wins. The government plays with house money, and there’s just no competing with that. This, in turn, has an unsubtle impact on the way the government is run and the policies that are implemented, as the cronies’ special treatment is reinforced with their success.
What do progressives do when a government program fails? Add on another program. Modify the program. Expand it. No one punishes a government program with spending cuts. Bad programs get more money, so each program is incentivized to fail, much as welfare recipients are paid to fail. If they succeed, the money is cut off.
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01/11/13
The Art of Compromise
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Art of Compromise
It is good that our nation is engaging in a necessary discussion on the importance of curbing gun violence. It is critical to realize that there is no single solution and all sides will need to give in . If we can't reach an agreement on an issue as fundamental as this, we may have reached a point in our nation where we will never agree on anything. That would indeed be tragic. This debate provides a wonderful opportunity to understand the art of compromise. We must first realize what is important to both sides. The gun lobbyist are concerned about the second amendment and fear an over reaching and more powerful government that could more easily become a dictatorship if the populace is disarmed. The other side is most concerned about unbalanced or angry people having possession of dangerous weapons. Is there a solution in satisfying all legitimate concerns ? Legislation that is crafted must decrease the number of dangerous weapons, while protecting the right to own and bear arms for ordinary citizens. As long as those involved in crafting the legislation understands that it must address both issues, we will have an opportunity for a meaningful solution. This is a model that we should adopt with all the pressing issues that we face today.
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01/03/13
Universal Healthcare vs Universal control
BY: Armstrong Williams
Universal Healthcare vs Universal Control
Obamacare is the official the law of the land . We will now begin the process of unmasking many of the cost, hidden deeply within this massive bill. A decade from now there will be significant buyers remorse. The cost will effect not only consumers but the healthcare providers as well. There is no such thing as a free lunch and that without a doubt includes healthcare as . Either the quality of care must decrease significantly for the masses or the availability of care must decrease drastically. The most important thing in this life that we possess is our health. President Obama clearly recognizes this and also knows that if he can control access to healthcare, he can ultimately control the larger society. So the real emphasis is not universal healthcare, but rather universal control. The amount of resources required to obtain this goal at a level that Americans are accustomed to is staggering and will continue to balloon the deficit.
To make sure that the populous isn't alarmed the cost has been sprinkled throughout the bill with the hope that most us will not notice the gradually tightening financial noose. The larger question remains whether the people are wise and informed enough to enact the kinds of changes in leadership that will save our way of life. It is possible that it is already too late and that the majority of the populous has completely lost perspective and is only concerned about their own selfish desires.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/27/12
Discover common ground to save us
Thursday, December 27
BY: Armstrong Williams
Discover common ground to save our country
I am a constitutional conservative I have strong beliefs about the role of government, and cures for societal ills, but there are certain issues I am sure people of opposite views can agree with me upon. We are sixteen trillion in debt, isn’t that outrageous? Do the mass majority of people believe the debt and spending levels we have now are sustainable and smart policy?Didn’t Bill Clinton campaign against the deficits run in the1980’s and implement a balanced budget? Didn’t Dwight Eisenhower, a moderate, enact The Interstate Highway Act that helped create millions of new jobs successfully?
As Americans we need to rise above the political parties language and thought, and talk to one another about our views. We might discover common ground that will move America forward. Our members don’t do this anymore as Trent Lott pointed out, and that is why the country is suffering. We can’t let the political parties separate us, or else America will be in peril, we must stand up and talk to one another.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/26/12
Celebrate the rich of our nation
Wednesday, December 26
BY: Armstrong Williams
Celebrate the rich of our nation
Governor O‘Malley in Maryland put in a millionaires tax a few years ago, and they got less revenue. The rich people moved, and found loopholes. We need to encourage economic freedom so this wealth can spread around, not by force of government, but by the free market, and the natural human instinct to better his situation.
Wealth at the top is a good thing, it means our nation is doing something right, in that it is letting entrepreneurs have the freedom to take risk and create good paying jobs for the rest of us. Every year heritage releases a list of rankings of the most economically free countries in the entire world. Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia are the first three, while Canada issixth; Ireland is ninth and the United States ranks tenth. The bottom of the list has countries like Zimbabwe, Angola, North Korea and Cuba. Which countries would you rather live in? Things like the wealth tax are dropping the United States on the list. This is not the old days were a rich person in New York could just move to Florida, we are dealing with an entirely global economy at this point, and these wealthy people will move out permanently. They will go where the taxes are the lowest, and the regulations are less intrusive.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/25/12
Christmas has lost its meaning
Tuesday, December 25
BY: Armstrong Williams
Christmas has lost its real meaning
Jesus Christ was easily the best gift this world has ever scene. His birth and death freed believers from the burden of sin – past, present, and future. This life is difficult enough as it is and without Christ’s gift of forgiveness, times like these would darn near be impossible to navigate. Thankfully though, Christ was given to this world to release it from its very evils - one of which is our obsession with possessions.
Somewhere along the way Christmas became a Hollywood holiday. It became about gifts and gadgets instead of faith and family. Christmas lost its real meaning when we became enamored with the idea of presents. The day became about giving and getting the perfect present and counting our blessings based on the things we own. It has warped into a season of stress – both financial and emotional – and has brought billions of people around the world more strain and loneliness than any other day of the year. How sad that we have taken the greatest gift of all and either turned it into, or let it be turned into, a burden on ourselves, our faith, and our families.
The birth of Christ occurred during a time of economic unrest. Ironically, Mary and Joseph faced many of the same problems that so many Americans are facing today. Housing, travel, and work situations were cause for fear and frustration then, just as they are now. Frills were not just missing; they were nowhere to be found. And this allowed them to maintain a focus on their faith that was uninterrupted by unnecessary distractions.
12/24/12
The Right lesson
Monday, December 24
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Right Lesson
Mass murders, as distinguished from smaller incidents, are all the same in one regard: they pit one armed man against many unarmed people. How did the Newtown shooting end? When Lanza saw the police, he killed himself. It was in direct response to force that the shooting ended.
Stupid gun laws don’t become smart because an incident so horrifying and unlikely as the Newtown shooting has happened. These suggestions are the wrong lesson to take from this harrowing incident. The right lesson? Those parents hugging their children—and not just their children but their spouses, their friends, their parents—even tighter.
On this Christmas, I will leave you with the words of the reason for this season, the Son of God and Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ: “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. estat www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m.D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/21/12
The(e) beginning of the end
BY: Armstrong Williams
The(e) Beginning of the end
It's funny, I woke up this morning with the thought of Armageddon and spent a while mentally composing my last memo to God--just in case. If the Mayans are wrong, I'll remain here to fight the cause of values and virtues that built this once great nation. If they are right....then vaya con dios, to all my friends. Well December 21, 2012 continues and we're still here, for now. However the seeds are in place for the destruction of our society and our world as we know it today. The United States of America is the most powerful nation that the world has ever known and it's military overthrow would be nearly impossible. It can however be destroyed financially, and morally.
In 1831 Alexis de tocqueville came to America to study the reasons behind our greatness. The Europeans couldn't understand how a fledgling nation barely 50 years old could compete with them on every imaginable level. In his in depth study he was impressed by our fiscal responsibility, but was more impressed by the fact that we taught morals and values in our public schools. He concluded along study by saying "America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good she will cease to be great". The seeds of America ceasing to be good and fiscally responsible as well as morally upright have admittedly been sown. When the financial bases of the USA is destroyed the rest of the world will follow like dominoes and chaos will reign supreme. Maybe this is what the Mayans predicted. The question that remains, is whether our destruction is inevitable or can logic prevail? It is becoming difficult to remain optimistic given the lack of leadership emanating from Washington, DC. With ideologues running amok and reason thought absent, we can only hope and pray that logical thought will make an appearance before the end.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/19/12
Emotional ineffective Gun Legislation
BY: Armstrong Williams
Emotional ineffective Gun Legislation
The New town Connecticut massacre has once again placed the spotlight on the issue of gun control. There are many cries in the wilderness for more stringent gun control laws. However the application of such laws would not have prevented the most recent massacre. The guns used were perfectly legal and the cold blooded murderer had no criminal record. So even if you had removed from the streets all individuals with criminal records and removed all illegal weaponry, the incident would have still occurred. Logic would demand that we begin to search for alternative solutions to ideological driven and ineffective legislation. We should be asking ourselves what could have prevented or lessened the senseless deaths. Analyzing the story one can see that the principal and many of the teachers were incredibly heroic in there attempts to physically disarm the shooter and save the children. If they had been trained for physical combat or had access to appropriate weapons which they had been trained to use, the outcome would probably have been most significantly different. In some schools there are armed guards and policeman already, unfortunately there are not enough of them to be in every school. Therefore, we need to find a way to create an equivalent situation of having a trained armed individual in the school. Whether this is a specific teacher, principal, resource officer, or member of the national guard is not important; what is important is that this individual is in place.
It is living in a fantasy world to believe that you can legislate these problems away.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/17/12
The new American grown terrorist
BY: Armstrong Williams
The new American grown terrorist
In many schools today religion is non existent. In our homes violent video games consume our children and we are in denial that it's not having an enormous impact. There is a clear lack of parental guidance and respect in the home .
Parents let alone can't punish there children and in NY parents can't be arrested for verbally challenging there kids.
This new era of dumbing down the American family has created such a vacuum. It is now that we are beginning to see the consequences that has resulted from this abandoning of morality, discipline, and common sense.
Do you actually think that rhetoric, more government anti- family policies are going to cure what ails us?
We don't have to worry about Foreign grown terrorist coming to our country. Our new terrorist are home grown and are our very own teenage and adult children. They kill innocent people in theaters , shopping malls, massacre children , their friends, teachers, and adults in classrooms with out any regards for human life. They kill their parents and any anyone who stands in their way. Without a doubt parents, teachers, friend and loved ones see the warning signs and yet can't act until there is a murderous crime scene where the assassin usually in a cowardly manner, kill themselves . The media, Hollywood, hip hop, and the entertainment culture must equally share blame, and not the usual rhetoric of placing the blame with lack of gun control laws.
The media is often Obsessed with black on black crime; lack of a family structure and yet none of these massacres happen in inner city and urban America. You don't see young black men killing people in the classroom , in shopping malls or movie theaters. These heinous crimes happen in suburban America with a young white male committing the mind boggling atrocities. Why doesn't the media and there so call experts discuss how these young white males consume the music, violence, Hollywood entertainment culture and perpetrate these unconscionable acts as assassins. If these assassins were black , the conversation would be about why young black male culture is a vicious cycle of terrorism and cold blooded murder.
These crimes were non existent 50 years ago. What has changed in America that the media and there so called experts refuse to bring in the media spotlight?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/12/12
Separation of Powers
BY: Armstrong Williams
Separation of Powers
The Separation of Powers is an essential element of our Constitutional structure. It is designed to limit aggregation of power at the federal level at the expense of the people and to foster competition and a balancing mechanism among the three branches of government; the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Here is how it works: when Congress objects to an action (or inaction) by the executive, it can pass a law or withhold or increase an appropriation; the President can veto a bill passed by the Congress; Congress can with a 2/3rds vote override the President’s veto; the Supreme Court can hold a law passed by Congress and signed by the President unconstitutional; Congress can pass, and the President sign, a new law overriding the court’s decision; and so on and so forth.
Therefore it should not be a surprise that, in recent times at least, the legislative and executive branches both fair better when they are in different party hands and thus freer to pursue their institutional Constitutional aims.
The problem that dogged both Clinton (for the first two years) and Bush 43 (for the first 6) is that having both branches in the same party’s hands made it very difficult for either President to resist overreaching and overspending by their legislative partners. When Newt Gingrich took over the House in l994, however, he was liberated to pursue his own agenda. He became master of his own house, took charge of what had been a very fragile beginning period of governance and developed an agenda that put him in charge of the government with, to his credit, many accomplishments--like welfare reform and spending restraint--that would have been near impossible otherwise.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/11/12
Liberalism Black Hole
BY: Armstrong Williams
Liberalism's Black Hole
Why inequality still exist for a large portion of the US Black population
Since the end of slavery, there has always existed inequality between the labor force participation of black women and men, which caused an imbalance in the roles of husband and wife, even before desegregation. But since 1980, the black family institution has declined precipitously. The vast majority of blacks born in this country are born into single parent households, mostly run by single black women.
Why is that? In an age in which blacks are free to marry each other, and they enjoy drastically expanded education activities and political rights, it would seem that there would be a blossoming of middle class black culture in this country. Well, let’s go back to Herskovits and liberalism for a minute. The logical extension of the anthropologists’ love affair with the native tends to perpetuate dysfunctional traits. Liberals in many ways defined what "real" black culture was in this country, and it was the "noble savage" mentality that they depicted. I’ve seen this over and over again in practice; liberals go out of their way to find the most dysfunctional aspects of black culture and celebrate them. When they see a black person who displays any evidence of culture and refinement, they dismiss him as inauthentic. They want a slave narrative to make them happy, and will stop at nothing until they get one.
Unfortunately, the black community has been all too willing to give them what they want. You want me to speak Ebonics?, Fine, I’ll show you Ebonics in return for a government education grant. You want to fund welfare instead of businesses? Fine, we’ll make sure to have plenty of children out of wedlock so as to qualify. The effect of liberal intervention into almost all aspects of black American life, while in some ways well-intentioned, has suffered from the law of unintended consequences: despite the billions spent on government programs for minorities, fully fifty years after the "Great Society" was instituted, the majority of black Americans are worse off both politically and economically than before the civil rights movement began.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/07/12
Sarin gas is the Syrians' modern-day nuclear bomb
Sarin gas is the Syrians’ modern-day nuclear bomb
BY Armstrong Williams
President Assad in Syria is arming his missiles arsenal with sarin gas, and given how conflict is Syria is escalating, there is a strong possibility that he will unleash this deadly weapon of mass destruction against civilians.
Once the elements are mixed and the gas is activated, it is only effective for 60 days. One missile launched into a populated area can easily kill 100,000 people in 24 hours. The peripheral effect will kill one million people, and this is not the worst-case scenario.
More devastating, is the possibility that in a very unstable Syria, these very same weapons might easily fall into the hands of terrorists. These terrorists would have no qualms about using them in other parts of the world, especially in the United States’ most populous areas. An attack with a weapon of this magnitude, if this weapon were to fall in the wrong hands, would completely change our world overnight.
Dealing with the fiscal cliff issue would be a walk in the park for Obama and Boehner compared to what would happen if these people were to release one of these bombs in one of our major population centers.
Sarin gas is the modern-day nuclear bomb, and we need to keep a close eye on Syria as conflict develops. Even though it has been careful not to confirm that it has chemical weapons and deny that it would use any sort of weapon against its own people. Chemical weapons use would only trigger greater Western intervention in the conflict, and cause the conflict to become the next world war.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/06/12
Maintain the Debt Ceiling
Maintain the Debt Ceiling
By: Armstrong Williams
Congress has a responsibility to insure that tax payer’s money is spent prudently. It also has a fiduciary responsibility to future generations to preserve the country’s assets and to pass on a financially sound government and society. It would be fiscally irresponsible for Congress to authorize spending money today for current consumption that it must borrow. It should never borrow money unless it is creating infrastructure and investment that will benefit future generations. Each generation of Americans must pay for its current government consumption. It should not create consumption liabilities that future generations must repay.
It is arrogant and financially imprudent for the President to demand that Congress not to place a limit on the debt ceiling.Congress has a constitutional responsibility to approve spending by the government. The debt ceiling limit is an important tool used by Congress to limit government spending from borrowed money that our children must repay. Congress has a fiduciary responsibility to limit government debt even if it is politically unpopular. If American voters want to elect a fiscally irresponsible Congress, the Republican Party should not participate. Standing on principal will eventually vindicate the Republican’s financial prudence if and when a newly elected fiscally irresponsible Congress takes America down the road to bankruptcy.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/04/12
A Secret grab for power
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Secret Grab for Power
We should turn our attention again to the Middle East but not necessarily Israel and the Palestinians. We should focus on Egypt where the people have decided that they will not tolerate a power grab by President Mohammed Morsi disguise as maintaining order. President Mohammed Morsi is trying to change the fundamental structure of their government and become a dictator for life. We too are experiencing a test to fundamentally change our government and the sad news is that an overwhelming number of Americans are still asleep at the wheel. We have a president who appoints czars in great numbers , who have no responsibility to the other branches of government as our Constitution has mandated. Our president continues to use fancy legal meandering to avert oversight by the other branches of government to exert his will on "We the People". In times past our system would not have allowed this because a responsible media would have highlighted it in such a fashion that the protest would be deafening as we are witnessing now in Egypt. With no responsible media and a power hungry administration hell bent on changing the nation, we face a severe challenge in maintaining the American way of life.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
12/03/12
Murder in the first degree
BY: Armstrong Williams
Murder in the first degree
There has been much media attention focus on the murder/suicide involving Kansas City chief defensive player Jovan Belcher . Although it is tragic when any two people lose their lives secondary to violence, it should be remembered that what occurred was cold blooded murder. That would be the case if it were committed by a bum on the street, a political figure, or a well paid athlete. We're certainly not implying that Jovan didn't have severe psychological problems, but virtually every murderer has severe psychological problems. This is why they eventually become murderers and certainly doesn't excuse the behavior. If so much attention is going to be given to this case, at least half of it should be focusing on the intelligent young woman who lost her life and her 3 month old baby if left motherless. They are certainly more so the victim than the estranged boyfriend/father. During one of the NFL programs yesterday one of the commentators used the incident to call for gun control. The issue has nothing to do with gun control and has everything to do with self control. Guns do not kill people, people kill people with guns. We all need to spend more time concentrating on what the real issues are, not only in this story, but the many stories that are brought to our attention by a media more focus on sensation than truth.
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11/28/12
President Obama refocusing our financial situation
President Obama refocusing our financial situation
BY Armstrong Williams
I want to extend my congratulations to President Obama and the Democratic Party for being able to successfully shift the focus from fiscal responsibility to a focus on taxing the wealthy and entrepreneurial class.
If we look at this situation purely on the surface, raising taxes on the job creators and the financially successful seems to be a viable solution- especially for the people who do not fit into those categories. Because of human nature, we are wired to think that it is right to “take his” and “not mine.”
Unfortunately, raising taxes on business owners and the wealthy does little or nothing to alleviate our rapidly approaching insolvency. The only thing this solution does is give us a “feel good” instinct that we are trying to do something when in reality; we are just pushing off the issue at hand while it stays the same or gets worse.
It’s like a college student who procrastinates on a paper by doing laundry. While the student may have clean clothes at the end of the laundry cycle, the paper still needs to be written before deadline.
We will eventually be forced to deal with the real issue, be it Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. Like the college student who will be held accountable by his professor for how well he does on his paper, the people will hold President Obama and the Democratic Party accountable for how well he fixes our financial situation.
The sooner we realize that our biggest problem is over-spending as opposed to under-taxing, the sooner we restore our nation to a path of prosperity.
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11/27/12
Is Healthcare a right, privilege, or none of the above ?
Is healthcare a right, privilege, or none of the above? Monday, November 26, 2012
BY: Armstrong Williams
Often when people near the end of life, secondary to an illness, they begin to contemplate their lives and recognize that of all the things they've accumulated and all the accolades that have been bestowed upon them; nothing is as valuable as life itself.
When you stop and think about it, there is nothing that should be protected more than life itself. One of the mechanisms whereby we protect that precious entity is medical care. So the question arises, if it's the most valuable thing we possess, whose responsibility is it to protect it? Is it the responsibility of the individual that possesses it? Is it the responsibility of the society in which that individual is a constituent? The answers will most likely lie somewhere in-between those two choices.
Certainly both the individual and society have something to gain by having healthy components. Neither of them benefits by simply expecting the other to take on the whole responsibility. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that an individual should take at least some responsibility for their own health and society should serve as a safety net.
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11/21/12
Pay Day is Coming
Pay day is coming
BY: Armstrong Williams
If you think for a minute that the national debt of $16 trillion dollars or $45,000 per person is scary, think again. It is only the tip of the iceberg of America's indebtedness. In addition to the official national debt, theU.S. government and state governments have additional off-balance sheets with unfunded obligations estimated to be as much as $100 to $150 trillion. This equates to half a million dollars per person. These obligations include unfunded pension liabilities, social security, Medicare, Medicaid and state unfunded liabilities.
If American politicians don't restructure the government’s promises, it is only a matter of time before our nation goes broke. The only thing keeping America from going totally bankrupt is the Federal Reserve Bank. Over the last three years, the Fed has bought about half of America's debt. Where does the Fed find the money to fund our debt? It prints it like there is no tomorrow! Our only constraint on runaway inflation from this increasing money supply is a stagnant, deflationary economy. When the economy truly begins to recover, expect the chickens to come home to roost with inflation roaring back like the Falls of Niagara. At that point, America will begin to pay her bills. Sadly "we the people" paying the bills will be the middle class’ savings and fixed salaries. Inflation will decimate the value of their savings, salary, and lifestyle.
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11/20/12
In Gaza: Life and Death, Blessing and Curse
BY: Armstrong Williams
In Gaza: Life and Death, Blessing and Curse
Watching the escalation of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza this week the words of God as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19 continue to run through my head: “I call heaven and earth as my witnesses against you right now: I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life—so that you and your descendants will live.”
What the world is witnessing in Gaza during the past week is the stark contrast between Israel, a nation and a people that choose life, and Hamas, a blood thirsty terrorist organization that celebrates and embraces death.
During the past week, Israel has taken action to defend itself against on onslaught of rocket and missile attacks that have terrorized its citizens for years. For the men, women and children who live in Southern Israel 15 is the most important number in their lives. That is how long they have to seek shelter once the air raid sirens go off. 15 seconds is how long it takes for the rockets fired in Gaza to soar toward sovereign Israeli territory and detonate close to civilian targets.
11/19/12
Strength in Unity
Strength in unity. Monday, November 19, 2012
BY: Armstrong Williams
This isn't the first time that the state of Texas has threatened to secede from the Union. The real issue is why a state would want to pursue this course of action? Obviously, Texas and other states feel strongly that its interests are not aligned with those of the government of our nation. In today's political environment based on the recent presidential election results, the country is split down the middle. That should not mean that the losing half should pick-up their marbles and go home. When states like Texas and others want to secede, their actions should give our government pause. If the White House is savvy, they should start asking questions about what they can do to bring about unity and harmony, rather than drive more wedges between themselves and halve a nation that has different ideals. In other words, The White House is going to need a lot more than a form letter to placate the concerns of our divided American people.
The current White House could learn a lesson by revisiting the Clinton Administration era, where disagreements were also extreme and yet former president Clinton was able to swallow his pride and work with the opposition to create one of the strongest economic periods our nation has ever known.
As the old adage goes, there is strength in unity.
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11/16/12
Is Healthcare a right or privilege or neither ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Is Healthcare a right or privilege or neither ?
It seems that our politicians have not yet struck that balance between safety net and individual responsibility, given already disastrous budgets as we plow full-speed ahead towards the fiscal cliff and a mandatory healthcare plan that will lessen the quality of our current healthcare system as we know it and muddle our mission toward the poor. At the same time, we also have a moral duty to take care of our fellow man regardless of the cost.
The implication of the narrowed view of healthcare as a right or privilege is that there is no difference between rights and laws. The founding fathers stated that we have rights to life, liberty, property, and advocated a government that protects those rights. If we interpreted our Constitution correctly, America was built on the principle that government exists to protect our rights that already exist, not dictate what rights we have, do not have, or should have.
But healthcare cannot be a privilege either if we look at the true definition of privilege. Privilege is a special favor granted by another entity, whether it is government, the private sector, or within a household. It is also not something that we only obtain from the government. Healthcare is however, a service that is provided through both public and private means. If we want to live out the liberties granted to us by our founders, we should reserve our right to purchase healthcare on the free market allowing opportunities for those to purchase at affordable rates, not by allowing healthcare controlled by bureaucrats.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
11/15/12
What Secrecy Reveals
BY: Armstrong Williams
What Secrecy Reveals
Several CIA Directors have had affairs, and, even though this doesn't excuse the behavior, it makes the secrecy of this current situation all the more suspect. The FBI was first informed of the affair in May, along with the Attorney General,and the affair was investigated. It strains the limits of credulity to say that this top level investigation was ongoing without the knowledge of the White House. Such things simply do not and have not occurred in the past.
That Mrs. Kelley even got the ear of General Petraeus is disturbing, and a sign that we have much bigger problems than Petraeus’ libido. Both of the Kelley sisters exhibit serious mental pathology, and an obsession with trying to get close to our military brass that sounds like something out of a Cold War James Bond movie. Jill Kelley has referred to herself as “an honorary consul general,” and claimed diplomatic immunity, which, if it the context were not so terrifying, would be hilarious.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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11/14/12
The GOP needs an Immigration policy
BY: Armstrong Williams
The GOP needs an Immigration policy:
Romney’s immigration stance created an enormous gap in Latino voters. The biggest discussion within the GOP now is how to court more Latino voters into the party. Romney won less than 30% of all Latinos, and one exit poll in Florida said he even lost Cubans, who tend to be extremely conservative. You don’t have to win Latino voters over as a whole, but you have to cut the gap. Bush won 44% of Latinos in 2004 and that allowed him to have victories in Nevada and New Mexico. It wasn’t a drastic change of values, or a tipping of the country in the wrong direction as conservatives like to point out, it was a politically inept position on illegal immigration that pushed away a huge potential voting bloc. Barack Obama’s administration has deported more illegal immigrants then any president before, but you wouldn’t know that listening to the campaign, because the GOP’s flawed immigration position nullified this point.
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11/13/12
Forward Advice for the GOP
BY: Armstrong Williams
Forward Advice to the GOP
There is now only one way for the Republicans to go if they wish to be
relevant.
They need to carefully build a coalition between themselves, independents,
blacks, single women, suburban women and make inroads regarding the Latinos.
This can happen by the Republican leadership abandoning trying to legislate
religion (which is in compliance with the Constitution) and creating an
immigration policy which makes sense.
Personally I am against abortion and gays continue to contribute significantly
to our nation. But abortion is a religious issue. We should educate against it
but the government has no right to dictate how people view this very personal
subject.
As far as same sex marriage is concerned, it in no way endangers heterosexual
marriage. Young beautiful black and blond woman endanger heterosexual
marriage--not gays.
We need immediately to end the practice that anyone born in America is an
American. One parent must be an American to become an American. We then need to
expand our Green Card working program to allow Latin workers to be legally here.
Part of the Green Card includes buying medical and auto Insurance.
Republicans can now attack spending and the deficit with impunity. The public
wants that--they just cannot stand the idiotic right Christian views exemplified
by our recent Republican Senate candidates and whether we like it or not Latinos
will soon be the largest voting block in the country--it already is in
California.
We are at a tipping point. Get out of the bedroom, educate as opposed to
legislate abortion, and create an immigration policy that makes sense--or watch
the Democrats spend this country into oblivion.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through
Friday.
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11/12/12
Still Analyzing Last Week's Election
BY: Armstrong Williams
Still Analyzing Last Week's Election:
The Democrats banked on their 2008 coalition, and won big, bigger than big. This wasn’t just a narrow survival by a weak incumbent president, it was a nationwide blue wave, a sweep at every level, from the president down to ballot initiatives like redefining marriage and legalizing marijuana. You can’t blame Hurricane Sandy for that. The unfortunate fact is that the millennial generation is the most secular generation in American history, the most socially liberal. Will they be shifting every election to the left from now on?
The Obama campaign — Axelrod, Plouffe, Cutter — look even smarter than they did four years ago, when they got a freshman senator elected president by 7 points over an experienced war hero. This time, they got President Benghazi, President ObamaCare, President Contraception Mandate reelected after a historic midterm loss. And they did it all without actually revealing a second-term agenda, or any evidence that their policies had done any good.
The Democrats now believe they have a mandate to govern, and Republicans are now in an uncomfortable position everywhere. The policies of the last four years have been not only affirmed but, with these ballot initiatives, shown to be moving mainstream. Can the Republicans across the nation gather themselves, find diverse, convincing messengers that look like the changing demographics of America, and finally save our once-great nation? It would be foolish to think that this recent election was a repudiation of American traditional values and strong work ethic; it was only a stern message to Republicans to move outside their bubble and build the party apparatus with a diversity of minorities from the grass roots to the hierarchy of the GOP, and give displaced women, blacks, Hispanics, etc., an alternative to the Democratic stranglehold.
11/09/12
Why is Wall Street worried ?
Why is Wall Street worried?
BY: Armstrong Williams
The stock market dropped by almost 300 points Wednesday in the largest post-election drop in history. There was a rush of cash into U.S. government bonds as well because investments in U.S. government bonds are considered a safe haven.
These odd messages of Wall Street must add up to something. What is it that investors are afraid of and what frantic messages are they conveying? Because Wall Street is usually insightful in predicting election outcomes, why was Wall Street stunned by Obama's re-election?
The reality is that the fiscal cliff looms ever closer as the possibility that President Obama and Congress can reach an agreement to avoid tax hikes and spending cuts by January 1st of next year seems uncertain at best.
In Greece, Parliament is having similar discussions about controversial cuts and tax increases that could send Europe into further financial crisis.
Every major market indicator signals that global investors are more worried than optimistic about what will happen to the U.S. economic policy before President Obama officially starts his second term.
If President Obama and Congress do not reach a deal by January 1st, the nation could go off the fiscal cliff despite the risk of a recession. The election overall confirmed the status quo, which means it is very unlikely that things will change unless Obama and Congress make a bipartisan agreement to reduce the national debt.
Let us sincerely hope that the CEOs of Main Street want engage in massive layoffs of workers, because of that same fear that worried Wall Street immediately following the election outcome.
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11/08/12
can we sell conservatism in the foreseeable future ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Can we sell Conservatism in the foreseeable future ?
There is simply no way to sell conservatism to people anymore: people have other values now. Obama has fulfilled left-wing dreams that go back decades, not only bringing universal health insurance to a once-limited government, outlawing Catholics from owning businesses, and getting rewarded with four more years for doing so. I can only tremble to wonder what Valerie Jarrett meant when she said that Obama’s second term will be about punishing their enemies, if this is what they have already done.
The Republican Party lost multiple unloseable elections (see Mourdock, Akin, Romney). They did not merely let winnable elections slip away, but actively gave them to Democrats, a situation much more heartbreaking than the narrow defeats of 2010. At best, the Republican Party has even more cautionary tales for its younger members, more examples of what not to do, but that is small consolation for two more years of Obama and Reid. In the same way, the only good that will come out of this for the country is suffering, which is the greatest teacher. The Democrats will continue to show us what does not work.
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11/07/12
Widening the GOP tent to include more minorities and single women
BY: Armstrong Williams
Widening the GOP tent to include more minorities and single women
The GOP was wiped out across the board.
The other side had a simple message...Mitt never really found a clear, simple message of what he would do that was so much better for Hispanics, Non-whites, the poor...and he did not help himself by remaining pegged as rich and elitist...
The GOP must devise a long term strategy to communicate its message in a positive and trusting way to minorities and single women.
He got pegged as a 1%er and not caring about the other 99%..a deadly perception going into an election of us versus them.
Sad that other Republicans had a bad night too...a bunch of Liberal initiatives sailed through....Elizabeth Warren..Gay Marriage..MD Dream Act...
Mitt's steadfast vision of increased Military spending lacked the fiscal discipline that responsible fiscal conservatives would like..Bush did that and was a spending madman.
Get ready for 4 years of deadlock....and new taxes.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
11/05/12
We the people time has come
BY: Armstrong Williams
We the people time has come
Consider this: both sides have spent about one-billion dollars each, presumably to win over about seven percent of the electorate. We spend more and more money each election to win over fewer and fewer voters. Is this the next bubble to burst?
Also, consider the fact that two billion is about as much as the federal government borrows every few hours.
If you think about this long enough, you will realize why we spend so much money to persuade such a small group of people: there is a lot at stake. The Left often attacks big political donors, not withstanding their own, as unfairly influencing the government to get what they want. But this is precisely the problem of big government: if we had a small government, then there would be small incentive to influence it.
The Founding Fathers understood this, just as they understood that, although no system is perfect anymore than any politician is, some are less flawed than others. I cannot help but feel a little trepidation at the possibility that the American people might make a terrible choice in this election. But even if they do, they will have to live with the consequences. A free people gets what it deserves. If there is any problem in our Republic, it is not our system, but us.
In fact, there is a very good chance that, despite record levels of anger against incumbents, we might end up with exactly the same situation that we have now: a Democratic President and Senate, a Republican House of Representatives. Although that would make almost no one happy, it would be a great tribute to the design of our Founders: it would be a sign that we are accurately and faithfully represented.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
11/02/12
Which candidate is going to overhaul Social Security?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Which candidate is going to overhaul Social Security
For 77 years, the Social Security system has been a safety net for American seniors, vastly reducing the rate of poverty among the elderly and changing the quality of life for most Americans.
That was yesteryear.
Many economists and commonsense Americans now predict that the system will collapse within a generation. The problem is straightforward: The baby boomers' impending retirement will cause a shift in the workforce so pervasive that the Social Security system will become top heavy, like an inverted pyramid.
In other words, too few workers will be supporting too many retirees. As a result, the cash outflow in Social Security benefits will exceed the cash inflow in taxes
Perhaps this is a good time for both presidential candidates to mention that there exists no Social Security surplus. The Social Security Trust Fund is filled with old, yellowed scraps of paper that read "IOU."
So, what we're looking at is the impending bankruptcy of the entire Social Security system. Experts predict that on or about the year 2032, the system will collapse.
This situation takes on catastrophic proportions when you consider that 66 percent of elderly Americans use Social Security payments as their primary source of income. This point has not been lost on Paul Ryan. Before his selection as Romney's running mate Ryan proposed a drastic overhaul in the system. He was on a cross-country sales pitch, preaching the merits of allowing some Social Security funds to be invested in private accounts.
Predictably, the Democrats united in opposition. They talk about how privatizing Social Security funds gambles the future of our seniors on the stock market. But they offer no counter proposal. At best, they try to forestall the problem by raising taxes, passing legislation to extend the retirement age and paring away our promised benefits.
However, you can only raise taxes or increase the retirement age by so much. The problem of too few workers supporting too many retirees will continue to lurk as long as infant mortality rates continue to decrease and life expectancy continues to increase.
11/01/12
Islamic Terrorist remain a serious threat
BY: Armstrong Williams
Islamic Terrorist remain a serious threat
Have we become complacent to the continuous threat posed by Islamic extremists? I fear that we have been so conditioned not to disparage the practices of other cultures that we continue to ignore this evil microbe among us. We have been so brainwashed about what's politically correct that we forget about what's morally correct. We forget that thousands of Muslim women are being enslaved by archaic religious practices. We forget that Muslim children are being taught to blame all the problems of their lives on Western culture. We even forget about the men who are being told to strap bombs onto their bodies and detonate themselves in public squares and unsuspecting places.
At some point we must realize that actively defending against radical Islamic teachings is not a matter of cultural relativity, it is a matter of universally recognized human rights. The idea of terror attacks is at odds with the basic freedoms embraced by all enlightened, democratic societies. At some point we must make a decision not to allow the mere threat of charges of cultural or religious insensitivity to stop us from dealing with this evil.
Very simply, the culture of another people does not have to be accepted when it is subhuman! Terrorism is subhuman! And human rights activists need to admit where this problem is coming from. The anti-Western hatred perpetuated at mosques and Muslim meeting places needs to be held up to public scrutiny.
At the same time, the government needs to engage in outreach programs to Muslim youths. They need to make sure that Muslim kids are not so alienated from mainstream society that they can simply be programmed by Mosques to hate and degrade Westerners. Most of all, the government needs to provide sanctuary to young children who do not agree with these radical and hateful teachings, instead of allowing Muslim extremists to hide their hate behind a disingenuous veil of cultural relativity.
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10/31/12
Conservatives have the winning ideas
BY: Armstrong Williams
Conservatives have the winning Ideas
Democrats win elections by primarily by carving up the American people into interest groups. Republicans usually fall for this trick, and often play by Democrat rules. They have never won this way, and have only hurt their own credibility by doing so, giving Democrats ammunition for the next election.
Democrats also win based on personal appeal. They can sell bad ideas with the right Hollywood celebrities, the right late-night comedians, and a smiling face. And no politician is more of a celebrity, more of a media figure than President Barack Obama: you cannot beat him at his own game.
Conservatives have an advantage in that our ideas have been tried, and have succeeded. Our ideas—respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, economic freedom, respect for traditional moral principles—are our country’s default positions. The progressives are the innovators: the burden of proof is on them. They must tell us why our tried-and-true ideas must be changed.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/29/12
Money and Politics
Money and Politics:
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why is it that tens of millions of Americans abstain from voting, or that the majority of Americans think elected officials are not true public servants, and that barely 15 percent of the population think Congress is honest and ethical?
Why is it that so many people feel alienated and apathetic about politics?
Well, if you get out and talk to people, and if you do legitimate polling, you find that these people feel betrayed by their elected officials at the expense of big donors, lobbyists, the media, big business, and special interests. And as journalist Bill Moyers says, "When so many people drop out of a system they no longer respect and which they think no longer represents them, democracy loses its legitimacy."
American democracy (i.e., American politics) is losing its legitimacy at home and abroad because it is being ruled by the elite instead of the people, as it was intended.
Despite the fact that President Obama in his 2008 claimed over 100,000 people donated the $25 million to his campaign chest, you can confidently bet the majority of it was given by large donors, huge political action committees, unions, corporations, and all the like. And this is no knock on him, it's a knock on the system.
Everyone's doing it, and you'd be a fool not to. According to elections expert, Charles Cook, nine of the 10 major-party nominations from 1984 to 2008 went to the candidate who raised the most money in the pre-election year.
The McCain-Feingold Act attempted to show that campaign finance reform is possible. And it showed that we can actually do something to stem the importance of money in politics. But it also shows that unless radical action is taken, campaigns will continue to be run by money.
10/26/12
BIG BUSINESS RELIGION, FROM THE PULPIT TO THE CEMETERY
BY: Armstrong Williams
BIG BUSINESS RELIGION, FROM THE PULPIT TO THE CEMETERY
Corporations and parishioners are increasingly coming together to spread the word of God and make money. All across the country, churches — once intimate places of spiritual interconnectedness — have been replaced by stadiums of worship that utilize advanced technological innovations to awe, edify and rip off those in attendance.
The jig goes something like this: Corporations underwrite the construction of vast religious complexes that awe people into regular attendance. The preacher's image is projected onto a big screen. His calm baritone is beamed out by state-of-the-art speakers. From all sides, his voice fills the room. The seats shake as he gives expression to the word of God.
It's a rousing experience to be sure, and one that is increasingly paid for by corporations. In return for their funding, the churches circulate corporate promotional calendars and fliers and, if the corporation is really lucky, broadcast an endorsement straight from the pulpit. Trusting the pastor's judgment, the flock simply surrenders its money to whatever service the corporation is hawking. In such a manner, countless Christians are fleeced every year.
The newest twist in the mortuary business is to rent a chunk of church property and offer their own in-house services with the implicit church endorsement. The archdioceses of Montreal and Los Angeles contracts with Stewart's Enterprises and SCI chains, renting out their holy ground as though these mortuaries were some Starbuck's franchise.
In return for a lucrative lease arrangement, the diocese lends its tacit endorsement to the mortuary and, in effect, channels its flock directly into the overpriced mortuaries, swindling their own parishes for millions of dollars per year.
Of course these churches will benefit from their lucrative agreements. They may use the profits to erect some triumphant cathedral, decorated with such stunning artifice that its very presence proclaims the glory of God. All of which just indicates that these pastors don't actually care about their people.
After all, many churches could, in fact, offer free funerals to their members, not counting cemetery or crematory expenses. What more logical support group is there at a time of death? Instead, these ministers use their position as trusted leaders to fleece their parishioners.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/25/12
Romney and the illusory black vote
BY: Armstrong Williams
Romney and the illusory black vote
With President Obama in the White house it's remains an illusion for the Romney camp to break the stranglehold the Democratic party continues to exert with the majority of American Blacks. American blacks don’t vote Republican because they can't seem to identify with the platform and conscience of the GOP hierarchy. Many continue to feel unwelcome and under appreciated in the Grand Ole party.
Makes sense. On the federal level, the Republican party doesn't’ have a single black United States Senator and only two members of Congress. Their greatest support is in rural and suburban areas. Those Republicans with experience as big-city officials who maintain regular associations with black-American venues tend to do okay with the black vote. But certainly, the Republican Party is not a party of big city officials. On the whole, black American communities and venues remain unfamiliar turf for Republicans.
By contrast, about one quarter of the membership of the Democratic National Committee is black. This strong representation within the party facilitates more hiring – and elected representation - of American blacks in government at every level. This creates a positive ripple effect throughout the community. For example, a black politician may maintain close associations with other black community figures such as ministers, teachers, entrepreneurs and union officials. These interlocking relationships proclaim to American blacks that they are part of the Democratic Party.
The Republicans need to take a page from the Democrats and do a better job of grooming black elected officials to carry their message into the community, because the black community is ripe for appeal. More and more American blacks are coming to the conclusion that liberalism has not solved their most basic problems. Instead, it has put many blacks in the mindset that they must be fed government programs, instead of being given access to capital and the opportunity to create their own jobs.
The younger generation of American blacks is saying it is time to move beyond the basic covenants of liberalism and finally face who they are and what they need, not solely as blacks, but as individuals.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/23/12
Foreign Territory
By: Armstrong Williams
Foreign Territory
Romney was presidential: he had a staggering number of statistics available off the top of his head. The President didn’t have many of his own (any, actually, that I can recall), and couldn’t challenge Romney’s factual assertions.
The Left seems exasperated at how often the two candidates agreed, and are criticizing Governor Romney for agreeing with the president, but they shouldn’t feel that way.Foreign policy has never been a purely partisan issue. Even during the worst months of Vietnam or during the summer of 2007, there were hawkish Democrats and isolationist Republicans. There are ideological divides in foreign policy, but they do not cut evenly between the political parties. This is the one area in which we have not become polarized.
To give just one example that demonstrates this, every president that has run for office on a peace platform has waged war: Wilson, Johnson, Nixon, Obama. When you’re president, things happen out in the world that you cannot control: the world outside is a lot more volatile than the world inside. It’s a lot harder to be an ideologue in foreign policy than it is in writing checks to Solyndra.
Moreover, Romney’s confidence made Obama look all the more narcissistic. The President was, frankly, petulant. Obama attacked first, last, and most often. Almost every interruption was by him. He even seems to have caught himself overreaching, and broke out his million-watt smile when chastened by Romney for interrupting. Consider that the President said, like King Louis, “this country—me.” I knew what he was trying to say, but it’s particularly startling to hear the President say it while glaring across at Romney.
So what is it that the Democrat-Media Complex wants from Governor Romney? Had he disagreed and carped at the President, he would be called partisan, an ideologue. The Governor demonstrated an open and rational mind, which was aided by his closing statement’s mention of bipartisanship. How ironic it is that President Hope-And-Change was on the attack, and Governor Romney cited an actual record of bipartisan leadership.
Generally, a draw goes to the incumbent, but—the “scientific” snap polls notwithstanding— I think that this is a slight victory for Romney. He appeared presidential in front of the American people, unmediated by the media. It was a golden opportunity, and he took it.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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10/23/12
A Draw
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Draw
What everyone is going to talk about is how much more negative the president was in this debate than in the last. Whereas last time he seemed bored, or like he simply didn’t want to be there, this time he seemed barely able to restrain his anger at Governor Romney.
In other words, what happened was exactly what every pundit said would and ought to happen. There were the same usual talking points, the same catchphrases—“trickle-down government” and “top-down economics,” etc.—and, in comparison at least to the Vice-Presidential debate, the same tactics.
Romney made too many arguments based purely on assertion. Simply saying that you know how to get the economy going again is not good enough. You have to explain why we should believe that. He repeated himself—and a little of that is good—just too many times.
Those undecided few have three weeks to decide the fortune of the country, and, thereby, the fortune of the world.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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10/22/12
Romney's Human Side
Romney’s human side
BY: Armstrong Williams
At last week's Alfred E. Smith dinner in NY, Governor Romney further deflated the bogus image of him painted by the Obama campaign’s attack ads. The campaign’s ads almost succeeded in characterizing him as stiff, disinterested, boring, and unintelligent. They did, however, forget one thing: they were all lies.
Team Obama actually began to believe their own propaganda until they faced a reality check in the first debate. The Democrats have no contingency plan for a Mitt Romney who continues to prove himself as a normal, compassionate, funny, pleasant individual.
Romney’s remarks at the dinner exemplified his willingness to bring both sides together at the dinner when he said “In our country, you can oppose someone in politics and make a confident case against their policies without any ill will and that's how it is for me.”
Any remarks about Obama at the Smith dinner were described in a joking, light-hearted manner. He knew that the event was not a time for politics, but rather a time for bringing people together in a bipartisan manner.
The president condemned himself in 2008 on the campaign trail when he emphasized that if you have nothing to run on, you must demonize your opponent and frighten the populous. If he keeps making statements like this, he will continue to portray himself in a negative light.
The Smith dinner showed that Romney has a human side to him that is here to stay, and that there is a way to gain the support of the populous without frightening them and without demonizing your opponent. Once the people see Romney’s real personality, the Obama campaign will have a hard time trying to frighten the people into believing frivolous lies.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/19/12
Assigning Responsibility
Assigning responsibility
BY: Armstrong Williams
How many of you have awakened the following morning of both presidential debates and could actually articulate how President Obama would create jobs, turn around the economy, and stop the dramatic increase in healthcare premiums, a promise in which he declared that premiums would never increase under Obamacare. Instead, all you hear is Obama blaming Romney and attacking his policies that create jobs and lower tax rates.
If President Obama was a contestant on “The Apprentice,” he would probably be sitting in a room with the Republican Congress trying to explain to Donald Trump why he should stay in the game as chief executive of this country. However, we as voters are lucky to be put in the position of Donald Trump in the boardroom of America. We are the ones who decide whether Obama should be given a second chance, or whether he should be fired.
Perhaps that is the wrong show. Older American’s may remember the show “Queen for a Day”. Each contestant would tell the audience her story of misery and misfortune. At the end of these tales of woe, the audience would vote to give the prize to the contestant who had the most miserable life. Obama’s record of the past 4 years is certainly a tale of woe. The tale includes unacceptably high unemployment; trillion dollar deficits, a 50% increase in the national debt to $16 trillion; anemic economic recovery with growth of less than 2%; a 5% reduction in median family income; a fiscal cliff about to send America into a double dip recession; a cover-up of the murder of America’s Libyan ambassador; a doubling of the price of gasoline; and increased medical insurance premiums which Obamacare was supposed to reduce but which Congress had to pass before they could read it. Yes, Obama would even beat former President Carter in the contest to become “Queen for a Day.”
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/18/12
War on Women
BY: Armstrong Williams
War on Women
It is interesting that the Obama campaign have decided that there is a war on women, initiated by Romney and the GOP. Early on this certainly appeared to have traction with President Obama having a very significant double digit lead among women voters. However as women have gotten to know Mitt Romney they have been able to discern that he's not a fire breathing dragon that eat babies, as this administration would have you to believe.
The polls now show a virtual dead heat between Obama and Romney among women voters. If one dissects the issue a little more, it's easy to see that what the obama campaign is doing is trying to paint Romney and Republicans as enemies of any voter demographic that might be able to deliver significant votes.
Thus we have a war on the 99%, a war on the Hispanics, a war on the elderly, a war on Labor groups, a war on Teachers, a war on government workers, and now I think you're beginning to get the message from this administration.
Unfortunately for President Obama, women have demonstrated that they are not as simplistic as he thinks they are. As time goes on many other groups will be able to see through the political chicanery and treat him accordingly. The timing is not right for a political figure who is counting on a majority of ignorant and a simplistic populace to return Obama to office for another 4 years.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/12/12
Last Night's VP Debate Recap
Last Night's Debate Recap
BY: Armstrong Williams
Regardless of whom you think won last night's debate on issues, there was a clear winner in style. Paul Ryan was clearly respectful and polite while Vice President Biden was snug and obnoxious. While Biden had Ryan on the defensive for most of the the debate, his consistent interruptions and rude behavior was not presidential.
At a time when our nation is being torn asunder by political discourse, the last thing we need is a continuation of divisive behavior. A wise man once said "a house divided against itself cannot stand". If we continue to reward those who perpetuate the division, we will be responsible for our own destruction.
In terms of content, VP Biden and Paul Ryan made clear the differences between an Obama-Biden Administration and the Romney Ryan administration. The Obama administration clearly wants a trickle-down nanny state while Romney's team clearly wants a limited government and market-driven economy. On foreign policy, Biden was unable to justify the administration's behavior on Libya-gate. Paul Ryan stressed the Romney's Team's unapologetic “America first” foreign policy. Biden, on the other hand, repeatedly stressed his administration’s tendency to tip-toe and pay deference to America's enemies.
The latest CNN poll says that 48 percent of viewers thought Ryan won the debate while 44 percent thought VP Biden won. The poll also noted that seven in ten people said Biden spent more time attacking his opponent while Ryan was seen as being more in touch with the problems of the average American.
The history of presidential debates shows that the candidate who has a respectful demeanor towards his opponent and treats the voter with respect in his discourse will fare better than the opponent who does not. In the 1984 presidential debate where Reagan faced off against Mondale, Reagan calmly responded to Mondale’s statement about the then-President’s age and said, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” In the second debate between George Bush Sr. and Clinton in 1992, many Americans were turned off by the then-President looking down at his watch, wishing he was elsewhere. In the 2000 presidential debate, Al Gore sighed, rolled his eyes, and even invaded George W. Bush’s space at one point. Because of both Bush Sr. and Al Gore’s behavior, their otherwise strong political debate performances were seen as weak. These two candidates also lost in their respective elections.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/11/12
Did our President and Secretary of State Lie to the American People ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Did our President and Secretary of State Lie to the American people ?
The media is partially to blame for allowing the Obama administration to get away with a narrative that was so clearly ridiculous. The Mohammed movie on YouTube was clearly a false pretext for violence . Evidence was apparently known to elements within the administration within the first couple of days that indicated it was a terrorist attack, but the Obama administration purposefully denied that and blamed the violence on the Mohammed movie.
The instinctual inclination to apologize for the movie and offending Muslims and to focus public statements on the movie are indicative of the administration’s tendency to apologize for America.
This is not the first time that coordinated, well-planned violent attacks by Arab extremists have been blamed on “spontaneous” reactions to so-called provocations that are pretexted. In 2000 the Palestinians launched a five year war of suicide bombings and other terrorist assaults against Israel; at the onset of the violence the war was presented as a natural and spontaneous reaction to Israeli Likud leader Ariel Sharon visiting the Temple Mount. In fact, the violence was planned ahead of time and the visit by Sharon produced little more than rock-throwing on the Temple Mount; in the Libya attacks there were no violent street protests leading up to the attacks that killed our ambassador—the streets were empty.
Why did Susan Rice and other administration officials refuse to admit that a terrorist attack had taken place? It is clear now that Rice is the scapegoat and our President has thrown her under the bus, in oncoming traffic.
Without a doubt politics is the reason; Obama wants to be perceived as having been tough on terrorism as evidenced by the killing of Osama bin Laden; however, a preplanned attack in Syria by elements who may be connected to al-Qaeda didn’t fit that narrative.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
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10/10/12
The Fallacy of Obama's unemployment numbers
The fallacy of Obama's unemployment numbers
BY: Armstrong Williams
The media is rejoicing the prospect of an unemployment rate below eight percent in the most recent report released by the Congressional Budget Office. However, I would not get too excited at this prospect just yet. The reason why the published unemployment numbers are going down is because people are falling off the dole. Because they no longer receive unemployment checks, people are not only without jobs but without government benefits. These people are one step away from food stamps, which is why the requests for food stamps are at an all-time high.
Back in the days of the Great Depression, the masses of people looking for food assistance would stand in “soup lines.”
Today, however, the government just delivers the welfare check right to your mailbox.
There's another statistic the E6 or E16 that tracks the people who want to work and can't find a job forgets while this number continues to grow. This is the most synthetic economy we have witnessed in a very long time.
So why does the Federal Reserve continue to support programs like these when they don’t seem to be working? The reason the Federal Reserve continues to support the economy with programs like quantitative easing is so that the people who do have money continue to spend it. Otherwise it would exacerbate the problem. If everyone became savers, it would create a vicious cycle.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/09/12
Is There a Doctor in the House ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Is There a Doctor in the House ?
As it becomes more difficult for people to find primary care physicians we must begin to look for solutions before a complete crisis engulfs us. Many primary care physicians that have moved to the concierge model accept a certain number of patients, all of whom pay several thousand dollars a year and they don't accept any kind of health care insurance. This greatly reduces their expenses, guarantees a stable income and allows some quality in their lives, for they don't have to rush through patients in 15 minutes. We should be asking ourselves what will happen when virtually all physician go to similar models and what can be done to avoid this ? First we must find ways to reduce the debt accumulated by medical students, many of whom exit medical school with debt in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. Even though many of them would love to become primary care physicians they feel that they must pursue more lucrative specialties because of their financial pressures. Secondly, reimbursements under medicare and medicaid are marginal in terms of profit. With the scheduled decrease in physician payments associated with Obama care, and in many cases seeing medicare and medicaid patients will actually cost money. Even though many physicians feel a moral obligation to see these patients, the financial pressures will eventually obliterate their humanitarian tendencies. Unless we begin to seriously and quickly address these kind of issues, we will face a crisis in medical access for all but the wealthy in our society. The very thing that Obamacare was suppose to solve will be severely exacerbated and we will all be losers in the end.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/08/12
Reassessing our way of Life
BY: Armstrong Williams
Reassessing our way of Life
So when we think of America, we think of a broad tapestry of perspectives, united by the common belief in freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness under God. With this liberty, however, comes a special responsibility. Here, the government does not hammer its values into the youth. It does not fabricate principles and indoctrinate the young in a rigid pattern of being. Here, in America, we are given so much liberty that the heroic task of instilling a value system is left to each individual family.
This is an extraordinary act of faith. With our notions of liberty, we leave it to each parent to demonstrate to their children, the ideas of compassion, human goodness and love. With our sense of self-government, we leave it to each individual family to instill in their children a sense of individual striving and personal responsibility. For this reason, we must never allow ourselves to be lulled into indifference when it comes to family values. So it saddens me when I read that marriage rates have plummeted to a 40-year low, or that divorce rates continue to hover just above 50 percent. It worries me when I read that parents now spend less time with their children, or that the children of duel income families are left largely to raise themselves. Each day these children come home, they cook their own dinner, and decide whether to do homework while gazing at the television. It is indeed a worrisome thing when the symbols of our materialism, like televisions, VCRs and video games, become the surrogates for our children.
As we take this occasion to celebrate Columbus Day, please assess the way of life that we love, I think it is critical that we understand just how basic and fundamental what we call "family values" are to our way of life. It is crucial that we not forget that in a self-governing society like ours, the strength of the nation resides in the strength of the family.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/04/12
Round One Goes to Romney by a wide margin
BY: Armstrong Williams
Round One Goes to Romney by a wide margin
The consensus seems to be that Romney won the debate last night. I think it was a slight victory in terms of debate performance. But, in terms of significance, a slight victory is more than it sounds. Romney hasn’t had much of a chance to speak directly to the American people. He has been mediated by spin for a year. A good performance last night can make up for a lot of that, and help overcome some of the advantages that all incumbents necessarily have.
Romney got a full five minutes less in airtime than the President, and often had to struggle to get rebuttals in. Jim Lehrer was, frankly superfluous. I would much prefer a Lincoln-Douglas style debate, or even a simple conversation. Put the two men on stage, sit them down with a timer, and let them simply talk directly to Americans. Jim Lehrer contributed nothing (and, by the nature of his position, could contribute nothing), and detracted much. It’s time we change the way these debates work.
The President’s biggest weakness was his ability to stay focused. Governor Romney subtly mocked this at one point. The President didn’t seem to know for sure what he was trying to say. He was forced—and willingly accepted—to defend the IPAB! When you’re defending the IPAB, you’re doing it wrong.
The President seems to think that it’s 2008 again, and not because he talked about George Bush (he didn’t mention that unutterable name, like Voldemort) Why hasn’t he done the things he says we ought to do? It’s not good enough simply to say that the Republicans control the House of Representatives: for the first two years, Obama had his hands on all the levers of the federal government. And even if the Republicans did control Congress, why is the President so weak that he can do nothing despite it? Why won’t there be four more years of gridlock if he’s re-elected? The President’s complaints about the existence of Republicans in Congress sounds a lot like “this job is too hard for me.”
CBS assembled 500 people for a poll after the debate: Romney won by a 2 to 1 margin. He did a great job, and should take a great deal of confidence with him on the campaign trail.
The Vice-Presidential debate is next, on October 11. I can’t wait.
10/03/12
Planned Delusion
Planned Delusion
BY: Armstrong Williams
According to all prognosticators, there is a great deal at stake with respect to tonight's first presidential debate. Many students of history and politics are having difficulty understanding why President Obama is still leading in the polls with persistent high unemployment, anemic GDP growth, a foreign policy that is in flames; a sixteen trillion dollar national debt; and general despair about the future run rampant in this country. If Romney is capable of highlighting these obvious nightmares and is able to resist pressure from the media and Obama to talk about irrelevant and diversionary issues, he should be able to make substantial progress.
Although this sounds like a simple analysis, our President is quite clever and will use all of his trickery to remove the spotlight from his failures. He will try to emphasize any historical shortfalls of any Republican and associate all those problems with candidate Romney.
The postmortem analysis of this debate should also be fascinating. No matter how well Romney does, the left wing media will try and frame it as an Obama victory. It will be interesting to see if the American people are wise enough to decipher for themselves who they think is the real winner of the debates. It is amazing how one can listen to a debate or speech, come to their own conclusion about it, and change their opinion on it within minutes after listening to the media and other pundits’ assessments of the debate. If people do not think for themselves, they will be nothing more than the manipulators of these pundits’ thoughts and ideas. The future of our nation depends on the wisdom of a populace that up until now has been easily manipulated. We can only hope and pray that wisdom will prevail among "we the people" over mindless manipulation.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
10/02/12
Distorting the Truth
Distorting the Truth
BY: Armstrong Williams
It's time for the media and politicians to stop using selective phrases to attack their opponents.
By nit-picking these phrases for a political attack or a story, the meaning of these phrases are distorted and exaggerated. They are so distorted and exaggerated by the end of the day that these attacks hold little truth.
Take Romney’s observation on Obama’s latest statement, for example.
When Obama said that there were a few bumps in the road regarding Middle East foreign policy, Romney implied the President did not understand the significance of having an Ambassador and staff killed. Obviously this is not true, because President Obama has made it a featured point in his speech to the UN General Assembly.
The Obama group, which includes the media, completely distorted Romney's words regarding 47 percent of individuals who are supported by government programs and their status as citizens.
He stated that the president and himself each starts out with 47 percent of the vote, so the focus of his campaign was going to be the remaining 6 percent of the electorate.
This candid fact is true, but it is also what President Obama’s campaign is doing. The focus of Romney’s statement was actually how he intended to reach the six percent of undecided voters. What the media did not choose to highlight out of that video from Mother Jones was how Romney talked about the challenges confronting our nation and the choices we have concerning its direction- and yes, he has stuck with this message since the beginning of his campaign.
The media and politicians of today act very much like third graders on a playground who hear someone say something and jump around like tattletales saying “did you hear that.”
In our advanced society that we are in the year 2012, we need to strengthen the political discourse in this country beyond simple words and phrases. Moreover, media outlets and political figures should analyze the action in context of what is being said and done like intelligent, mature adults. If we expect the American public to hear the truth and believe it, we need to give them the entire truth unadulterated by distortion.
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10/01/12
Taxation without Sovereignty
Taxation without Sovereignty
BY: Armstrong Williams
Are you aware that the United Nations are looking for means to tax individuals, businesses, and transactions of sovereign nations, especially in the United States?
The UN has set up a special committee to look at revenue enhancement measures. These revenue enhancement measures are a euphemism for taxation. Why do the mainstream media ignore the UN’s efforts to tax Americans?
Some of these “revenue enhancement measures” the UN plans to implement assess a special tax on Americans and give the money to Third World nations.
They have also proposed everything from a carbon tax to a billionaires’ tax, and want to replace the U.S. dollar as the common currency all nations use for international trade.
Last I heard, America is a sovereign nation and only Congress and the State Legislatures can impose taxes on Americans according to our Founding Fathers.
The UN in their decision to tax the United States through these measures is essentially violating our right as a sovereign nation.
At the Republican National Convention, the GOP platform concluded that the United Nations is not trustworthy enough to handle foreign aid because of their history of scandal.
Why should we, as a nation, give up our sovereignty to a body that is more corrupt than some of our own leaders in government? The United States has spent over 200 years as a free, independent, sovereign nation- why should we relinquish our sovereignty now?
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09/28/12
Chicago and Education
BY: Armstrong Williams
Subject: Chicago and Education
I have nothing against Chicago or Gates. I'm glad to see a Democrat "wake up and smell the failure" of public schools. For too long, Democrats have been the facilitators of teachers' unions to the detriment of children. The unions are doing their job: protecting the economic interests of their collective constituency, i.e. they favor the more senior teachers as they pay the most in union dues, and they favor a flat/time-serving rewards system over differentiation of performance and linkage of pay. Great. That's what they're 'supposed' to do. However, Democrats have systematically privileged those interests above those of the taxpayers (ask the bankrupt municipalities in CA) and children (ask the inner city BLACK and HISPANIC kids in underperforming schools and their parents who have no choices and no rights).
Competition is the key. We have unfettered competition at the college/grad school level and the best institutions in the world. Ask the tens of thousands of foreigners who come here and pay top dollar to go. We have failing K-12 schools because of local monopolies. To the extent charter schools introduce competition, they are good. Give poor parents the same choice your or my economic status gives us: I can choose private school (actually parochial school as I believe education divorced from moral instruction is lacking) and you can choose a public school system and the attendant property taxes. I find it amusing how often "publicly- minded" Democrat parents find it imperative to move to Montgomery County or Falls Church and out of DC as their kids become school age. Ditto for President Barack Hussein Obama: no way his kids were going to a public school....it was Sidwell Friends all the way. I find this the HEIGHT of HYPOCRISY, but, hey - you guys are only limousine liberals. What else could I expect.
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09/27/12
Will the Racial and Racist clock ever expire in America?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Will the Racial and Racist clock ever expire in America ?
Looking at today’s society, systemic racism within the American populace is largely dead, and that what little racism remains is likely fomented by government policies that move minorities to the head of the line. This can only prove destructive and back fire over time.
Common sense tells us that affirmative action and other
set-aside programs are ultimately destructive, both for the “soft bigotry of low expectations” that it represents, but also for the resentment it creates in the larger population in this country, many of whom were born after the civil-rights era and have taught their children by words and example that we must treat
all human beings as equals, with respect/dignity, and never make a negative or positive judgement about someone based on their race.
The real question we must ponder, is whether the vast number of minorities in our nation become so reliant on Big Government,
that they can’t make substantial progress without free money, special scholarships, quotas, affirmative action, lower admissions standards, and any other mechanism employed to propel them forward ?
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09/26/12
Renewed repression in the Middle East
BY: Armstrong Williams
Renewed repression in the Middle East
An extraordinary wave of change continues to sweep across the Middle East and North Africa. It is a heady time for many who wish to cast off their chains of repression and deprivation and usher in a new age of freedom and democracy. But unless such developments ultimately occur in the context of virtue-driven changes, it is all too easy to reproduce old patterns and replace the current strongman or dictator with another or an oligarchy of exploiters. The course of human history is littered with examples where the flames of freedom were extinguished by an avalanche of renewed repression—from the French Revolution morphing into the Reign of Terror to the Iranian Revolution exchanging the Shah Palevi’s autocratic dynasty with a sect of repressive, fundamentalist Islamist fanatics.
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09/25/12
QE Infinitum
BY: Armstrong Williams
QE Infinitum
The Federal Reserve, seemingly following the path of the ECB, announces QE3 just after the
Euros commit to unlimited backing of EU debtor nations. Easy money is here to
stay on both sides of the Atlantic. We hear in London they are taking measures to
rival Singapore as a reminbi center. Don't get this news in the US - too busy
running down stories of unimaginable triviality - but whenever I speak to sources outside the
US I hear financial stories about the Chinese currency positioning to be a rival
reserve currency. The seeds of our coming economic repositioning, and financial
diminution, are being put in place. Of course, President Obama can't be blamed for not
taking the straightforward moves to counter this - perish the thought.
I'm sure it's GWB's fault somehow (of course someone needs to explain to me how a housing
bubble a couple decades in the making - even Wikipedia's explanation, look up
"US housing bubble," is reasonably accurate - is all his fault). Please note
that during QE1, western funds flowed to China at a rate of $2B/day. With our
new easing, the Chinese will not have to stimulate themselves - they'll use our
funds. We debase our currency....and they preserve theirs. Same
story....different day.
09/21/12
"Are Conservative Racist" ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
"Are Conservative Racist" ?
Well the Congressional Black Caucus is having their annual legislative week in Washington DC this week opining about their favorite subject "racism". They can't seem to stop reminding their audience that President Obama and his Democratic machine continues to champion their causes and if Romney is elected, we will return to the days of the great plantations. They have taken Romney's video comments about the 47% and are creating a new political industry and campaign. However, the President's record on crime, closing the education gap, reducing unprecedented poverty in minority communities, and creating an entrepreneur class during his tenure has taken a massive nose dive. Why is it that white and black conservatives are always the biggest impediment to the progress of many blacks in this country, according to the high pitch rhetoric of the CBC and Democratic machine ?
What you’ll often hear from conservatives like me is that the left’s solutions to the problems that ail minority communities are themselves racist, since they operate on the fundamental premise that minorities are incapable. There’s almost nothing, according to Democrats, that minorities are cable of accomplishing without the help of the government. To hear some Democrats speak, minorities are incapable of doing just about anything without a handout or a leg up.
Believing – as white and black conservatives alike do– that minorities don’t need anyone’s help to get ahead in life may be naïve, or unrealistic, but it is not racist. And certainly not as racist as the notion underpinning Democratic policy: That minorities can’t make it in this world without free money, special scholarships, quotas, affirmative action, lower admissions standards, and any other mechanism employed to propel them forward. After all, isn’t racism defined as a belief in the inherent inferiority of a group of people based on their skin color? And yet it is somehow, inexplicably, not racist, if your intention are good – not to hold them down but to help them out.
Thus, black and white Republicans find ourselves labeled racist, Uncle Toms, race traitors, and for daring to say no, no, no, they don’t need anyone’s – much less the government’s – help to get ahead in life. We live in a world where saying that we’re all equal and no one deserves a handout more than the person sitting next to us makes us a racist.
The litany of accusations can reach absurd proportions. Want to emphasize teaching about this nation’s founding in our public schools more than the history of Swahili in Africa? You’re a racist. Want the government to stop handing out our tax dollars to companies simply because they’re run by blacks or Hispanics or women? You must be a racist. Want to keep health insurance the way it is, and not turn it all over to politicians and bureaucrats in Washington? You must be a racist. It sure gets tiresome, doesn’t it?
It all gets back to the lack of tolerance of others’ beliefs regardless of race, and the failure to exercise patience in order to understand why Republicans of all colors believe as they do.
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09/19/12
Getting used to Mediocrity
BY: Armstrong Williams
Getting used to Mediocrity
Look at what's in store for our once great America: the fiscal cliff, a further risk of downgrade, a
radicalizing Mideast (the cries of the Israelis warning about Iran are being
ignored) and we seem bent on keeping the kind of leadership that will ensure a
non, or tepid, response (from behind of course) to ALL these issues. Don't
bother us, can't tend to the global economy or our strategic challenges...we're
too busy burdening business with new taxes and regulations and adding to our
transfer payments so an ever-expanding number of people are dependent on an
underperforming central government.
Ah, the land of the dependent and the home
of the indebted (has a 'nice' ring to it and certainly has the virtue of
accuracy).
You want to see the future of the US: Visit Europe soon. Over there they're broke,
but they've accepted it. I guess we'll eventually get used to mediocrity as well.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
09/18/12
One nightmare after the next
BY: Armstrong Williams
One nightmare after the next
The history of president Obama, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
We no longer have a Triple AAA Credit Rating. That’s a historic first. Just last week, the United States of America received another downgrade that the media largely ignored. Egan Jones cut its rating of the United States credit from AA to AA-. Do any Democrats remember what Standard and Poor’s actually said when they downgraded us? They emphasized, not taxes on the wealthy, but reduction in spending, as gravely needed. Does the President think that this problem will magically go away? He has done nothing about this, and, sadly, I do not expect him to ever do anything about it.
The percentage of people working is lower than it has been in three decades. Not only are our wallets thinned out but so are our spirits. More people have gone on disability in the Obama years than have got new jobs. Are that many people actually getting disabled? Is there an epidemic going on here that we don’t know about?
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09/17/12
The Middle East is aflame
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Middle East is aflame:
Keep in mind that in the midst of all this violence and uncertainty in the Middle East, a virulently anti-American fundamentalist Islamist regime in Tehran is brazenly marching toward a nuclear weapons capability. President Obama has said that all options are on the table to prevent this eventuality, but does anyone really believe that? The Iranians certainly don’t—otherwise they would have scaled back their efforts rather than defiantly ramping them up. America is watching and waiting while subterranean centrifuges in Iran are spinning.
For Israel, America’s closest ally in the region, the dangers to its security are grave and the future is uncertain. But the haunting prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran and the seething violence in so many neighboring countries is far bigger than Israel’s problem alone and is truly a global threat.
Before things get even worse, America must move past our recent foreign policy blunders and demonstrate the true global leadership we have been sorely lacking under President Obama.
The Middle East is aflame and further mixed signals by the United States will only add fuel to the fires.
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09/14/12
No Thine enemies and never confuse them as friends and allies
BY: Armstrong Williams
No Thine enemies and never confuse them as friends and allies.
Bloggers be careful what you wish for. A year ago the Obama administration was triumphantly celebrating it's role in the Arab Spring. In the process the USA failed to support it's long time Egyptian allies, President Hosni Mubarak and the Egyptian military. Instead it tacitly supported the devil it didn't know regime. It was obvious that the likely winners of any Egyptian election would have been the Moslem Brotherhood. The United States policies at the time naively supported the Devil that they would soon get to know.
In Libya Colonel Gaddafi was not a friend of the United States, but after decades of ruling Libya he reached a mutual accommodation with our nation. When it mattered most, President Obama would lead from behind to topple Gaddafi. Once again Gaddafi was replaced with an Islamic supporting - American hating regime.
In Iran the USA again naively supported ineffective sanctions to keep the Iranians from getting nuclear weapons.
In Israel with respect to our Israeli allies the only credible check on Iranian nuclear power in the Middle East, President Obama recently declared he didn't have face to face meeting time for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is after figuratively slapping him in the face in the White House earlier in the year and after the Democratic party removed Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel from it's party platform.
This President can't differentiate his allies from enemies. He would rather be loved and mocked rather than be respected and feared.
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09/13/12
What have we gained from deposing Gaddafi ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What have we gained from deposing Gaddafi ?
The recent attack on the United States Embassy in Libya which resulted in the death of our US Ambassador and three Senior Staff members is approximates act of war that has not engendered much of a response from the White House. Let us not forget the attack on our Embassy in Egypt this week, which is a dark reminder of the weakness of our foreign policy. Is this not reminiscent of the Jimmy Carter White house years ? Unless America finds it's resolve we will soon be under constant attack by radical Islamist elements that American taxpayers are funding and empowering. This movement without a doubt is dedicated to destroying our way of life and once they have removed us as a force for good, the entire world will easily succumb to their way.
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09/12/12
A Government that is drowning
BY: Armstrong Williams
A government that is drowning
Much has been written about the fact that many American home owners are under water. This simply means that they owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth. Interestingly the United States economy is also under water. Our national debt of more than $16 trillion dollars for the first time, is greater than our Gross Domestic Product. When a home owner find themselves in this dilemma they have a difficult time borrowing money and it impacts virtually everything in their lives. Why are we surprised when our credit ratings are downgraded, which will once again occur sooner than later. The federal Reserve will no doubt do it's best to ameliorate our financial status by printing money that progressively is of less value. It is important for "We the People" to have a basic understanding of not only our personal financial status but to understand the fiscal polices and severe implications of government actions. Without such common sense it will be highly difficult to evaluate statements made by politicians who depends on ignorance by the people to sell their continuous financial lies.
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09/11/12
Real estate seemed perfect.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Real estate seemed perfect.
No one in the late 80's truly understood what any of the technology firms would produce before there boom and growth. The equity markets looked like a perilous place to speculate about the future. People had come back down to earth and were looking for a traditional method to accumulate wealth. They wanted something tangible, something familiar and certainly easily understood. Real estate seemed perfect. It was among the most tangible of all assets and historically one of the safest investments. Or so it seemed.
The first decade of the new millennium in America bore witness to a viral explosion in real estate investment, fueled by low mortgage rates and an abandonment of the equity markets. The nation created a new market overnight to continue the necessary growth in the United States and all with one simple key: home mortgage debt.
In the blink of an eye, the American consumers, companies and investment markets shifted from an investment practice and equity-oriented philosophy that had characterized the dot-com era to a debt-fueled runaway train with no brakes.
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09/10/12
Staring down the fiscal Cliff
BY: Armstrong Williams
Staring down the fiscal cliff
There is a psychological aspect to the fiscal cliff. Many analysts believe that individuals, investors and businessmen in this country are in economic limbo because they are concerned about the "fiscal cliff". The business and financial community does not like uncertainty. They do not know whether the US will go over the fiscal cliff and enter a recession. They prepare for the worst. Consequently, they save money and do not spend money today because in a recession "Cash is King". If the fiscal cliff were to be eliminated, these individuals, businesses and investors might be more inclined to spend money. This would immediately help stimulate the economy.
The fiscal cliff is a direct result of the failed leadership of the Obama administration. The President created this problem by failing to get congress to agree on a responsible fiscal policy and trying to put off the difficult tax and spending issues by "kicking the can down the road." Obama rationalizes his responsibility for creating the fiscal cliff by saying that he wants to prevent a tax cut for the rich. He has clearly stated that he wants to raise taxes on the rich even if it does not stimulate the economy or create additional tax revenue because it is "the right thing to do!" Isn't stimulating the economy and creating jobs for unemployed Americans "the right thing to do?" A competent President would not tolerate a fiscal cliff during a tepid recovery.
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09/07/12
Not Ready For Primetime
BY: Armstrong Williams
Not Ready For Primetime
It turns out that more people were watching football—the relatively inconsequential games of Week One—than were watching President Clinton’s 48-minute speech defending himself, and, by proxy, Barack Obama. So much for that.
New jobs numbers come out Today, and Friday is the most important day of the week in political messaging: Friday is the day when the subject of the weekend talk-shows will be determined.
The jobs numbers, like the NFL’s
opening day, will, simply by timing, overshadow the Convention and soften any post-Convention bounce.
The President went into the Convention already with an advantage: Real Clear Politics had him and Governor Romney tied at 46.7%. The Convention has a number of factors working against it, and so I would be surprised if the President got anything more than a two-point bounce.
But in 2012, in an election year that everyone knows is critical to the future of the country, and, therefore, the future of the world, in a time when independents and moderates are going extinct, that’s all it takes.
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09/06/12
The Tale of Two Conventions
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Tale of Two Conventions
I’m here in Charlotte, and I’ve been here for all of the speeches. There is more to this convention than the speeches from First Lady Michelle Obama and former President William Jefferson Clinton. You might not have seen a lot of them—and there’s a good reason for that. The Democrats have put all of their most alienating, radical speakers first, before prime-time media coverage, and then their more moderate, salable speakers later in the evening, for middle America to see. Fortunately, we are in the Internet age, when all of this is on the record, and none of it will be forgotten.
This is already a terribly negative Convention. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, got up on stage and said that “women can’t trust Mitt Romney.” Who does Nancy Keenan speak for? She, no doubt, would claim that she speaks for all women, which is about as arrogant as it gets.
The Democrats have made the strange choice of portraying Mitt Romney as both a flip-flopper and an extremist. I have news for them: you can’t be both. If he were extreme, he wouldn’t flip flop; if he flip-flopped, he wouldn’t be extreme. They’ve even shown us video from Romney’s Senate run in 1994 against Ted Kennedy. They think that it will help their cause by showing a younger, more moderate Romney.
The Democrats need to stick to a narrative. If they’re going to play dirty—and they have definitely decided to do that—they’re going to have to be a lot more convincing, and they’re going to have to do it in front of the right cameras
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09/05/12
Granholm Speaks at DNC
BY: Armstrong Williams
Subject: Granholm Speaks at DNC
The Democratic National Convention is working hard to convince Americans that their failed policies worked.
The week after the successful Republican National Convention that triumphed personal fortitude and the American Dream, the Democrats have set the stage by parading around collectivist policies that have failed the American people.
As we saw on the Sunday talk shows this week, the Democrats have been working hard, with limited success, to defend the past four years of Obama’s Presidency. Since defending President Obama’s record is such an uphill, but necessary, battle, I was surprised to see that the Democrats have another casualty of collectivist policies, Jennifer Granholm, who was a convention speaker on yesterday.
For those of you who do not know, Jennifer Granholm is the former Governor of Michigan whose Michigan Business Tax, also known as MBT, paved the way for the Michigan unemployment to reach 14.2 percent in 2009 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest tax increase in Michigan history at $1.4 billion the MBT was pitched to the people of Michigan as a way to improve education, public works, job retraining and corporate subsidies. What it did instead was drive business and residents away from Michigan by raising personal income tax and added a 22% surcharge to the business tax.
Granholm’s tax was received with such overwhelming objection that Michigan Republicans were able to sweep both chambers of the legislature and the Governors Mansion in the 2010 elections—all in a state that usually leans blue and has not had a Republican Presidential candidate win since HW Bush in ’88.
After four years of President Obama’s failed stimulus, egregious healthcare law and job killing big government policies the Democrats have an uphill battle trying to convince Americans that they know how to fix our national woes. Selecting Granholm to speak at the DNC does nothing but bring up memories of failed big government policies while making this election harder for Obama. So why would the DNC select Granholm? Maybe she represents the best of what they believe and will continue to advocate.
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09/03/12
Democrats Respond
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Democrats respond !
After a well-executed Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., it is now time for the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
The Democrats are already responding to the Republican convention, and changing their speaker lineup: According to Donovan Slack of Politico, the Democrats are adding women and minorities to their roster, which I take to mean that the Republican convention was effective. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s speech was presidential — it wouldn’t be hard to imagine her giving that if she were the nominee. Just as stirring was that of Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Some left-wing critics noted that the RNC stage was more diverse than the RNC delegation; I ask, would you prefer it the other way around?
I’m afraid that that’s the case with the Democratic National Convention. As Matt Yglesias tweeted, "[the] DNC lineup exaggerates whiteness of the party relative to its actual voting base."
One good way to judge the confidence of a campaign is to note how often it uses ad hominem attacks. The more ad hominems, the less confident they must be.
Armstrong Williams, author of the 2010 book, "Reawakening Virtues," is on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside. Read his content on RightSideWire.com.
08/23/12
The GOP convention preview
BY: Armstrong Williams
The GOP convention preview
The theme for this year’s Republican National Convention in Tampa is We Did Build That!
It’s an interesting choice of a theme. There are a lot of options this year: Governor Romney is running against a president who simply hasn’t got much or very little right. Even the death of Osama Bin Laden, it turns out, is something that he bungled, since we saw him “spike the football” about it when his poll numbers started looking scary (incidentally, they haven’t got any better since then).
But it’s a worthy message, one that puts the question of economic freedom front and center, which is appropriate, since it will be front and center in November.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/22/12
Medicare going bust
BY: Armstrong Williams
Medicare going bust
There is much conversation about medicare in the presidential campaign and on capitol Hill. The thing that has not been highlighted enough is that medicare has been in existence for decades already and many physicians under the current reimbursement plan do not participate. This is because reimbursements are very low and sometime do not even pay for the time and equipment necessary to treat the patient. Under Obamacare those already low reimbursements will be further reduced significantly. This will lead to more physicians bowing out of medicare and more seniors being disappointed because they can't receive adequate financial care. A recent survey among primary care physicians indicated that a large number of them were unhappy because they were forced to see so many patients in such a short period of time, just to break even. As a result many physicians are finding their work and occupation less fulfilling. Obamacare will add another 30 million people to medicare and medicaid rolls, which will further drastically exacerbate the situation. If Obama is reelected and Obamacare is allowed to stand, it will be quite interesting a year from now who he will blame for the long lines and the multiple complaints from people who can't get care.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/21/12
Stupidity knows no party
BY: Armstrong Williams
Stupidity knows no party
Senatorial candidate Todd Akin yesterday made one of the most egregious remarks in the history of politics in America, when he implied that some rape of women are legitimate. He went on to state that sometime when a woman is raped her body goes into defensive mode which would prevent a pregnancy. All of which is complete nonsense. To his credit he quickly recognized that this was a terrible faux paux and apologize stating that he had misspoken. In a supposedly enlightened age the concept that any rape of any person can be anything but horrendous, is almost laughable . Particularly embarrassing for the GOP because of course the Main stream media will try to portray these idiotic statements as representative of all Republicans. This is no closer to the truth than to say that Joe Biden's statements of putting people back in chains is representative of all Democrats. Hopefully Mr. Akin himself will be able to objectively access whether his remaining in the race will be detrimental to his party and will make an appropriate choice by 5pm today; which is the deadline for the party being able to replace him with another candidate. Unfortunately this will not be the last incredibly stupid thing that will be said by an individual from one or the other party. We the People have to be smart enough to recognize these gaffes for what they are and not let a bias media whip us into an inappropriate frenzy.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/20/12
Betting the Full House on Paul Ryan
BY: Armstrong Williams
Betting the Full House on Ryan
Two weeks ago, this race was about President Barack Obama. Now this race is about the future of America. Romney is gambling the entire conservative brand on November, and giving America a choice: if they really want Bismarckian statism, then they can have it. Or, if they want prosperity and freedom, they can have that back too. Romney is thinking very long-term, like a true leader should.
A lot of people on both sides have called this a risky move; they are right. But that is why it is so brilliant: if America is going down, it’s at least going down swinging. If Obama is re-elected, and we continue on the path that we are on, within a decade the interest on our debt will be larger than our military spending, and large enough to fund the entire Chinese military. Within a decade, America will no longer be able to hide that it has lost its dominance. When a future Gibbon looks backs through the rubble, he will at least be able to say that the good guys gave it one last shot.
Romney was not reckless, however; he knew that President Obama was already going to attack him for associating with Paul Ryan. The Republican House has already passed two Ryan budgets, and Obama is hoping to run against the Republican House: David Axelrod was already sharpening his guilt-by-association fallacy.
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08/17/12
A Man Called Peter
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Man called Peter
After returning from vacation I was shocked and saddened by the news from our building door keeper, Mr. Mack that a homeless man who frequents my neighborhood had died. I had no relationship with this man, but he would always no matter what season of the year go out of his way to always speak to me and acknowledge my presence. On a few occasions when I wasn't so consumed with my own world, I would acknowledge him by speaking or gesturing. Many of the young adults in the neighborhood along with police officers knew him and were fond of Peter. He didn't to my knowledge pose any threat to anyone but always friendly and willing to carry on a conversation. So why did I feel shocked and saddened by the news he had passed ? There are so many people in our lives on a daily basis go unnoticed by us , because we are so busy pursuing our own personal agendas. Could it be that these people actually have something to offer? Is it possible that we should take time to develop a relationship and a friendship with those we often ignore ? After all isn't that what society is all about ? Isn't everyone important ? Also when I see someone being savaged or mistreated, I say to myself that was once a cute little baby that everyone adored. I wonder what happened to them along life's journey and I wonder if I contributed in a negative way. We all have the ability to be positive forces in our environment and positive influences in the lives of others. Let us make a commitment today to be friendly to the Peter's in our lives.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/14/12
The manipulation of real markets
BY: Armstrong Williams
The manipulation of Real Markets
People have been remarking at how strange it is that people should express their support for free speech by purchasing fast food. On the contrary, it is strange, though unsurprising, that Democrats should try to restrict free speech, by outlawing the fast food companies they don’t like.
The Democrats, with decades of acquiescence and even assistance of Republicans, have done, and are continuing to do, everything that they can to keep the market from being a real market. They are distorting it in every way possible: they are incentivizing bad ideas with subsidies as well as tax breaks; they are punishing good ideas with heavy taxes. They are trying to re-make the market in their own image, which is something like remaking nature in our own: not going to end pretty.
The entire Democratic program is to insulate people from reality: the government will take care of your health insurance, your food, your housing, your cell phones, your child. You can behave as you wish: there are no consequences. The government will pay for your abortion if you’re promiscuous; it will give you a grant if you can’t give the market anything anybody wants; it will take down the rich if you feel bad about yourself. Papa Government is going to make everything okay.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/03/12
Culture Matters
BY: Armstrong Williams
Culture Matters
Liberals agree that culture matters; they just want a different kind of culture. If liberals didn’t think that culture was a factor in the success of a nation, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to change ours. Their efforts to strangle Hollywood, to smother politically incorrect speech in academia, and to run the media are three examples just off the top of my head. Everybody with a modicum of common sense knows that culture matters.
One needn’t be a reductionist to see that our politics is the result of our other beliefs: it is downstream from culture. America is in trouble not because of some mistake made by the Founding Fathers, some unforeseen development; no, it is a result of culture. It is, without a doubt, our fault.
08/02/12
Massive government growth
Massive government growth
BY: Armstrong Williams
The November 2012 election is a choice of whether we're going to be for, of, and by the people or for, of, and by the government. There is a mindset in our country that the government is becoming progressively smaller and less intrusive. Those who doubt this mindset often reference the New Deal, often cited as the government’s solution to the Great Depression by creating workforce programs. However, this was an isolated point in our history where extreme government intervention was necessary in order to preserve any type of economic freedom.
To use the New Deal as a reference point to compare with today’s economic situation demonstrates extreme naivete about the true nature of government growth and intrusion in our lives. On the contrary, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, by the year 2027, our debt level will be such that our economy will stop.
The reason we have a 16-plus trillion-dollar debt revolves around government spending. If our government keeps spending at this rate, our economic freedom will cease to exist. If the government was not so massive, we as Americans would not be burdened by our national debt that continues to grow. Unfortunately, denial does not solve the problem.
We as Americans have to wake up and realize that we have to take action. We have to let Washington know that this November 2012, Americans will no longer tolerate the tyranny of a big government nanny state.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
08/01/12
Obama's long-term blessing
Obama’s long-term blessing
BY: Armstrong Williams
Many people regret electing President Obama because of the realization that his policies have led to the decline of our nation. However, it is quite possible that his election is the best thing that has happened to our nation in a very long time. The consequences of such an election have served to awaken the spirit of America and have helped us realize that this is a free nation of independent people who are not driven by government policy. People decided to go for the popular candidate that promised “hope” and “change” as opposed to the candidate who many Americans saw as a third-term of Bush. Four years later, the American people realize that we have a problem in this country when there is 8.2 percent unemployment and $16 trillion in national debt. We as Americans realized we need those conservative values and principles to make our nation great again. Obama’s election showed us that sometimes bad things can happen for a good reason.
If Obama had not been elected, we would have continued to slowly drift away from the values and principles that made us into a great nation. If all else fails, just remember: “this too shall pass.”
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/30/12
Leave the negativity out of political campaigning
Leave the negativity out of political campaigning
BY: Armstrong Williams
If you ask most people, they will say they're turned off by negative political ads. A recent survey conducted by the marketing agency MGH showed that 88 percent of people are turned off by political advertising. However, the vast majority of the political ads in a presidential campaign are extremely negative. This is more so the case during this campaign than ever before, primarily because the president has nothing else on which to campaign. When one side becomes extremely negative, the other side feels as if they have no choice but to respond in kind. It is not clear that this is absolutely true, however. Maybe the public would respond positively if Mr. Romney were to say, if I had nothing to campaign on I would be negative also; however, I have more important things to say, especially with our economy in shambles, and we don't have time to engage in third grade tactics. We are talking about the future of our children and of our nation. Let us engage our population to think positively, create jobs and instill confidence and pride in our once great nation. Let us leave the negativity to those that have nothing else to say.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/26/12
Representative Frank, it's time to say sayonara
BY: Armstrong Williams
Representative Frank, it's time to say sayonara
Representative Frank, it's time to say sayonara
By: Armstrong Williams
Mr. Frank, your display on the House floor this week speaks volumes on the financial debacle that the world suffered four years ago. You were emphatic that the Federal Reserve Board was above, beyond, and exempt from oversight. In your arrogant display, you attempted to belittle Rep. Ron Paul's legislation that called for auditing the Federal Reserve. We acknowledge that you have contributed to our nation's well being and have been extremely effective as a member of the House Financial Services Committee. We also acknowledge your many failures as a member of the committee. As of this writing, Secretary Geitner is appearing before your committee this week. We have also learned that Mr. Geitner was aware of the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) pricing shenanigans while at the Federal Reserve in New York., even though he claims that he was not in a position to do anything about it at the time. LIBOR is the benchmark interest rate for the world financial community and its the rate at which the world's most preferred borrowers are able to borrow. If you borrow money, have a credit card, mortgage, car loan, or etc.-you are affected by LIBOR. We all understand that most borrowing in the world is priced based on LIBOR.
Mr. Frank, the financial community is not above the law or regulation. The financial meltdown of four years ago basically held no one accountable. The best explanation given was that this was merely an act of God and not a failure of man and his rules. No one was sent to jail and almost no one was admonished. This week, your continued shameful defense of not requiring an audit of the government agency that regulates our money supply, interest rates, and our way of life is given a pass. All government agencies have checks and balances with the exception of the Federal Reserve.
Mr. Ranking Member, your past draconian laws have put layers of regulations, stipulations and requirements on businesses, and you still want to exempt the Fed?
The American people are wondering why you are still giving favors to the public sector while the economy is suffering at the private sector's expense.
Barney Frank, it's time to say sayonara, for the sake of the economy and the American people.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/25/12
Loaning money destroys friendships and family relationships
BY: Armstrong Williams
Loaning money destroys friendship and family relationships.
In his play “Hamlet,” Shakespeare warned, "neither a borrower nor a lender be – for loan oft loseth both itself and friend. And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry." Shakespeare’s aphorism conveys primarily a moral, not a financial message. In our discussions of the modern world, the basic principles are often put off into broad generalities – whether we want to speak about governments, banks, corporate America, the mortgage industry, or consumers. But at the basic level, every one of these abstractions is built upon the activities of individuals. One of the most salient lessons we can learn from the subprime debacle is about individual behavior – specifically the way in which individuals should deal with debt.
A virtuous approach is usually to spend only after one has earned. Being in debt is never an ideal situation for anyone. First, it reduces freedom. Also, friendships suffer when someone holds the reigns over another. It causes a reduction in the flow of affection and creates a formality that weakens social bonds between friends, family, and colleagues. Refusing to lend money to an irresponsible friend or family member may, in fact, be the best thing a true friend could do.
More importantly, indebtedness creates a moral hazard. The normal developments that would make people change their behavior – such as going broke – no longer operate effectively in a debt-fueled society. No matter how insolvent one becomes, one can always delay the day of reckoning. But the fundamental moral problem is that people don’t respect what they don’t earn. Slick Wall Street brokers who artificially create trades to inflate quarterly earnings – and thus increase their bonuses – end up spending them on frivolous pursuits. Easy come, easy go. Extending unemployment benefits during the economic downturn may seem like a benevolent gesture designed to help people who’ve been displaced by the economy. But at the same time it reduces the incentive for people to find work. Bailing out big banks by extending them interest-free loans might delay their collapse. But it does not curb the reckless behavior that got them into the situation in the first place.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/24/12
Politicizing Grief
BY: Armstrong Williams
Politicizing Grief
Anyone who reads my columns and blogs can tell you that it is one of my mantras that politics should take up as little space in your life as possible. If it doesn’t, it’s only out of necessity occasioned by bad government, something we have in surplus.
A normal, healthy person with a functioning conscience should recoil with horror at the gruesome murder of a dozen Americans and the wounding of seventy others in a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. If you don’t feel that, there’s something wrong with you.
If your first reaction is, say, to get political, to condescend to our nation’s Founding Fathers about the fact that guns are instruments of violence, then there is most certainly something wrong with you.
The paparazzi treatment of the whole affair as a commoditized news story is, despite its hideousness, predictable. I had hoped that exploiting the innocent victims of a random and senseless act was not.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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07/23/12
73 Million Americans On the Wrong Side of the Credit Divide
BY: Armstrong Williams
73 Million Americans On the Wrong Side of the Credit Divide
A recent Wall Street Journal article examined how the Feds use of low interest rate policies has failed to reach those in need the most. Aptly calling it the “credit divide,” the article finds that “Fed officials have been frustrated in the past year that low interest rate policies haven’t reached enough Americans to spur stronger growth, the way economics textbooks say low rates should.” That conclusion is of no surprise to many, especially to the 73 million un banked and under banked Americans who don’t even figure into the Feds’ equation. That’s because extending credit to these individuals has never been seen as a meaningful contributing factor to the overall health of the economy. Sure there have been special initiatives like the FDIC’s small dollar loan program a few years back, which by all measurable accounts failed. Not because banks weren’t willing to participate in the pilot program, but at the end of the day, without FDIC incentives banks simply couldn’t make money.
Yet, we have 73 million men and women who live with the constant fear that a financial hiccup will trigger a need for money that they don’t have and most likely can’t get. While the Feds are making easy money, it’s going to those with near perfect credit scores which leave many of these 73 million Americans scrambling for other options. In other words, while interest rates are at an all time low, money still isn’t available to those that need it the most.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/20/12
Romney needs to break the tradition of political mudslinging
BY: Armstrong Williams
Romney needs to break the tradition of political mudslinging
During the previous presidential campaign, President Obama clearly stated that a candidate who cannot speak about their record in a positive way concentrates on attacking and tearing down their opponents as a way to create fear. Is that exactly not what the president is consistently engaging in during this presidential election in 2012? He fits perfectly the description of an ideologue who can always criticize those who don't agree with them even though they are doing the exact same thing and cannot see it for themselves.
It seems like Romney already has tried to clearly distinguish himself from President Barack Obama on a recent report on FOX & Friends, citing President Barack Obama’s failed economic record.
Romney Campaign Senior Adviser Ed Gillespie said Monday that the president’s criticisms of Romney were just a distraction from the real issues. Ed is absolutely right about Obama in this sense.
However, Team Romney also needs to realize that they should be the better campaign in this instance by focusing more on Romney’s positive record rather than saying that Obama is a job outsourcer and a socialist. I understand the need to fight fire with fire, but there comes a point where constant negative attacks do not make a campaign look good.
The Romney campaign needs to break the tradition of political mudslinging and start showing the American people how a president should act.
It is in the hands of “We the People” to examine the content of the words of all political candidates and determine when hypocrisy is being espoused.
Most political campaign advertisements are geared towards a seventh-grade education level while most major political speeches are written for a ninth grade level.
Do not take the words and messages of political candidates, no matter how simple they seem, at face value. More often than not the context of the message will be something completely different, only to take advantage of the unsuspecting citizen.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/18/12
Truth or hypocrisy
Truth or hypocrisy
BY: Armstrong Williams
I wish the Romney team would be more consistent in its messaging. One of the reasons Team Obama has been so successful in getting the word out is because the campaign selects a theme, whether it is true or not, and pound the message into people’s heads until the people believe that the message is true.
For example, they will say that Romney is an outsourcer and is one of its principal creators.
Team Obama’s negative strategy seems to be working, because new public opinion polls show that the Obama campaign’s consistent, negative messaging seems to have taken a toll on the public’s perception of Romney.
A new Rasmussen Poll released today shows that despite Romney’s consistent message on the economy, President Obama’s message on Bain Capital has Americans split down the middle at 41 percent each on whether Romney’s time at Bain is seen as a negative or positive.
Team Romney, on the other hand, will frequently create a brief response. Although sometimes brevity is a good thing, the campaign abandons their message so quickly before they move on to something else. Yes, we all know Romney is consistent about the economy but what else is he consistent on? The public is not able to hear the message and it appears that Team Romney never got a chance to respond to Team Obama’s relentless attacks. Last week, Romney referred to President Obama as the “Outsourcer in Chief” in a speech.
This week, he should follow up with multiple examples of why that is true. For example, he has proclaimed that General Electric is a great American company and uses its CEO as one of his chief economic advisors. This is a company that probably declared that they paid no income taxes in 2010 and has more employees outside the United States than within. They make billions of dollars overseas and bring none of that money back to our land to avoid taxes. The president stated that many U.S. companies could learn a lot from GE’s example. What would he like for them to learn? These kinds of examples are not conjecture but are factual and provide Mr. Romney with more than enough ammunition to demonstrate the extraordinary hypocrisy of Team Obama.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/17/12
Forced Affordable Care
BY: Armstrong Williams
Forced Affordable Care ?
Anyone who reads my blogs has heard me say before that what unites the Left is a vision of an ideal society, and what unites the Right is a vision of an ideal state. The Left will take or use any state necessary to get to that ideal society. At times they will argue for freedom in the language of the libertarian right; at others, they will defend Big Government outright. They think that this incoherence makes them centrists, pragmatists, reasonable, and they pat themselves on the back for it.
It is this ideology, this willingness to do absolutely anything to bring about their ideal society—a society, by the way, that would be nothing like any society ever actually achieved, one with gay marriage, abortion on demand, and safety net handouts for all who want them—is what drives their vision of the state. They see no inconsistency in arguing for small government one minute, and then big government the next.
I will make a few predictions about Affordable Care.
Thousands of doctors will retire rather than worry about the new laws, taxes, and legal liabilities. Eventually, there won’t be enough doctors to take care of all these people qualifying for free stuff. The money for free stuff will run out.
The next step everyone already knows from looking at Canada and Europe. Waiting for a doctor will be like waiting for bread behind the Iron Curtain. The problem will worsen and worsen.
Unless the whole system simply collapses, we all know the final step: compulsion. When you run out of money and they can’t tax you anymore, they will simply compel you to do it. After the individual mandate, there can only be a doctor retirement ban.
Anyone with a background in early modern political thought can see this coming: all rights have corresponding duties. If you add rights, you add duties. The government has added the right to affordablecare, so someone has to have the duty to give healthcare. As that pool of people shrinks, there is only one way to fix it: by force.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/16/12
What does the NAACP stand for in 2012?
What does the NAACP stand for in 2012?
BY: Armstrong Williams
All headlines last week and over the weekend regarding Mitt Romney's address before the NAACP emphasized that he was booed during his address. Many were surprised to hear that he accepted the invitation to speak before a group that would be so pro-Obama. However, GOP candidate Romney not only spoke, but he spoke about the same issues he speaks about before all audiences. He didn't back down from those topics which he knew would be unpopular with NAACP attendees. This should be reassuring to many in the conservative base who have doubted his conviction on issues of concern to them. In fact, he actually takes after his father, George Romney, who marched for civil rights among civil rights activists. It is refreshing to see someone in the political arena who doesn't just speak for applause and actually believes in America.
President Obama refused to show up at the NAACP convention, citing a conflict in scheduling. In turn, he sent Vice President Biden for the task. He obviously isn't concerned about the loyalty of the American black community; in fact, he completely takes their vote for granted. The unemployment rate for American blacks is 14.4 percent nationally and at 39 percent for black youth. The black community has lost a significant portion of their wealth during his administration; the number of black babies born out of wedlock is increasing dramatically while the black family continues to disintegrate rapidly. President Obama can legitimately believe that the American black community will vote for him regardless of how detrimental his policies are to their well-being, simply because he is the first American black president. This is a sad commentary on the analytical skills of an important and critical segment of our society. Hopefully at some point, organizations such as the NAACP will advocate for policies that improves the situation of their constituency rather than supporting feel-good candidates and issues.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/12/12
In God we trust ?
In God we trust?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Isn't it interesting that almost all presidents end their speeches with the phrase "may God bless America?" Whenever there's a natural disaster or crisis in one's family or life, we always talk about the need to pray. However, when things are going well, we forget about God and we frequently forget about godly principles. It is interesting to note that during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, our nation was about to split apart due to political differences when the elder statesman Benjamin Franklin proposed a unique solution before the assembly.
He said, “Gentlemen, during the Revolutionary War every other phrase out of our mouths involved a request for God's help which we obviously received. Now we barely speak his name. We need to get down on our knees immediately and ask for God's guidance.” The entire assembly immediately knelt and prayed. When they arose, they put together a 16 and one third page document known as the Constitution of the United States.
The convention began the practice of starting each congressional session with prayer. Believe it or not, this practice still continues today in a society that seems to praise secularism over religion.
Now we need to make sure that our prayers are not simply formality; we need the guidance of God not only to save our nation, but to recapture the spirit of compassion and caring that characterizes our nation. We can't turn on a switch that tells us that we're going to be good and then immediately turn it off. We need a change of heart that comes from God.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/11/12
Voter ID Politics
Voter ID politics
BY: Armstrong Williams
Attorney General Eric Holder is on a special campaign against the state of Texas. Why? Because Texas now requires people to display photo identification when they head to the polls to vote. It is hard to understand why the attorney general opposes voter identification, unless the motive is to try any way possible to win the election. People must have an ID to borrow books from the library or drive a car,
why should voting be any different? Giving someone the responsibility to choose who will lead one of the most powerful countries in the world should be valued just as much as having responsibility for a library book or driving a car.
Why has common sense abandoned the Justice department?
In March, the Department of Justice struck down the 2011 Texas Voter ID law because more than 600,000 of the state's registered voters did not have a driver's license or ID card issued by the state's Department of Public Safety.
If that was the case, why didn't the state of Texas provide free voter ID cards to those who did not have a driver's license or other form of identification?
The Justice Department continued to rationalize that providing free state cards from the public safety agency was not enough because 81 of Texas' 254 counties do not have offices to distribute these voter ID cards. They also noted that a disproportional amount of those people without such identification are Latino.
The fact that the Justice department is willing to strike down a law because Texas is not willing to distribute these voter ID cards to those who are legal citizens is unfair. What's even more unfair is the possibility that some of those 600,000 voters currently registered in Texas might not even be legal citizens when they could be taking the place of a legal citizen's right to vote in this country.
It is ridiculous that the Justice Department is willing to turn a blind eye to the blatant issue of voter fraud because the demographics that are affected by the law, regardless of whether they might be legal citizens or not, might just help the majority party's interests.
More importantly, why doesn't the mainstream media criticize the Justice department for something that is so blatantly inappropriate and laughable? Has our society declined to such a level that we would turn a blind eye to ridiculous governmental action on a completely partisan basis? If we have, than our days as a meaningful force in the world are numbered.
If Texas wants to combat voter fraud they should pay attention to those voters without an ID not just to give those who may not have opportunity the opportunity to vote, but also to strike those from the rosters those who should not be voting in the first place.
07/10/12
Tax equality for all
Tax equality for all
BY: Armstrong Williams
Yesterday, the Obama administration unveiled their new plan to extend the Bush tax cuts for one year for everyone except the rich. According to the Obama administration, they are the individuals that don't pay their fair share of taxes.
The administration's view is actually quite naive and out of touch with reality.
The truth is, the top 10 percent of taxpayers pay more than 40 percent of all taxes and 50 percent of people pay 97 percent of all the taxes. So if anyone isn't paying their fair share, it's the other 50 percent of the population that only pays 3 percent of the taxes.
Anyone who is being objective can see this gross unfairness when you expect people to pay much larger percentages of their income on a non-proportional basis simply because they have worked hard and earned a substantial amount of money.
You don't expect those who have not been particularly productive to contribute, yet the government wants to give them a hand out. This is not to say that all low-income people are non-productive and lazy; in fact many of them add a great deal to the strength of our society.
I believe many such individuals would welcome an opportunity to contribute financially to the well being of our nation on a fair and proportional basis. In order for a proportionate and fair tax system to work, however, it is vital that the multiple loopholes be extracted. It is high time for us as a nation to stop singling out various groups for special treatment and begin embracing policies that treat everyone equally.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/09/12
Desperate for good news that doesn't exist
Desperate for good news that doesn't exist
BY: Armstrong Williams
I must admit that I am having a difficult time feeling a turn-around in this economy. None of the news about the economy would be considered good news in a normal recovery.
News that normally worries commentators on the economy is viewed through rose-colored lenses as good news. When unemployment does not improve from 8.2 percent, certain commentators consider it good news. When the economy is growing at less than two percent, these same pundits consider that good news. When the federal budget deficit narrows to $1 trillion dollars, liberal commentators also consider this good news.
When the market perceives good news, the Federal Reserve thinks government spending is successful and gets another round of easy money after four years of easy money for failing to stimulate the economy. If this cycle continues, we are in serious trouble. When the European community agrees to bail out failing Spanish banks without a definitive bailout plan and the market reacts positively, there is clearly a dearth of good news. When the headlines of The Wall Street Journal read "Labor market shows signs of improvement" because the private sector added 170,000 jobs, journalists must be desperate for positive economic news.
Instead of trying to create news filled with rosy half-truths just to feed the Federal Reserve’s ego, journalists need to report the facts as they are without sugarcoating them so the Federal Reserve will be compelled to change their ways.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/06/12
Andy Griffith: An American Icon
Andy Griffith: An American Icon
BY: Armstrong Williams
Andy Griffith, an iconic American figure, passed away at the age of 86 Tuesday. He may have disappeared, but hopefully what he represented is still alive and well through the legacy he leaves behind.
His character on the Andy Griffith Show as Sheriff Andy Taylor, as well as his real-life character, reminded Americans what America was like at its best and showed that sometimes the best of us was contained in a simpler, rural lifestyle.
The show itself portrayed a simpler time to its viewers amidst the roller-coaster decade of the 1960s. Griffith’s show, and his tough-but-fair-minded character as the sheriff of small-town Mayberry, gave viewers a sense of calm and peace in age marked by wars and violence.
Griffith was perhaps one of the most decent people on television who embodied the 20th-century values Americans cherish the most. He treated everyone fairly and exercised great common sense. He believed in a strong work-ethic and felt that people would respond to fair treatment. He didn't believe in the abuse of power or position and believed strongly in the Judeo-Christian principles that produced a caring and just nation.
Even country singer Randy Travis called Griffith “the most likeable guy he’s ever met.”
Some would say that this is just a created fairy-tale, but I think all of us can remember people as we were growing up who reminded us of Andy Griffith's character. Despite the secular progressive forces in our nation today, Andy Griffith’s full life reminds us of who we were and who we can be.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/05/12
Chief Justice Robert's Machiavellian Supreme Play
BY: Armstrong Williams
Chief Justice Robert's Machiavellian Supreme Play
2 By labeling the ACA ‘penalty’ a tax, Roberts has clarified the issue: ACA is a huge, new burden on the middle-class and it is rooted in the most coercive form of federal govt power – the power to tax the people directly. If the American people want federalized healthcare at the price of a huge, new, direct tax, then we conservatives can not save them. Roberts has given us the very best ground on which to fight this battle (and he has locate the battle in the appropriate place, the political realm – would that the jurists in Roe vs. Wade had the same wisdom).
3
Don’t ignore what Roberts did in not only striking down the Medicaid expansion but in getting a 7-2 majority for it: he has circumscribed ACA at its headwaters (or strangled it in its crib if you like) as an overweening, and ‘over-federalized’ mandate on the states. Now the states will retain discretion as to what services they cover, and the federal government’s assumed power to coerce by negation of all funding is ended. This is a huge step in preserving states’ power against the federal government and there are seven – SEVEN – justices who agree.
Actually, the more I think about what Roberts has done the more I like it. It was sophisticated and advanced conservatism along several fronts: judicial restraint; labeling a tax correctly; building a bulwark against future ‘raids on the commerce clause’ and erecting an even higher wall around Federal abuses of federal-state cooperative funding mechanisms. These are all good things, and they will redound to conservatism’s benefit now and in the future.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
07/03/12
Supreme Court Always interesting
BY: Armstrong Williams
Supreme Court Always interesting
The Supreme Court never fails to ‘take the third option.’ Don’t be fooled by
the simple-minded “Obama won/Republican lost” rhetoric. What Roberts has done
is categorized Obamacare’s funding mechanism as it should’ve been all along – a
tax. The administration argued strenuously before the court that the individual
mandate was a tax – something well within their power to do; but, they had just
as strenuously – and disingenuously – argued in Congress that this was not the
case. Of course, being a ‘tax’ means a few things:
1) Taxes can be altered by regular legislation (I’d heard Ryan might want
to move to Ways and Means – makes sense now). And, don’t kid yourselves, this
is just round #1. Whatever happened yesterday, we have a long row to hoe on
healthcare’s ultimate disposition. Obamacare’s unaffordable (and the part of
the ruling denying the Feds the right to punish non-participating states by
taking away their Medicaid funding just hastens the “day of unaffordability”).
2) This will also serve as a galvanizing agent for Mr. Norquist and other
R’s, conservatives, and Tea Partiers who are reflexively anti-tax. Ultimately,
that means more political trouble for the POTUS.
Many had the feeling that someone on the conservative wing would “defect.” I
had not thought it would be Roberts, but the more I look at the decision, he may
“have his cake and eat it too.” He will get the usual liberal MSM plaudits for
being “a man of vision” ad nausem (and this is TRULY nauseating….where oh where
will all the follow-up pieces go to the articles by liberals who said a 5-4
decision would be “illegitimate” – that’s EXACTLY what we have, but somehow,
someway they’ll find not illegitimacy, but ‘wisdom’ and ‘virtue’ ….The
disingenuousness makes me throw up), but he will ultimately have created a good
deal of mischief by making the individual mandate a ‘tax.’
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through
Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter
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06/28/12
Promises vs Reality. A Look at Obamacare
BY: Armstrong Williams
Promises vs Reality. A Look at Obamacare
Americans may recall that President Obama promised “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” While this mandated coverage in the health care reform legislation was desired by many people who are willing to pay the cost, there were certainly other medical insurance consumers who preferred their lower cost coverage. However, contrary to the President’s assurance, they were not permitted to keep their preferred lower cost health care plans.
The Health Care Reform legislation had a devastating impact on the spending power of working Americans and our economy as the higher premiums kicked in. In order to understand this impact, it is instructive to look at the actual impact of the legislation on a small company. In 2010, this company’s plan cost was approximately $15,000 per year for family health care coverage, of which the company paid 60% and the employee paid 40%. For 2011, the premium for this coverage increased 30% or $4,500. The average non-management employee in this company earns $30,000 per year. The employee’s share of the increased premium cost was $1,800. That is equivalent to a 6% pay cut for the average worker! The legislation did not allow him to keep his old policy at a lower cost.
The unintended consequence of this reduction in spending power on American workers is a shift in spending from non-medical consumption to medical consumption. This translated into a negative impact on spending for consumer items needed to help support the tepid American economic recovery.
The impact of this increased premium on the employer is equally devastating. The employer had to bear $2,700 of the increased premium per employee. That meant the direct cost of his labor increases 7%! If the business has 100 employees, this cost the business $270,000. The increased cost either came out of profits, in which case the employer had less to invest in his business or create additional jobs; or it was passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices, which resulted in less consumption. In addition many employers opted to suffer the government's penalty for choosing not to provide healthcare for their employees, which was actually less expensive. Also those employees that enjoyed their health plan and were promised they could keep them by our president, were obviously not allowed to. In either event, the increased premium costs had a negative impact on the country’s fragile economic recovery.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/27/12
Romney is no Reagan, but he will lead our nation to economic recovery
Romney is no Reagan, but he will lead our nation to economic recovery
BY: Armstrong Williams
Many of my colleagues are quietly saying that there was no enthusiasm for Romney early on during the primaries because of his moderate positions on many issues. However, a careful analysis of the situation demonstrates that he may in fact be the most appropriate candidate because of his background at Bain Capital. Hill colleagues selected him as their leader because he fostered a sense of confidence and went on to lead one of the very first successful venture capitalist companies in the world. This is a company that not only recognizes strengths and enhances them, but also recognizes weaknesses and eliminates them if they could not be strengthened or enhanced. Our government now has become as bloated and inefficient as many of the companies Bain had to remake. While critics say that experience in the private sector does not necessarily transfer over to the public sector, our country’s economic situation requires someone who knows the private sector and the public sector equally to balance out the two.
Romney may not be the world's best diplomat or social engineer, but he has has the wisdom and experience of Ronald Reagan to surround himself with people who are. It is possible that we may commence the process of U.S. financial recovery in the not too distant future.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/26/12
President Obama, a complete failure in the economic sphere
BY: Armstrong Williams
President Obama, a complete failure in the economic sphere
In the modern world, democracy as a form of government has had very limited success outside of the Anglo-Saxon sphere. The French Revolution led to the dictatorship of Napoleon. The Weimar Republic of post-World War I Germany led to Hitler. It is hard to think of a democracy in Latin America that lasted more than a generation. In Asia, other than the countries encompassed in the Anglo-Saxon sphere of influence such as Japan, Singapore, and India, Democracy is all but non-existent. In Africa, democracy has inevitably led to dictatorship. In the Islamic world, one would be hard-pressed to find a country that has been a consistent democracy.
Democracy in the United States, Great Britain, and the rest of the Anglo-Saxon sphere of influence has had certain culture advantages in making democracy work in its societies. These advantages include a culture of free speech, free enterprise, and a long history of evolving self-government. They also had the advantage of not being pure democracies but republics with democratic input. Upper houses, Supreme Courts, and federalism often tempered decisions made by democratic legislative bodies.
In choosing our next president, Americans must consider our greatest battle as the most severe challenge we have ever faced. It is not the war on terror, immigration, or civil rights. Our greatest battle is the longest economic recession since the great depression, four generations ago. In president Obama, we have a failed leader in the economic sphere. Yesterday's Supreme court decision may have given him broad discretion over whom he chooses to deport but will he now grant a blanket exemption to most illegal immigrants. He may be a tremendous orator and an inspiration to the world in other respects, but do you want a continuation of these dismal failed economic policies and empty rhetoric?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/25/12
Our Government investing for failure
BY: Armstrong Williams
Our Government investing for failure
The State of California is contemplating a bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The cost is $100 Billions dollars. The U. S. Government is subsidizing a substantial portion of the cost. Under the most optimistic scenario this train will never come close to being cash flow positive. This train will be forever subsidize by the California tax payers. Nevertheless Governor Brown and the Democratic legislature insists on moving forward with the project. For the first leg of the project California must raise (borrow) 10's of billion of dollars for funding. This is in an addition to a huge debt that California must raise to pay its growing government budget deficit.
The Governor of Florida was faced with a similar situation within the last year and wisely saved the Florida taxpayers $10's of billions of dollars by killing the bullet train project between Tampa and Orlando. Liberals stated that when Governor Scott killed the project he would worsen the economic crisis gripping Florida for the rail project would provide needed jobs. To the contrary Florida's unemployment rate has declined.
In today's world if venture capitalist and existing transportation company's will not invest in a transportation project the public sector must be should be skeptical about investing in a project that Venture Capitalist and people in that industry will turn away. You would think the public sector learned it's lessons with Solyndra and the Solar Industry; the thirty year consistent deficits of Amtrak; the perennial subsidies snail mail of the U.S Post Office; and other government subsidize investments gone wild. Taxpayer money should not be used to subsidize projects rejected by professional investors.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/22/12
Never confuse intelligence with education
Never confuse intelligence with education
BY: Armstrong Williams
There are many people who don't have much formal education, yet they are extremely intelligent and possess great wisdom. On the other hand, there are those with a high degree of formal education who manifest little or no ability to make wise decisions. Most people are familiar with parents or other people in their lives who had little or no formal education.
Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president, had only one year of formal education throughout his life. However, he found every opportunity to educate himself despite his disadvantaged upbringing in the backwoods of Kentucky.
He went on to become a country lawyer, legislator, skilled orator, and one of the greatest Republican presidents of all time. He unified a nation, ended civil war, and pushed for an end to slavery.
.
Lincoln and many others like him were highly successful because they had a basic understanding of how things work. This is also known as common sense. Common sense has nothing to do with a formal education. Common sense, for instance, would dictate that if you have no money, you stop spending.
This is a concept which seems foreign to many of our leaders today. Take President Obama, for example. He has degrees from Columbia and Harvard, yet he continues to make decisions that are destructive not only to the unity of the country but to its prosperity.
Although his left-wing supporters continue to be enamored by his "intellect," his policies consistently challenge the Constitutional foundation of the greatest nation in the history of the world.
What great intellect would stimulate bitter class warfare or preside over the deepest and longest recession in the history of our nation? Anyone who believes that these are manifestations of great intellect may themselves be endowed with prestigious educational degrees, but clearly they are lacking in analytical skills.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/21/12
From Invisible people to Victimized people
From Invisible people to Victimized people?
BY: Armstrong Williams
To this day, many black officeholders depend on the perception of on-going, widespread racism in order to remain competitive in the electoral process. They underplay the dramatic improvements in economic and social status experienced by many American blacks over the last 40 years. Large numbers of their constituents, particularly those who came to age during the overt racism of the past half century, continue to believe that the problems confronting the black lower class stem primarily from racism.
Here lies the greatest missed opportunity of the civil rights movement. These leaders never prepared for the day when God would change the hearts of the white establishment and they would have no choice but to start treating their brother with equality, fairness, and justice under the law. Their entire public image, their very legitimacy as political and cultural spokespersons--was predicated on the rhetoric of a black versus white war. As Justice Clarence Thomas once observed, the [civil rights] revolution missed a larger point by merely changing the status [of minorities] from invisible people to victimized people.
Not only do many black officeholders need to reinvent their public image to keep up with the times, but they also need to promote a cultural shift that will trickle down to their constituents.
A second cultural shift also needs to come from the public to hold these black officeholders accountable. These officeholders need to truly represent and advocate the economic and social interests best for the people. Otherwise, all they are doing is manipulating the trust of the people with baseless racism and continued balkanazation of our nation.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/20/12
A first-rate politician with calculated future risk
A first-rate politician with calculated future risk.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's recent declaration of his new immigration deportation policy may not be legal, but it is certainly a home run in the realm of political maneuvering. This man is one of the best and most ruthless politicians we have witnessed in modern politics. This is the very reason he occupies the oval office. The president knew that Senator Rubio was making tremendous progress in a bipartisan fashion with this very issue of immigration reform. Rubio has said repeatedly that he wants to cast the GOP as the party of legal immigration, even as he has warned other Republicans that their rhetoric is hurting the party’s efforts to reach out to Hispanic voters.
He also knew that it was critical for him to completely shore up his Hispanic vote while blind-siding Rubio and the GOP. He therefore calculated that by stealing Rubio's thunder and game plan, he would once again become the hero to the Latino community. It is likely for many that this was a correct calculation and testimony to the president's political savvy. The GOP does not have a response because they cannot respond without appearing to be insensitive and xenophobic. It is clear that we have a first-rate politician as the leader of our nation. The real question is in these very challenging economic times, do we need a politician or a statesman with principles?
These are extraordinary times that we've living in and not politics as usual. The outcome of the fall elections will determine whether American society remains independent and in a leadership position or if we become more like our European neighbors with no thoughts of exceptional ism. Most people who are over the age of 40 will remember growing up feeling surprised as they learn about our nation, it's values, principles, and what we had accomplished. Younger generations have been deluge with images of our incompetence and greed. They don't share a sense of pride and glowing respect about the most powerful and compassion nation the world has ever known. Not only are we losing our own self respect but the world is losing a powerful deterrent to the forces of evil. It's not too late to change our course and prayerfully "we the people" and the main stream media will soon come to understand the implications of the choices we are making.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/19/12
Time Magazine immigration manipulation
Time magazine immigration manipulation
BY: Armstrong Williams
The recent cover of Time Magazine depicts multiple ethnic identities under the title "We are Americans, just not Legal." It is not surprising to see the liberal media join the Obama administration in an attempt to demonize those who would question the legality of any potential voter. Make no mistake this is all about voting in the November 2012 presidential election. It is more than complimentary to the efforts of the Justice Department to do away with any requirements for voter identification. This is not to say that our nation should shun immigrants, quite to the contrary. We are a nation of immigrants but we are a nation of legal immigrants and all must respect the rule of law in this nation. When we do not, we degenerate into chaos. If we are objective and fair, we must admit that many illegal immigrants perform jobs that most Americans are unwilling to do. If all these immigrants disappeared, it would put a significant strain on our way of life. Therefore, they are important to our economy. What are the solutions to this perceived dilemma? We must establish a guest worker program which will allow immigrants to work, pay taxes, and return home. This would be an open-door policy that is beneficial to everyone. The Canadians have a similar program called the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which aims to fill immediate shortages in skill and labor.
Another solution would be to decrease the amount of public assistance handouts to the people. This solution may seem harsh, but it is pragmatic, because people would be hungry enough to take those jobs themselves. If people actually had to work to live, the amount of industry and creativity that would come as a result would be amazing. It is also quite possible to combine both solutions to create a rapid, fair solution to a very persistent problem.
If we implemented these logical common sense solutions, there would be less government money spent on trying to keep a necessary workforce out and more return on our supply of labor.
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06/18/12
Avoiding financial ruin
BY: Armstrong Williams
Avoiding financial ruin
It's encouraging to see that the citizens of Greece have a modicum of common sense and voted to remain within a system that imposes financial restraint and austerity. Even some of the most hard core socialist are coming to understand that you can't continue spending what you don't have without severe financial consequences. The real question is will we in America learn any lessons from the Greek or European financial collapse or will we inexorably continue down a similar path expecting a different result? The definition of insanity is doing the same ineffective thing over and over while expecting a different result. We could not ask for a more timely example of the result of unfettered spending. If we are willing to immediately begin to examine ways to control our unprecedented spending, it is not to late to save our nation from bankruptcy. In recent weeks president Obama has indicated that our economic problem are not that severe and we only simply need to double down on our spending in the right places. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand quickly where that school of thought would lead our nation. Does our best hope lie in electing former Governor Mitt Romney? Should the Senate switch to Republican hands and the House will remain as is in the November elections to give us our best chance to get spending under control before it's too late? Historically optimal legislation has not occurred when the White house, Senate, and House are in the hands of the same party. However in the current obstructionist environment does this appear to be the lesser of the evils when compared with the alternative of financial ruin?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/15/12
Country is long overdue for some good news
Country is long overdue for some good news
BY: Armstrong Williams
This country is long overdue for some very good long-term news. This country wants to see a positive change from Wall Street and elected officials across the nation. Our president, Congress, and nationally elected leaders can help usher in this necessary positive outcome if they stop the lying, greed, selfishness, and blame-game. Instead of trying to blame each other for the recession by pointing out their “flawed words” to describe the economy, they need to set examples for real change.
Our leaders know exactly what is necessary for a strong economy. They need to set an absolute example and strive to do moral good in our nation. It is time that they do something for the people that elected and entrusted them with the reins of power in our federal and state governments over their own interests.
They need to make the hard choices and the necessary shared sacrifices to return our once great nation to the pinnacle of moral and economic success. Our nation cannot have true, long-lasting economic success without moral good and reverence for our creator. The time for change is now!
We should be one nation united under God, not a divided nation without moral direction.
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06/14/12
Excising politics from healthcare
Excising politics from healthcare
BY: Armstrong Williams
The GOP cannot spend time discussing the possible overturn of Obamacare without offering a reasonable alternative. It should be quite apparent that we are in dire need of healthcare reform, particularly as our population ages. To simply denigrate Obamacare without providing a road map that leads to a much needed solution would be irresponsible and politically detrimental. They need to put together a group of people who actually know something about healthcare. They can start by looking back at the recommendations the President's Council on Bioethics under President Bush put together.
The council spent valuable time and effort to devise bipartisan solutions for healthcare reform and favored discussion open to opposing views over shared consensus.
President Obama completely disregarded these suggestions when he shut down the President’s Council on Bioethics, just as he ignored the economic advice of the Simpson-Bowles committee.
The purpose of a bioethics council would be to continue to find practices which would protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There are not always clear answers as to what will be best for the common good, but to have a council with differing opinions and healthy dialogue can only help in the search for the true and best practices.
If Mitt Romney wants to revolutionize healthcare in this country, he needs to understand that there are logical solutions that are not politically driven that can place us on the path to a healthy nation without bankrupting our society.
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06/13/12
Increased money supply funding government spending
BY: Armstrong Williams
Increased money supply funding government spending
Many will tell you that it is not taxation but debt that is financing the government spending; thus it is not crowding out private spending. I maintain that government debt crowds out private borrowing and investment. Many of my anti-capitalist colleagues say that government spending is not crowding out private investment because interest rates are low. Therefore there is plenty of money to finance private investment. Unfortunately, in an attempt to protect depositors, and the government guarantee of such deposits, the bank regulators have increased the credit underwriting requirements on banks. Consequently, they are not lending to small and medium sized businesses.
Interest rates are low because the Fed is printing money and as a result significantly increasing the money supply thereby making money less expensive. The irony of artificially low interest rates is that it reduces the income of pensioners and savers. This in effect shifts money and consumption from savers and transfers it to the government who is borrowing at artificially low rates.
The business community realizes that the increased money supply is financing government spending and the private sector must eventually pay the piper. Consequently, the business community is not investing as much as it might because it is concerned about inflation and higher future taxes to pay for the borrowing. Since business investment takes time for a return, the business man making an investment now expecting a return 2 or 3 years from now knows that his taxes are going to be increased with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and the 3.8% new Obama care tax on unearned earnings. Thus the businessman is not investing today because he knows his return is being significantly reduced 2 years from now.
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06/12/12
The financial alarm bell is ringing
The financial alarm bell is ringing
BY: Armstrong Williams
Spain has requested and received a $126 billion bailout to become the largest country in the European Union to receive a bailout in this two-and-a-half-year long economic crisis. For now, they can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. The key word, however, is temporary, because no significant structural changes have been made to their financial philosophy and their actions have not changed. Just because the European government put pressure on Spain to agree to an aid package ahead of the Greek elections June 17 does not mean that the financial crisis is resolved. In fact, with the upcoming June 17 elections, this entire situation means that we will return to this beast of a financial disaster again after kicking the can down the road. Because the world is now very much interconnected financially, the problems of Spain ultimately impact Europe and the United States. Moreover, the Greek elections on June 17 could send a new wave of turmoil not just through regional financial markets but through global financial markets as well.
Although we fear the ultimate financial consequence of a collapse of the European financial system, it isn't too late to learn some significant lessons about waiting to deal with massive financial problems. We know that our system of entitlement will eventually bankrupt the United States and that the consequences will be catastrophic throughout the world. Why are we refusing to take meaningful financial actions for fear of the political consequences? The alarm bell is ringing loud and clear. The question is when will we awaken and finally answer?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/11/12
A blind economic dogma
BY: Armstrong Williams
A blind economic dogma
Can you believe President Obama said this at a press conference last week?
“The private sector is doing fine,” the president said during his Friday morning White House press conference. “Where we're seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government. … If Republicans want to be helpful, if they really want to move forward and put people back to work, what they should be thinking about is how do we help state and local governments.” What is most telling about his statement is the President's blind dogma when it comes to economic growth: government enterprise is better than private enterprise. Why else would this president say the private sector has created enough jobs ? This makes absolutely no sense and is just down right frightening coming from the leader of the world's largest economy.
The President hasn't changed his mind set when it comes fiscal austerity. Just recently, regarding the European Union he called for more - not less- government spending, a recipe for a continental breakdown of the economy. This is a set of 19 countries on the verge of economic collapse that requires U.S. leadership and a U.S. example and he fails on both counts. He's probably the only person in America that would continue reaching these insane and out of touch conclusion. Where are the President's economic advisers? Who is advising that these are good ideas?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/06/12
Harbinger of things to come
BY: Armstrong Williams
Harbinger of things to come
It's refreshing to see the common sense retained by the voters of Wisconsin who recognized that there state was sailing off the figurative cliff. Hopefully this is a sign that American's in general are beginning to awaken from there deep sleep to the reality of the consequences of fiscal irresponsibility. Even the least economic sophisticated individual should understand that if you continue spending what you don't have you will eventually bankrupt yourself. This is true on a personal, state, national, and global level. There is little doubt that our nation with suffer the same consequences as Greece and other's unless we find a reasonable way to reduce spending. Governor Scott Walker has manifested a characteristic that is largely missing in today's politicians within both parties, and that is courage. Everyone clearly knows what must be done but few are willing to place themselves at political risk for the sake of our nation. Governor Walker's risk taking was rewarded and hopefully is a harbinger of things to come in November.
06/04/12
Destructive Regulatory Environment
BY: Armstrong Williams
Destructive Regulatory Environment
Given their prevailing 20th century mentality and saddled with new and burdensome regulations, banks have little incentive to develop affordable credit options to serve the needs of millions of American consumers. I’m not talking about the Warren Buffets of the world; I’m talking about people who wake-up everyday worried about the future-which unfortunately accounts for most of us. A report released by the Corporation for Enterprise Development found that 127.5 million people are liquid-asset poor, meaning that a sudden loss in household income would leave them below the poverty line in just three months.
Real progress lies in old-fashioned entrepreneurship; this is the same kind of innovation that took us from a rotary-dial land line to a cell phone and from analog television to digital cable. Emerging technology in the non-bank financial space is a natural progression from a bank-centered economic system. Yet, qualified trend setters are stymied by a regulatory environment resistant to business models other than traditional banks. Marketplace innovations are unduly restricted by an antiquated financial system that has failed to keep up with the changing demands of consumers. The government needs to realize that like AT&T, national bank giants eventually need to be broken up and weaned off heavy government subsidies. That way, other competitors in the marketplace can spur innovation in consumer finance without having to worry about too much government regulation.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
06/01/12
Less Government, Better American Education
BY: Armstrong Williams
Less Government, better Education in America
The Federal Government should stay out of elementary and secondary education. Education is best decided by students and their parents. Students should have a choice of schools. Parents and students are best able to determine what work's best for them and not bureaucrats sitting in their Washington, DC Ivory Tower. If the Federal Government insists on meddling in school policy it should promote school choice, whether through vouchers, charter schools, and any other creative method devised at the local level.
Just like you don't need a weatherman to tell you that it's raining, you don't need to have a PHD in education to know that your child is not performing well in school.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/31/12
Tax Refugees
BY: Armstrong Williams
Tax Refugees
The Liberals are kidding themselves if they think high state income taxes have no impact on their economy. The Big Apple better known around the world as New York is a case and point. NY which has the second highest tax rate in the nation had the largest exodus of it's residence over the past decade. It had the distinction of losing two congressional seats in the most recent reapportionment. Where did NY residents go? The largest number went to Florida where there are no income and death taxes. Not coincidentally Florida picked up an additional two congressional seats along with 600,000 new residents. California is another state with a large exodus of residence fleeing high taxes to low tax states like Nevada and Texas. The true impact of this net migration, is that these tax refugees take ten's of billions of dollars with them when they flee. This has a major negative impact on growth, employment, and government revenues. Politicians who want higher taxes ignore the negative impact of this mass exodus at their own peril. Unfortunately this impact devastates the remaining tax payers who are left to support state unions bureaucrats and politicians who feed from the public trough.
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05/30/12
The Fiscal Cliff
BY: Armstrong Williams
The fiscal cliff
The payroll tax is an implicit forced savings for most Americans. The purpose of these taxes is to give Americans minimum pensions and medical care in retirement. By cutting the tax we are cutting savings , which make future retirees benefits less certain. The government has essentially encouraged Americans to consume more for the present rather than saving for their future well being.
The Bush tax cuts should be extended indefinitely for all income groups. Eliminating the Bush tax cuts has the negative impact of shifting from the private sector to the public sector. The private sector is almost always more efficient at spending the people's money than the public sector. To make the government more fiscally responsible with tax payers money the Congress must embark on a serious program to reduce government spending and reform entitlement spending. Future Social security insolvency can be solved by increasing the number of years people work. Medicare insolvency can be resolved by limiting the amount of money spent in the last six months of life. All Americans are aware of the excess and unnecessary spending by our federal government, such as GSA trips to Las Vegas.
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05/29/12
Investment vs Consumption
BY: Armstrong Williams
Investment vs Consumption
To understand the investment value or lack thereof for a home, it is necessary to differentiate between an appreciable and depreciable asset. An appreciable asset increases value over time and a depreciable asset declines in value. The house you own and live in depreciates over time unless you maintain it. The annual expenses for maintaining a home ranges from 5- 10 % of the value. Real estate taxes are 2-3%, insurance can be 1%, utilities and heat can be 2%, annual maintenance such as painting, plumbing, gardening, and recurring repairs can be anywhere from 2-5%. If the cost of maintaining your home is 10% yearly, the increase in value annually must exceed 10% per annum in order for it to qualify as an appreciable asset. This level of appreciation has rarely been seen in the past and is not expected in our future. Therefore a home is really a consumption item.
If you purchase a home for $300,000.00 you must spend approximately $30,000 yearly to maintain it. If you were to invest the $300,000.00 in the stock market over time you would receive an annual rate of return of 7% or $24,000 yearly. From this obvious scenario you would be $54,000.00 a year richer. You could use that $54,000.00 to rent a more modest home because you must spend something for living expenses.
This is not to discourage anyone from purchasing a home. You must recognize that a home is a consumption item and not an investment.
Because home ownership is part of the American dream, our government has distorted the calculation of the rate of return by imposing tax incentives and subsidize mortgages for home ownership. These tax incentives have encouraged people to buy bigger homes and has increased the price of housing over time. This government interference of the housing market has created the illusion that homes are investments. This is clearly another example of how our congressional leaders use government power to enhance their political position at the detrimental expense of the American people.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/25/12
Memorial Day Appreciation
Memorial Day Appreciation.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Have you ever stopped to think about the many that sacrificed their lives in order to give us the blessings of boundless freedom we enjoy? This weekend we should reflect on the sacrifices that many continue to make in providing us with that enviable freedom.
It sometime does us good to pause and think about all the blessings that we continue to have in our lives. We live in a country where significant freedom for the individual still exist. We can freely move from one state to the next, change our jobs, buy whatever we can and cannot afford without having to obtain permission. If you are able to walk about and enjoy good health, that is an amazing gift that is often over looked until you're on your sick bed. Many of these blessings that we take for granted are not enjoyed by people in other parts of the world, including the luxury of being able to choose our leaders and having significant changes in philosophical leadership in a bloodless manner. This is not to say that we don't have serious problems, but if we all begin to make ourselves aware of the good that continues and work together to improve upon our situation, the bright star of America will continue to rise.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/23/12
President Obama's skin color should never be the issue
BY: Armstrong Williams
President Obama's skin color should never be the issue.
When it comes to those American whites who are uncomfortable with a black president, there has been no shortgage of racial distortion either. Some have tried to use Obama's skin color and Muslim name to prey upon the fears of a white electorate that has seen its economic prosperity plummet amid an overall decline in America's global influence. Others have even gone so far as to question his citizenship and his birthright. Still others have deliberately misconstrued his political philosophy in a racially tinged manner---asserting that he's an African anti colonial revolutionary.
While it is fine to disagree with the president's policies, to suggest that his political failures have to do with his race is just plain wrong. The sentiment of disdain voiced by some dissenters about "young black president" ignores the fact that it took a majority of white voters---including disillusioned supporters of the previous administration--to elect him. The broader community should let Obama rise and fall on his own merits, and not make this a litmus test about the fitness of a certain race to lead the country.
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05/21/12
Resentment against achievement
BY: Armstrong Williams
Resentment against achievement
If president Obama cared about government fairness rather than the mysterious decisions of Providence, if he actually cared about equal protection under the law rather than under God, he would support a flat tax, like Steve Forbes and Governor Rick Perry. This is not a difficult concept to understand: everyone should play by the same rules and pay the same rate.
Ah, but here comes the objection to the Heavens: but it’s not fair that certain people have and make more money than others! Well, they pay from a higher principle, for one thing, and for another, how exactly does one decide what is a “fair” rate? Why does the Buffett Rule push for 30%? Where did they get this number? Are only Harvard Law graduates qualified to make this judgment, or is the Oracle from Omaha a real oracle?
The brilliant libertarian Peter Thiel (check) visited an Occupy Wall Street encampment, and asked a woman how much of his income it would be fair for him to pay in taxes each year. She was baffled by this questions, and simply spouted Democrat talking points. “I think the Bush tax cuts should be allowed to expire. I am against the Bush tax cuts.” But she had no alternative proposal, no ideal toward which she and other progressives were progressing. All she had was envy.
And that's all president Obama has to offer us.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/17/12
A Polarizing White House
BY: Armstrong Williams
A polarizing White House
VP Joe Biden indicated in a passionate speech yesterday that the American dream was dying (Obama was elected President) for those not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. It is difficult to understand how he has arrived at such conclusions. In fact there are many hard working Americans that despite the difficult economic times, are finding ways to be successful and productive. By stirring up doubt Biden hopes to also create resentment towards those that have achieved success, in an attempt to strengthen the political positions of his party. During the great depression the leaders of our nation attempted to provide hope and encouragement, for they understood that a person with hope and confidence is much more likely to be successful than a person who is discouraged and angry. Let us hope that someone can get this message to Vice- President Joe Biden and his cronies.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/15/12
Government, Fix God's mistakes
BY: Armstrong Williams
Democrats take their complaints with God to the altar of government. To say that it is not “fair” that someone live in poverty while others are wealthy, or, to use a more melodramatic example from Nancy Pelosi, that “women die on the floor,” is a complaint to God; it is to ask for a theodicy. Why is there evil in the world? Surely the government didn’t invent it; surely the government didn’t create poverty (though with policies like President Obama’s, it spreads it copiously); surely the government didn’t create death. Yet liberals immediately claim that it is the government’s job to right every wrong in the world, to either fix God’s mistakes or, in the case of sexual sins, to apologize for humanity’s.
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05/14/12
Free Will
BY: Armstrong Williams
Free Will
On the issue of same sex marriage reasonable people can agree that any two consenting adults can have relationships in which they can live together, sleep together, eat and do whatever they wish together: this is a free society in which free will is granted to us by our creator . However, by simply doing these things, they do not get to redefine a foundational institution like marriage. If we begin to redefine the very pillars of our society based on political expediency, there soon won’t be anything left to redefine. We must return principles and values to our society which includes being kind and respectful to everyone while not changing who we are.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
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05/10/12
Gay marriage: Politics or Principles
BY: Armstrong Williams
Gay marriage: Politics or Principles
The same sex marriage issue and Obama's inability to have a consistent viewpoint illustrates that he is nothing more than a politician whose views fluctuate with the wind. It is obvious that this is all about politics, Vice President Biden included. There was a vote in NC that the president was hoping to impact and failed miserably. His left wing base are clamoring for his approval on gay marriage before they will fully commit to him. Therefore principles have gone out of the window and politics have taken the drivers seat. A person of conviction who acts out of principle rather than political expediency is what our nation desperately needs now. Obama should be willing to state categorically now that he has come out in favor of gay marriage and what principles define his belief and why such a belief is unlikely to change in the future. Similarly had he been against gay marriage he should have been able to do the same. The people and the media need to begin to pressure those running for public office to put forth the basis of their beliefs. This would make it much more difficult in the future for them to arbitrarily change their views.
On the issue of same sex marriage reasonable people would agree that any two consenting adults can have relationships in which they can live together, sleep together, eat and do whatever they wish together for this is a free society. However, they do not get to redefine an institution such as marriage that is a societal foundation. If we begin to redefine the very pillars of our stable society based on political expediency our society will rapidly crumble. We must return principles and values to our society which includes being fair to everyone while not changing who we are.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams or tune in 4-5 p.m est on S.C. WGCV, Sirius/XM Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m. est, 6-7 p.m. D.C. a.m. 730 WTNT, 7-8 p.m. WGNU a.m. 920 St Louis . Become a fan on FaceBook, and follow him on Twitter
05/09/12
Fairness defined !
BY: Armstrong Williams
Fairness Defined !
President Obama has spent much time lately discussing fairness. This is a word that has a very positive connotation. However if one is going to make it the center piece of their campaign than they would be advisable to define what it actually means to them. Traditionally fairness means giving everyone equal treatment. That means that portionality should take a pinnacle position in fairness policies. A person who has very little should be required to give very little. A person who has very much should be required to give very much, but on a proportional basis. If a person has a hundred billion dollars and they're required to give 10 % of it, than they will give 10 billion dollars. If they have only a hundred dollars and are required to give 10%, than they will give ten dollars. Each would have been required to give an equal proportion of their means and each should be entitled to the same rights and privileges. This is not a difficult concept to understand but when people begin to manipulate for their own advantage, fairness goes out the window and is replaced by politics. If we truly want to be fair let's look at tax policies loop holes and other manipulations that distorts the true meaning of fairness.
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05/08/12
Political correctness and the age of darkness
BY: Armstrong Williams
Political correctness and the Age of Darkness
Why does the politically correct environment do their best to stifle free speech, when it's not their own. Could it be that the ultra left have a most difficult time defending their positions with logic. Therefore before placing themselves in that awkward position of challenging well thought out points of view, they attempt to demonize or outright dismiss opposing points of view. In a recent controversy that rose over the commencement speaker ( John Hopkins hospital Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dr. Ben Carson ) at Emory University in Atlanta, GA., Biology professors attempted to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the choice of an individual who was a creationist and went so far as to accuse the individual of saying that evolutionist were unethical. They came to this conclusion because the speaker feels that is very easy to explain the source of morality if one believes in biblical principles. However if one believes in survival of the fittest it becomes more difficult. In the survival of the fittest model, killing someone or stealing from them to enhance your own position is natural . Therefore it is legitimate to ask the source how does one derive morality in such a model or how does one even define morality. Rather than demonizing someone who asks that question, wouldn't it be more reasonable to actually come up with a logical answer, if one actually exists. It would seemed that the purpose of an institution of higher education would to explore such questions in an open forum, rather than return to the suppression tactics that characterize the dark ages.
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05/07/12
End of the Eurozone ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
End of the Eurozone ?
The voters of Europe have spoken. They are not prepared to endure the austerity measures to achieve financial responsibility and stability. This has set the stage for breakup of the Eurozone. The only way to finance the stimulus that President elect Hollande is proposing is to increase taxes or borrow. Neither option is practical. His proposal to raise taxes to 75% on the wealthy will create a mass exodus of high earning Frenchmen to lower tax jurisdictions outside of France. It is highly unlikely that the credit markets will lend the French Government enough money to stimulate it's economy at economic rates. The situation in Greece is also untenable. Voters have rejected the centralist party in favor of the extremist party. It was the Centralist party that agreed to the austerity measures . These austerity measures were sine que non of Greece's bailout. Their creditors and the EU will not be happy about this rejection .
It now appears that Chancellor Merkel of Germany is all by herself in Europe. Germany will continue to promote fiscal responsibility but it is unlikely the German voters will agree to bail out their prolifigate of European neighbors.. If this is the reality, it is hard to understand how the Eurozone can survive.
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05/03/12
Romney the CEO
BY: Armstrong Williams
Romney the CEO
Romney's career at Bain Capital focus on fixing things that were not working, makes him a viable candidate to address the myriad things that are no longer working in our nation. Our economic system is on the verge of collapsing due to a fundamental lack of understanding of business principles by high government officials and especially the President of the United States. It would be difficult to identify a better time in our history to have a business man as CEO of this nation. Is he the best candidate the GOP can offer in this 2012 election, of course not . The comparison needs to be made against the current occupier of the White House, who is no more than a mere politician cloak in the disguise of our national leader. In a recent interview President Obama made it clear that there were MOMENTS during his presidency when he had to put politics aside. Obviously it should be just the opposite, that is there may be moments during a presidency when political considerations are entertained. If Mitt Romney can focus on the issues and not on the unceasing personal attacks that will be leveled against him, his opportunity to help correct the many ills that afflict our nation, will be many.
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05/02/12
What has President Obama accomplish ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What has President Obama accomplish ?
What has President Obama achieved once he was elected to any political office ? He was elected President of the Harvard Law Review, but never authored a law review article. He was elected to the Illinois state senate and voted not present more than he voted. His name was not associated with any legislation during his short tenure. He was elected to the United States senate of Illinois and served two years. During that tenure he spent more time running for the presidency than serving the people of Illinois in the US Senate. As our Commander and Chief he has one notable accomplishment, he pulled the trigger on Osama Bin Laden. He has left a questionable legacy related to the economy, resulting in an anemic growth and high unemployment. He has disrupted American health care with an unconstitutional Affordable Care enacted Law. He has over regulated the financial sector and placed America's financial sector at a global disadvantage. His financial stewardship of the governments finances will leave our descendents with an unconscionable amount of debt. He has created the most divisive political schisms in America since the Civil War, in his pursual of class warfare.
Did I overlook something ?
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05/01/12
He who blames, should also share the credit
BY: Armstrong Williams
He who blames, should also share the credit:
Many of the Navy Seals involved in the killing of Osama Bin Laden are speaking out against President Obama for taking so much credit for an operation which they placed their lives in danger. They felt it was a no brainer decision in moving forward to end Bin Laden's reign of terror. For the president to imply that he's endowed with some special gift for making such a decision, is remarkably arrogant and clearly out of touch with reality. Can our President humble himself and share a little credit with other's involved in the successful operation? To imply that GOP standard bearer Mitt Romney would not have taken advantage of an opportunity to remove Osama Bin Laden from the world stage is another manifestation of his extreme narcissism. It clearly shows his selfish desire to be re elected regardless of the cost and casualties to our nation. It is apparent that the intelligence gathered which allowed this successful historic military operation was compiled over many years. This process involved many techniques, including enhanced interrogations which the current administration criticized in the past. The hypocrisy of taking the spoils of something that you vociferously opposed should be apparent to all.
The one year anniversary should be a time to unite us behind a tremendous victory that increases our safety, rather than a time to gloat and further divide an already fractured society. One must begin to wonder if there is anything that this president will not use for his political gain and further separate our nation.
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04/30/12
America's profligate greed
BY: Armstrong Williams
America's profligate greed
While the world is finally witnessing the fundamental flaws with the EU---notably a unified currency system combined with a dispersed political framework (meaning financial and political decisions cannot be adequately coordinated)---the problems were greatly exacerbated by the reduction in liquidity and the risk aversion of investors that followed in the wake of the U.S. sub prime industry meltdown.
When the bubble burst in the small European nations, they, unlike America, could not just print more money. They had to go to the EU central bank, hat in hand, and seek a bailout from the stronger economies in Europe such as Germany and England. It quickly became a political fiasco. The European central bank imposed drastic austerity measures on the populations of the PIGS----measures which have proven to be politically disastrous and caused conflict and unrest even in England, one of the wealthiest countries in the EU.
Meanwhile, America has seen its global economic influence marginalized. The United States is now considered the 800-pound drunken gorilla in the room---feared because of its size, but derided because of its capricious, ape-like behavior. While the American people might have blissfully forgotten what happened--there is something in the American psyche that seems to protect it from distressing memories---the rest of the world won't soon forget that America's profligate greed caused this current global crisis.
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04/26/12
Improve Productivity in America
BY: Armstrong Williams
Improve Productivity in America
Every year Companies should fire the bottom 5% of its workforce. Both the company and the employee will benefit from this policy. The company benefits because it replaces the least productive employees with more productive employees. The employee benefits because they are in a position where they are the runt of the litter and suffer psychologically from having low self esteem as a result of being the least productive. Most of these employees would benefit from being in new jobs that can take advantage of their strengths. In the new jobs they will eventually make more money and have higher self esteem, which leads to better productivity.
Unfortunately government regulations make this process difficult. Under common law employees could be hired or fired for any reason or no reason. Letting go of an employee in a protected class requires a higher standard of termination than an employee not in a protected class, such as homosexuals, minorities, the disabled and Senior Citizens. These factors among others add to the cost of increasing efficiency and income to our economy. In a Union environment employees generally must be laid off in the order of Seniority regardless of productivity. These costs make our economy much less efficient and less competitive in the global economy.
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04/25/12
Government and Capitalism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Government and Capitalism
Are we not judged by God relative to our kindness to the downtrodden and the disadvantaged ? Maybe. But since God created this planet and everything on it, including the laws of nature which dictate that the strong survive and the weak perish, why are models based on those laws so frequently disregarded? Can anything survive for long if it continues to lower its standards to the weakest 15% of itself ? All living things, from animals to humans, by following such an approach would become extinct in time. All companies and governments will eventually bankrupt themselves by governing their assets in this manner. Communism lived and died quickly because it strangled itself with an idealistic theory that sounded generous, but was seriously flawed. Socialism is like a deadly lung disease, wherein you eventually die by slow suffocation. Capitalism, alone, takes into account the true nature of our species and will always survive through self adjustment.
When the government underwrites whole markets, capitalism cannot work, and begin to lose track of the "real" values of the products within that market. In a capitalistic system, "stimulation" of the markets is the same as recreational drugs to a human being----it creates an unrealistic euphoria, which is short-lived and painful when the effects fade. False stimulation masks reality, rather than encouraging us to deal with it. But the pain of the way things really are eventually returns---no matter if the stimulant is repeated, because in the end, the government will collapse under the burden of propping up every failed or failing business. We continue to see this in our continued economic crisis.
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04/24/12
A Review of History
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Review of History
Most Americans are pleased that they can refinance their homes at incredibly and historically low interest rates. We are certainly thankful for the high value of the US dollar when we travel abroad. Wall street, US Banks, Auto industry, Unions, money market account holders were all too happy for their bailout gift from the U.S Treasury and the Federal Reserve. Our economic system is based upon free markets, yet in the last four years we have had anything but a free market economy. Once upon a time there was a television commercial that reminded us "You cannot fool mother nature". The same holds true for markets. Distortions, anomalies, bailouts, TARPS, etc. are only delaying the inevitable. The U.S. advantage is that in Washington, DC at the Federal Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the presses are working 24X7X365 printing crazy money. That cannot be done in Europe because of the Eurozone constraints. If the PIIGS were able to print their currencies individually, we would be experiencing hyper- inflation NOW! Thank goodness for the Eurozone in this matter.
Political Science and Economics are independent disciplines, and we know all too well this is not reality. In the next several weeks France will elect a new President. President Sarkozy has been Chancellor Merkel's puppet, which has allowed Germany to virtually dictate economic policies in Europe.
Please take a moment and revisit your history books to research who actually won World War's I & II. In reality Germany may have lost the military battles in Wars I & II, but today we live with a Europe that is economically dominated by Germany.
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04/12/12
What are the similarities between George Zimmerman and O J Simpson ?
BY : Armstrong Williams
What are the similarities between George Zimmerman and O J Simpson ?
The second degree murder charges against George Zimmerman marks a major turning point in a case that triggered a nationwide debate about racial profiling in America and about Florida's "stand your ground" law -- which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury. The case also highlights glaring and sadden contradictions on how American Blacks and the media reacted to OJ Simpson's alleged killing of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman two decades ago.
Many American Blacks feel the long history of racial injustice in this nation entitles many of them to the benefit of the doubt in any racially charged case. This is unfortunately the same mentality that causes them to excuse all of president Obama's failings, simply because he is black. It is not difficult to understand this mentality and it probably will be manifested in any group regardless of their ethnic background, if in fact there ancestors had been the victims, and in some cases, continue to be victims of societal injustice. This makes it fairly easy for the average person to understand why there was a rush to judgement amongst many American Blacks in favor of O J Simpson and against George Zimmerman. Remember OJ Simpson was accused of killing Nicole and Ron. Despite all the evidence that supported the fact that Simpson committed the crimes, many blacks dismissed the evidence and desperately wanted him to be found not guilty. There overwhelming emotional reaction from the onset was pro OJ and just forget the evidence that was reported daily. They showed little, if any sympathy for the tragic circumstances that took the lives of Ron and Nicole. Let us fast forward a couple of decades to our present time where we have another racially charged case in which a white man is accused of murdering a black teenager. Again, regardless of the evidence that is presented that might lead to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, many blacks are unwilling to even entertain the thought of him being found not guilty, as in the case of OJ. Can you not see first hand the incredible double standard and hypocrisy ? What will happen (as in the case of OJ) if George Zimmerman is ultimately found not guilty ? Will we return to the days of rioting and burning down cities across America ? Or will American Blacks celebrate a not guilty verdict in the case of Zimmerman in the same manner they celebrated OJ Simpson's two decades ago.
Williams is heard daily on Sirius/XM 128, 7pm-8pm est. Contact Armstrong: info@rightsidewire.com. Watch Armstrong's weekend syndicated network TV show by visiting www.rightsidewire.com for local listings in your area. Read Armstrong's new book "Reawakening Virtues" at amazon.com.
04/11/12
Minimum Wage
BY: Armstrong Williams
Minimum Wage.
The New York Times reported this morning that a number of liberal Democratic politicians want to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to as much as $10. This proposed increase is in the midst of the weakest economic recovery since the great depression and stubbornly high unemployment. Under classical economic theory, an increase in wages leads to decrease in employment. So an increase in the minimum wage would cause the unemployment rate to increase and national income to decline. However the Liberals have perverted classical economic theory. They maintain that an increase in wages will not reduce employment but will increase employment because low income workers will have more money to spend and that will increase jobs. They fail to recognize that increased wages must come from somewhere. It will either come from the employer or consumer. If it comes from the employer, their retained profits to finance growth will be reduced. Hence their investments will decline, and their ability to hire new employees reduced. If it comes from the consumer in the form of higher prices to finance the higher wages, they will buy less with their money. There is no free lunch. If the Liberals’ theory of increasing the minimum wage would increase employment and national income, why not raise the minimum wage to $100 per hour? Clearly it would bankrupt most businesses and price most consumer products and services out of the reach of consumers.
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04/10/12
Oh those Democrats and their hate mongering
BY: Armstrong Williams
Oh those Democrats and their hate mongering
The Democrats are using fear more than hatred since the House passed the Ryan budget along party lines. Many people do not need to be persuaded of the details—fear is enough for them to take the Democrat side. Ryan is “changing Medicare as we know it,” they say, and “change” of any kind is suddenly an automatic disqualifier.
Why are these rank and file Democrats afraid of the Ryan budget, and not afraid of the President’s budget, which, by the way, was shot down without receiving a single vote even from Democrats? President Obama has yet to offer a budget that ever balances—if we take any of his budgets, they promise permanent deficit spending. The Republican messaging problem is that no one is afraid of that.
We’ve been spending so wildly for so long that we do not even notice the deleterious effects of it. People often ask me, “what’s the big deal” about the deficit? What’s going to happen, they ask, about the national debt? Many people do not think that we will ever pay back the debt: under President Obama’s budget, they would be right. We wouldn’t pay back a dime—it’s just free money.
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04/04/12
Order in the Court. Here comes the Judge.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Order in the Court. Here comes the Judge.
It is strategically unprecedented
After an unprecedented attack by President Obama on the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal Judge asked the Justice Department to give a written explanation of their opinion of what the president was conveying to the Justices as they decide the fate of Obamacare. It appears that the judicial system is defending itself as a co-equal branch of the United States Government.
This is absolutely appropriate since the president seems to feel that unelected judges have no right to interfere with the legislative and executive process. At least when they are his executive and legislative processes. This is but one of the many
radical changes that the president wants to bring about to our nation. He basically wants the judicial system to be a rubber stamp for his ideological agenda. It will certainly be educational as well as fascinating to see who wins this mammoth struggle and the implication will be
significant for the future identity of our nation.
It seems that President Obama has forgotten that our system of government, consists of three co-equal branches.. The Executive and Legislative branch must be checked by the Judicial branch in order to prevent the establishment of tyranny. He should return to his Constitutional law duties since he has apparently forgotten how our system works. The founders of our nation were very cognizant of the fact that there is a natural tendency to consolidate power and take control. Hence they established a system of checks and balances. We should all be very thankful that such a system exist today. The Supreme Court Justices hopefully will not be intimidated for fulfilling their constitutional duties.
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04/03/12
They're coming for your gold assets
BY: Armstrong Williams
They're coming for your gold assets
In 1933 private ownership of gold was out lawed by the US government. As yogi Berra would say "Dejavu all over again" Americans who are privately acquiring gold, mostly in coins may have a surprise coming.
Based upon history I will encourage to digest this scenario: The federal government will purchase your coins, bullions etc. possibly excluding jewelry under a certain dollar amount at the prevailing market price of gold. It will
become a crime to own gold. You will sell your gold to the government in exchange for paper or electronic dollars. What then will happen to the price of gold after the deadline for private ownership has expired.
The US government will then peg the price at a multiple of what they paid individual citizens for their gold portfolio. Dejavu all over again. Some Americans will move their gold assets offshore. These citizens will
reap a tremendous profit by doing so. If you're old enough to remember when the US treasury ask that you use your silver dimes, quarters, 50cents and dollar pieces and turn them into the government and get paper for
your silver coins. What followed was the price of silver skyrocketing, which was in the mid 60's. We're not trying to alarm those that have gold as an asset but it is necessary to inform you what's being discussed
inside the Fed / White house locker room. By the way this is a plan being led and will be implemented by the Treasury and Secretary Geitner.
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04/02/12
Insurance winning hand
BY: Armstrong Williams
Insurance winning hand
Insurance companies will not be driven out of business. They will simply not insure.
Their model has always been passing the costs through and calculating the cost based on the risk.
Mandates on insurance companies can work if we have the stomach for the cost of the mandates, but the higher cost will discourage even more from paying in which will make the pool even more expensive to stay in.
Insurance companies will insure other things and do very well...they are cherry pickers. They will make money..always. Like the casino that has something for everyone and takes a cut, but dumps the things that don't make money.
Politically there are so many Seniors and illegal's with pre existing conditions that hospitals are required to serve. How will there issues and concerns be addressed ?
Congress does not have the courage to cut these people off, but also does not have the money to keep paying for them.
Pushing them onto the insurance companies will work if all the young people are forced to pay much higher rates.
My belief is that this is a strategy to force the political discussion into the Government again reclaiming healthcare and taxing us all, as they currently do in Canada...and get ready for waiting lines, certain end of life things not being covered and a death panel..and 66% income tax like Canada.
It smells like a trap to get the public stirred about government healthcare driven by those who are about to be cut off the entitlement bandwagon.
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03/30/12
Healthcare nightmare awaits ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Healthcare nightmare awaits?
If the Supreme Court declares the individual mandate in Obamacare Unconstitutional, can it sever the mandate from the remainder of the bill? If it can’t the entire legislation is declared null and Void. If this is the eventual outcome, Congress must commence from ground zero again. If the mandate isn’t severed, the United States has an incredible healthcare nightmare that awaits. For example the provision requiring Insurance company’s to sell health insurance to those with preexisting Conditions will significantly increase the cost of their policies. This cost Increase will drive healthy individuals out of the insurance market. This In turn will drive prices much more and cause a death spiral for Insurance Company’s.
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03/27/12
Have we lost our minds in this country?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Have we lost our minds in this country ?
After reading the headlines about the US soldier who shot up Afghanistan civilians, I couldn’t help noticing an irony. There is all this clamor to try this guy quickly and execute him, never mind his having suffered a traumatic brain injury while in the service of his country.
Yet this Major Hasan, who shot up Fort Hood while screaming Allah akbar, still hasn’t stood trial, and they are still debating whether he was insane, even with the clear evidence regarding his motive: slay as many infidels as possible.
So we have a guy in a war zone surrounded by people who hate and want to kill him, who cracks under the pressure. We offer him no consideration, no psych assistance or midigation, instead we seek to prosecute him to show our enemy our sense of fair play……. he must be executed immediately? But this radical traitor Muslim psychiatrist who was stateside on a US military base in a nice safe office all day murders 13, wounds 29 of our own guys, and they try to argue the poor lad suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome, from listening to real soldiers who had actual battle experience.
Two and a half years later, they still haven’t tried the murderous traitor. Have we totally lost our minds in this country?
PC has gone way to far…..
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03/26/12
Disgraced in the Hood
BY: Armstrong Williams
Disgraced in the Hood
As a show of solidarity with Trayvon Martin many people wore hoodies to church yesterday. Church is suppose to be a place of reverence . A place where God is worshipped and not a place where we honor the concerns of
men above those of God. There is no question that there was an injustice in the case of Mr. Martin and there are appropriate forums for true justice. To denigrate the house of God for any reason is unjustified and continues
to down play the importance of true faith in our society. I was horrified watching tv reports and witnessing ministers delivering the sermon with a hoody and the choir singing in their hoody robes. Many of the people have
obviously not thought through the implications of their actions which unfortunately seems to be what most people do these days. We need to begin to engage our brain and not simply follow the crowd with knee jerk reactions.
We need to explain why we're doing what we're doing. Let us take this unfortunate demonstration and learn from it and not make a mockery of God and the church.
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03/22/12
The Black community accountability
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Black community accountability
It is the family and its values that makes the difference in educational attainment. With 70 %+ of American Black children born out of wedlock today compared to less than 10 % in the 1940's and 1950's, getting more black students into elite private schools in the near future is wishful
thinking. Without a doubt society must works towards repairing the almost irreparable damage to the traditional black family. That must be initially undertaken within the black community and cannot be imposed from the outside.
I have an amicable solution to many of the problems previously stated. The silver bullet to every problem within the black community today lies in the empowerment of the private institutions of God, the family, and community along with creative education. By creative education I don’t mean some state-based publicly funded non-sense, I mean education that balances creativity with discipline. The answers to poverty lie in the ability to decipher and use information to ones benefit. There are several outlines and resources one could use to change the given circumstance of individuals affected by prison and poverty within our society. I finish with a quote from Reagan's A Time for Choosing speech “Well, now, if government planning and welfare had the answer—and they've had almost 30 years of it (now its about 70 years)—shouldn't we expect government to read the score to us once in a while? Shouldn't they be telling us about the decline each year in the number of people needing help? The reduction in the need for public housing?”
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03/20/12
Government: A Charitable Organization
BY: Armstrong Williams
Government: A Charitable Organization
I have often asked myself, and heard it asked by others, why so many wealthy people support liberal causes (this is the flip-side of the usual election-year frustration of the liberals with the working classes’ clinging to their guns and religion). In this presidential election, as in 2008, the Democratic Party, who claim with less and less credibility to be the champions of the poor, have farmore money to spend than the Republican Party, who are said to be the party of the greedy upper classes; how could this be?
The simple answer is this: wealthy liberals blatantly use social liberalism and big government regulation to protect their relative position in society. Big government regulation and taxation thwarts the economic mobility of those trying to move up, allowing the elites to remain elite, while still seeming pious for all their apparent efforts to help the little people.
Note that their idea of political action deals always with outcomes, never with principles: they see the federal government as a charitable organization, or a tool which they can use to reshape society—I’m not impugning motives; this is what they openly profess. Conservatives have an ideal government in mind, one that sticks to the principles of the Founders; liberals have an ideal society in mind, and they will tinker with the government until it creates one.
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03/18/12
Ridiculous Government Waste
BY: Armstrong Williams
Ridiculous Government Waste
With all the talk of Fiscal Cliff, Sequestration, the continuing resolution, and raising the debt ceiling (again); I’ve yet to hear any politician on either side of the aisle focus on government waste.
It is fact that both parties so egregiously waste money that they come to blows and hurt family paychecks when they could be looking at ways to save that would benefit everyone.
We have programs that are double, even triple funded to do the same thing. Why? Because some Congressman or Senator wants there name on a legacy project. I’ve talked to administrators that have begged Congressional staff to dissuade the passage of such redundant bills. They get told that the bill will be passed anyway because the Senator wants to tell his constituents that he did something about some cause or another. The result produces zero impact on the cause du jour and more millions down the toilet.
And then we have the much-ballyhooed “Congressional Squatters.” These are Congressmen that refuse to use the housing stipend they receive to rent a place in the DC area and instead pocket the money and sleep in their offices. They usually claim it’s to keep them in the mindset of serving the people, but what is does is show a penny wise and pound-foolish attitude. Due to these misers, Capitol Hill is forced to keep the heating, cooling, and electricity running 24/7 costing us taxpayers millions a year. They save themselves a few thousand by refusing to rent a crash pad with several other congressmen and cost the nation literally millions.
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03/16/12
Republicans, hypocritical Dems, and Evolution
BY: Armstrong Williams
Republicans, hypocritical Dems, and Evolution
Many Liberals and their pundits mischaracterized the approach of the Republican party. It doesn’t encourage fundamentalism, but it’s political philosophy is not hostile to it. They don’t impose absolutes: you can find Republicans who are fundamentalist and atheist; traditional and libertarian; pro-life and pro-choice (Collins, Snowe, Hutchison…where, oh where are the pro-life Dems?); straight and gay (Log Cabin Republicans). Democrats rail against ‘intolerance’ but on the evidence, it is the Democrats who are the party of ‘group-think’ and intellectual rigidity. You don’t have to believe Genesis to be a Republican, but you shouldn’t ridicule those that do…like me. The Bible isn’t a book of science, and it will frustrate those that try to make it one. I do believe that God created Adam and Eve (on this vein, I’ve never understood the phrase, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” – simple: chicken was created, laid the egg).
It's encouraging hearing people use the term "believe in" evolution. As evolution is a theory - not a scientific LAW like gravity or entropy - to say it is a fact is to express belief since the evidence is not conclusive. That's what is meant by terming it a "theory.' So, if asked the question if I "believe in" evolution, I would say "NO" as well.
03/15/12
Will the wool continue to be pulled over our eyes ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Will the wool continue to be pulled over our eyes ?
No one should really be surprise that the "Affordable" care act is going to have a tab of almost twice as much as the original projection. It is highly probable the purveyors of this massive governmental plan understood that through some
clever manipulations and presentations that they along with their media crony's would easily be able to deceive the massess into believing they were actually doing something which would save money. They knew all along what the true cost were.
This is again a vivid illustration of how deceitful politicians can take advantage of un weary citizens. They realize that most people will not investigate or avail themselves of the facts and will simply accept whatever their "Leaders" and television
commentators put forth.
It would be wonderful if this example could serve as a lesson for people to spend quality time educating themselves about basic economics, mathematics and political history. Unfortunately, most of our citizens will continue to focus on their local sports
team and the Kardashians.
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03/13/12
Romney Care decision time
BY: Armstrong Williams
Romney Care decision time
It is legitimate to entertain some serious doubt about the inevitability of Romney's nomination as the GOP candidate, especially after Santorum's stunning victories last night. Not only did Romney lose in both Southern primaries, he actually placed third.
This is a strong indication of dissatisfaction on behalf of the Republican base when 70% of the voters in Mississippi and Alabama voted for someone other than the "Front Runner". Perhaps the only way Romney can salvage his candidacy is to repudiate
Romney care and finally admit it was a colossal mistake and that he in fact does not advocate large controlling governmental programs. Until he can shed that burdensome image he is unlikely to be the eventual nominee and he is likely to produce significant
damage to the party in the process.
Hopefully his campaign will reach a decision regarding which direction he will take, big government or true conservatism. The GOP hard core, bed rock uncompromising base of the party awaits his decision.
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03/13/12
The complexity of Energy
BY: Armstrong Williams
The complexity of Energy
We need an intelligent energy policy which should include not only development of our own petroleum products but incentives for new energy development. The current Administration seems bent on a policy of raising gasoline prices in order to make alternative energy more
palatable. There thinking is that in the long run, eventually we will be much better off with an alternative energy source. However, they fail to realize that if we continue on this course of dependency on Middle Eastern oil and diminishing our own capacity, there may very well
be no long run. The reason being is we are empowering the terrorist financially with our dependency and providing Iran with the time and resources it needs to develop nuclear weaponry.
This cleary emphasizes the need for a two prong approach that incentivizes innovation while rapidly cultivating our own energy independence.
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03/12/12
Economic News
BY: Armstrong Williams
Economic news
Yes, employment numbers are moving up, but there is some other sobering news: Unemployment is still 8.3% and will remain above 8% until election day; at the pace we’re on we won’t get back the jobs lost in the recession till 2020 or so, and we still have a vast number of long-term unemployed and the absolute number of employed people is still below pre-recession levels. This is not the gaining strength recovery of 1984 that propelled Reagan to re-election. Is it good enough? Who knows. I think it depends many unforeseen factors : what become the issues the candidates espouse and real-world events between now and November.
The most worrying factor for die hard Obama fans has got to be energy prices and the position he’s staked out to date. Essentially, the president is saying US supply doesn't matter as there is a world market for oil. True enough, but as the Iranian threat to close the Strait of Hormuz illustrates, the real factor is not ‘global supply’ but ‘secure global supply.’ Oil that is developed in the US and its offshore regions is not subject to the geopolitical uncertainty of Gulf oil. I don’t think our president wants to make the case that in a scenario where Gulf supplies are interdicted, that the oil and natural gas that could be developed here would be inconsequential. Not to mention the salutary effect on futures prices of US drilling or the fact that the thousands of jobs created would be here in the U.S. Supply always matters to the determination of price and President Obama has staked out a loser position….especially as gas prices peak in the summer driving season. My guess: expect our President to find a symbolic (and easily reversible) means of caving in on the US supply issue for electoral purposes. The R candidates, and eventually the nominee should hammer him unmercifully on this issue. It’s a winner.
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03/09/12
Actually Low interest rates
BY: Armstrong Williams
Artificially Low interest rates
Many of my anti-capitalist colleagues say that
government spending is not crowding out private investment because
interest rates are low. Therefore there is plenty of money to finance
private investment. Unfortunately, in an attempt to protect depositors,
and the government guarantee of such deposits, the bank regulators have
increased the credit underwriting requirements on banks. Consequently,
they are not lending to small and medium sized businesses.
Interest rates are low because the Fed is printing money and as a result
significantly increasing the money supply thereby making money less
expensive. The irony of artificially low interest rates is that it
reduces the income of pensioners and savers. This in effect shifts
money and consumption from savers and transfers it to the government who
is borrowing at artificially low rates.
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03/08/12
Allen West Betrayed
BY: Armstrong Williams
Allen West Betrayed
Has anyone with a modicum of common sense understands why the Republican party of Florida allowed Congressman Allen West to be gerrymandered out of his congressional district?
It would make sense if this were Massachusetts or California: if a Democrat-majority state had tried to force out Congressman West, we could easily see why. But this is a battleground state, and one whose legislature is run by his fellow Republicans. While some might think that it might be better to have someone safe, someone timid, in such an environment, I disagree wholeheartedly: it is precisely in such tight races that we need someone who can motivate the base to show up on election day, and someone who can get people excited. If GOP candidates don’t look any different from the Democrats, what would be the point of voting for them?
Florida is going to be perhaps the most important state in this year’s elections. It is the fourth-largest in the union, and a toss-up swing state where Republicans have a huge majority of the Congressional delegation. Its only rival in electoral significance is Ohio. Do Republicans want powerful voices representing the party in these states, or weak ones?
His only fault is that he didn't embrace the Republican establishment when their views were contrary to those of the Tea Party.
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03/07/12
Black Bourgeois Shame
BY: Armstrong Williams
Black Bourgeois Shame
Why are black middle class conservatives ashamed of the traditional conservative values that account for their success? Most successful middle class American Blacks are from families that value education, hard work, religion, and a traditional family. Yet, many middle class Blacks seek to justify the culture of the dysfunctional segments of the black community that are failing academically and economically in America. Is it guilt for their own success or do they really believe that there is a virtue in the failing subculture of a predominant number of Black Americans. Most successful people believe in and proselytize the values that have made them successful. Why are successful middle class blacks the exception? Does the Civil rights leadership want to keep their less successful brothers and sisters mired in the bottom of the swamp so they can feel superior as members of the “talented tenth” and derive their wealth from the continued suffering ? It is a known fact that peddling racism, poverty, and victimization is a huge financial industry in the United States.
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03/06/12
Reducing the power of the Federal Reserve
BY: Armstrong Williams
Reducing the Federal Reserve power
Ron Paul deserves credit (if you pardon the pun) for raising the question of monetary policy among the general electorate. We must examine the wisdom of its independence from Congressional oversight. A more moderate view, one we should all be able to agree on, is that the Federal Reserve must be subject to a public audit of its activities. Surely no one on either side of the aisle thinks it wise to put so much power in the hands of so few without any check or balance.
Steve Forbes, investing and business genius, says that it is almost inevitable that the United States return to the gold standard, which would completely take away the power of the Fed to manipulate the market and, thus, manipulate our lives. Another irony is that it is our friends on the Left who fear this change and wish to preserve the status quo, afraid of the consequences of restoring convertibility to gold simply because we haven't done it before.
By taking away the power of the Fed and giving it to the free market, we will all benefit. The market knows best how to allocate resources, and not even the brightest and best-connected of our technocrats.
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03/05/12
New York dependency on Wall Street
BY: Armstrong Williams
New York dependency on Wall Street
In case you haven't noticed of late, but NY State is in serious financial trouble. Not unexpectedly NY State and NY City depend on the success of Wall Street for their budgets. Wall Street activities account for 20% of State Tax revenues, 13% of NY City revenues before the recession .
These revenues have significantly dropped 14% and 7% with the state and city respectively. The state also lost 28,000 high paying employees in the Securities industry. In 2011 the bonus pool dropped 14%. No matter your thoughts about Wall Street ,there golden goose is being severely wounded, if not completely destroyed.
To compound and further complicate matters, rather than embracing budget cuts the state is borrowing significant amounts from its pension plan. For the past several years they have borrowed an estimated a quarter of a billion dollars. This borrowing maybe a way of subverting the States balance budget amendment , but it certainly does not protect the NY State taxpayer who will eventually pay this piper.
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03/02/12
Wall Street, Taxes, and the Economy
BY: Armstrong Williams
Wall Street, Taxes, and the Economy
The Main Stream media is reporting that the Stock market is rallying, because Wall Street insiders are encouraged and energized that President Obama will be reelected.
Come on readers and tell us if you know anybody on Wall street that would buy stock because of Obama's reelection. The tax dividends on stocks will increase 300% if President Obama is reelected in November 2012. Why would an investor buy stock when his after tax return is being cut from 85% to 55%% ? Someone with a modicum of common sense would say the stock market is surging because they see the president losing the 2012 election.
Notice to Liberals who think high state income tax rates don't matter. Tiger Woods announced yesterday that California doesn't have as many successful professional golfers as it was once known for. They have all moved to low tax states like Florida, Texas, and Nevada.
I implore someone, just anyone to tell us whom this economy is improving for ? It is rare when speaking to any one, regardless of their socio economic standing, do they feel the economy is improving anywhere. All of us have been significantly diminish in the era of Obamalism.
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03/01/12
Middle East Observations
BY: Armstrong Williams
Middle East Observations
The conversation between President Obama and Israel's President Netanyahu next week in Washington could have huge implication for both deciding on a course of action. What they say to one another and how they interpret each other’s posture will be critical.
· Global pressure continues to mount on Iran, making it more difficult for them to go to their people to justify the nuclear program. The economy is starting to come apart at the seams and the sanctions are increasingly biting.
· The ayatollahs will have to make the calculation that a nuclear program is not worth the costs, or that they won’t be able to placate the people. They look at North Korea a model—once it got nukes then the world had to take it seriously in a whole new way. The ayatollah currently look at the nuclear capability as an insurance card.
· Russia and China are finding it harder to continue providing cover for Iran. At the same time, they are continuing to prop up Assad because of business interests and out of a desire of blocking the United States and putting themselves forward as a counterweight to the world’s lone superpower.
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02/29/12
Obama "Cling to my Religion and Guns"
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama "Cling to my Religion and Guns"
President Obama is urging black voters to encourage their church congregation to support his reelection (not surprising). Why would a Christian church implore it's members to support a politician whose views are antithetical to the church ? Let's call the roll.
Same Sex marriages.
Abortion
Forcing Churches to comply with contraceptives
Removal of "In God we Trust" from our currency
Not giving Christianity the same protections as
Islam in government policy and free speech.
Is the black church so self destructive that they are willing to sacrifice their Theology to elect a politician who disparages and make a mockery of the Church ?
Frankly I would rather "Cling to my Religion and Guns" than to "Hope" for "Change" that would emasculate my religious and spiritual beliefs.
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02/29/12
Liberalism decreases economic mobility
BY: Armstrong Williams
Liberalism decreases economic mobility.
Liberalism decreases economic mobility. The minimum wage prevents unskilled young workers from obtaining necessary jobs and thereby skills that allows upward mobility in the world. The public education system perpetuates poor academic performance among disadvantage Americans. Without a good education these disadvantage students are crippled for a lifetime in their pursuit of the American dream.
Expensive FDA approvals not only prevent startup company's from investing in potentially life saving drugs, but they also hamper young medical entrepreneurs from bringing new innovative products to the market and thereby precluding these innovators from increasing their potential wealth. Financial regulations entrenches the Blue Chip Wall St. giants who can afford the expensive legal talent required to negotiate these rules to continue controlling the wealth. The expense of complying with these regulations prevents young financial entrepreneurs from developing competing financial service companies.
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02/27/12
Stop apologizing Mr. President
BY: Armstrong Williams
Stop apologizing Mr. President
President Obama should stop apologizing to the Afghan people about American troops burning the Koran.
The Afghan prisoners converted a holy book into an implement of war by using it to distribute subversive literature.
In doing so they desecrated their holy book and took it out of the realm of being a sacred object. The object the US troops burned was an implement of war and not a holy relic.
Mr. Obama, please don't apologize for our troops destroying an object our enemies often use in the war of terror against us.
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02/24/12
Morality and Education
BY: Armstrong Williams
Morality and Education
President Madison once opined that if you educate a man without teaching him morals you create a menace to society. With education you give people the tools to have tremendous effects on their environment. If that power is not tempered by morality, the changes that are wrought are not likely to be beneficial. For this reason we should reexamine the deletion of the teaching of values in our public schools. If our young people don't understand and appreciate the difference between right and wrong, we will continue to experience the further deterioration of the high standards of morality that once characterized our society.
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02/23/12
The New Obama tax system
BY: Armstrong Williams
The new Obama tax system
President Obama has called for a major reform of our corporate tax system. The good news is that this will reduce the marginal corporate tax to 28%.
This would put the United States corporate income tax inline with most of our global competitors.
The serious bad news is that our president will penalize individual tax payers who receive
dividends. By effectively increasing the tax on dividends to nearly 45%, Obama will distort the allocation of capital in our country.
He will also discourage Americans from purchasing dividend yielding stocks. This will have a long term negative impact on the
stock market and for corporations desperate to raise equity capital.
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02/22/12
The Fed Finances the deficit
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Fed finances the deficit
If the Fed reserve didn't keep interest rates abnormally low, the federal deficit would soar by nearly $500 billion dollars in the first year. The arithmetic is simple, rates are 2 to 3 % lower than they should be: The outstanding Federal debt is $15 Trillion Dollars. 3% additional on $15 Trillion is $450 billion dollars additional deficit. By having these abnormal low interest rates, the fed is also discouraging Americans from saving money and encouraging them to borrow additional money to their already over leveraged balance sheets. The only option for our government repaying the federal debt is for the Federal Reserve to monetize the debt. What this means is the Fed will continue to increase the money supply, causing inflation and enabling the Federal Government to pay back debt obligations with debased cheap dollars.
The Federal Reserve is an unelected body without oversight from Congress or auditors. Who is the Fed responsible to other than itself ?
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02/21/12
Europe is our economic example
BY: Armstrong Williams
Europe is our economic example.
As America follows Europe down the path of the social welfare state, we will see our wealthy dynamic capitalist economy slide into the economic lethargy of a state run economy. Our turn around will come, if at all, only when we, like Greece, hit economic bottom. At that point, we will realize the truth of Margret Thatcher’s words: “the problem with socialism is that pretty soon you run out of other people’s money.” Will it be too late at that point to turn around?
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02/20/12
Rising Socialism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Rising Socialism
Unless the American people regain a strong commitment to the traditional American values of self reliance, individual liberty, and equality of opportunity, our democracy will inevitably lead to socialism. We are seeing an erosion of respect for other people’s property rights and a decline in individual responsibility. We are seeing an increase in entitlement mentality and class envy in our society. Instead of looking in the mirror, we look for scapegoats to explain our misfortune. Unfortunately, this decline in our traditional values is being championed by the political establishment, including the President of the United States, the intellectual elite and the main stream media.
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02/16/12
What will be Obama's lasting legacy ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What will be Obama's lasting legacy ?
Would America have social security without Roosevelt? How would the world have been different if Roosevelt had not supported the allies before America’s entrance into World War II?
If Eisenhower had not begun the building of the interstate highway system in the 1950’s, would the American landscape have been very different?
What if Kennedy had not called Nikita Khrushchev’s bluff over the Cuban missile crisis? Could America have tolerated Russian missiles 90 miles off shore?
What would be the state of civil rights in America if Kennedy and Johnson had not been Presidents? It took former Speaker of the House LBJ to push through the Civil rights Act.
If Regan had not implemented his tax cuts and small government campaign, would America have been as prosperous in the late 20th and early 21st century? Would the “Iron Curtain” have fallen had Regan not challenged the “Evil Empire”?
Will Americans look back on the administration of Bill Clinton as the last time a federal budget was balanced?
And what will eventually be the historical significance of the Obama era ? Will he through his socialist agenda, precipitate the undoing of the American way of life ?
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02/15/12
An era of no more Religion
BY: Armstrong Williams
An era of no more Religion
Does the Obama administration want to force the Catholic Church to abandon its missions in health, education and welfare in order to be true to its beliefs?
It could happen; it’s already beginning to happen. Due to the radical liberal homosexual agenda, Catholic Charities have already had to close down adoption agencies in states where it is considered unfair discrimination to refuse to give children to homosexual couples. By forcing the Catholic Church, history’s largest social service organization, out of business, aren’t we throwing out the baby and keeping the bath water?
Not only does the government want you to pay more in taxes to fund government welfare programs, but it wants to put out of business its chief competition—religion. Is this issue just another way for the government to increase its power in society by taking over these services? Is it better that those in need look to the Church or the government for help? Personally, I’d rather look to the Church.
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02/14/12
Misplaced attention: What is important?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Misplaced attention: What is important ?
This past weekend the entertainment world lost one of its biggest stars with the death of Whitney Houston. Based on the news coverage of this event you would think that much more
was loss than an individual life. Although any loss of life is tragic, the obsession of our culture with celebrity is reminiscent of the adulation bestowed upon royalty and sports figures
in many other cultures. This also reminds us of the undue attention paid to athletes and famous people in the Roman and Greek empires prior to their fall. At a time when our nation
faces enormous problems we do have time to be sympathetic to the loss of any life. We must learn to focus our attention and efforts on those problems that threaten our very existence.
We should cease living in a fantasy world created by the sports and entertainment industry which act like a narcotic but have no long term benefit.
This blog is in no way a judgement on the life of Ms. Houston, it's written to remind our larger society on the importance of focusing our attention on things that truly matter in our nation.
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02/13/12
The Emperor's new clothes
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama pulled a slight of hand with Obamacare Catholic church compromise.
The Emperor’s new clothes
The President’s Obama Care compromise is that Catholic charities don't have to offer contraceptives to its employees through their mandatory healthcare insurance policies. Instead their insurance companies must provide employees the contraceptives for free. This is not a compromise but a slight of hand.
Who does the administration think is going to pay for these contraceptives? If they think the insurance company out of the goodness of its heart will pay for these contraceptives out of profits, they are gravely mistaken. Instead, when the insurance company quotes a Catholic charity a health Insurance policy that excludes free contraceptives, they will knowingly price it at the same rate as that of an institution that must provide contraceptives to its employees. If they are prohibited from charging the Catholic charities the same rate as other institutions and must charge a lower rate, then the insurance companies will pass the costs on to all the non Catholic charities policy holders. That means the rest of America must subsidize contraceptives for the workers of Catholic charities.
My friends let me be the first to say that this is clearly not fair. Most of us have enough problems paying for our own contraceptives. The last thing we need is for Obama Care to make us pay for the contraceptives of employees of the Catholic Charities.
One would have to be blind and completely incoherent, not to recognize that somebody has to bear the cost of these contraceptives. If it’s not the Catholic charities it will be the other policy holders, meaning you and I bearing these costs. So, Mr. President, are you asking the rest of America to pay for your compromise with the Catholic Church? That is not fair. Or are you going to let the insurance companies pass on the cost of the free contraceptives to the Catholic charities through higher premiums for the contraceptive exclusion health care policies? That is not a compromise.
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02/10/12
America the coming secular nation
BY: Armstrong Williams
America, the coming secular nation
Isn't it convenient how this administration continue to manipulate our separation of church and state. In fact what they're doing is trampling on the first amendment without any conscious. Our government was never designed to control the church and the church should never have control over the government. This administration is constantly testing the waters to see how much they can further erode the rights of the people. There is no justification for forcing people to disregard their deeply held religious convictions in a "free" country. This coupled with the president's pronouncement a couple of years ago that we were not a Judeo-christian nation and his tolerance of restrictions on Catholic Priest who serve the military, calls into question his allegiance to our constitution. It is a small wonder that some of his associates have recently called for a review of the relevance of our constitution. If anyone doubted that our country is on the brink of major changes those doubts should now be removed. Are we willing to undergo such a radical change from our noble past ?
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02/09/12
Obama's Catholic church indignation
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Catholic church indignation
With unbelievable hubris, the Obamacarebureaucrats in Washington exclude the Church’s non-liturgical mission from the religious exemption ofObamacare. (Not the elected Congress, but self righteous bureaucrats made this decision!) These bureaucrats claim the Church serves non-Catholicsin its non-liturgical mission, and therefore this is not its core religious mission. Imagine, the bureaucrats understand the church’s mission better than theclergy! Even many liberal Catholics understand that the mission of the Catholic Church extends beyond the sanctuary.
It is well known that use of contraceptives and abortions are a violation of Catholic Church doctrine. Forcing Catholic institutions to fund contraception and abortions for its employees under Obamacare is clearly a violation of its doctrine and religious freedom.
Does the administration want to force the Catholic Church to abandon its missions in health, education and welfare in order to be true to its beliefs? Instead of Catholic Charities relying on charitable dollars to fund these missions, perhaps the government prefers to use taxpayer dollars to fund them! Is this issue just another way for the government to increase its power in society by taking over these services? Is it better that those in need look to the Church or the government for help? Personally, I’d rather look to the Church.
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02/08/12
Conservatism ultimately win elections
BY: Armstrong Williams
Conservatism ultimately win elections
In 2012 we have yet another election year that is primarily a reaction against the establishment, and the country has swung back and forth yet again, unhappy with both parties. But why?
The problem with George W. Bush was not that he was conservative, but that he was not conservative enough-he hurt the credibility of the GOP by bloating the government further, and not just the military and the Department of Homeland Security, but, in his "compassionate" conservatism, blowing money on domestic spending as well.
If the Republicans stick to constitutional and classical liberal principles, they win elections. They got drunk with power after Gingrich took over in 1994, and didn't deliver on their promises. Since then, they have collectively failed to practice what they preach. The worst of their transgressions was the Medicare Part D entitlement that now-Speaker Boehner and President Bush added, worth around 13 trillion in unfunded dollars, hoping to bribe their way to a permanent majority.
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02/07/12
Santorum Rising
BY: Armstrong Williams
Santorum Rising
Recent polling data indicates that Rick Santorum is rapidly moving up in the polls as the anti Romney candidate. Gingrich seems to be losing his edge in that category simply because of his continued mean spirited attacks, rather than focusing on issues that truly matter . Romney has permanently damaged himself among independents by destroying his nice guy image with negativism while not emphasizing his 59 point economic plan. It is rather pathetic that with so many glaring issues facing our diminishing nation, the Republican candidates can find nothing better to do than tear each other down. Rick Santorum has tried to focus on the issues and it's now paying dividends for him. If he can resist the urge to engage in the mud slinging he may in fact emerge as a serious challenge to Romney.
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02/06/12
Why Obama needs Jon Huntsman (and others like him )
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why Obama needs Jon Huntsman (and others like him)
Friday’s impressive jobs report is a positive shot in the arm for what the economy needs about now. Politically speaking, adding 243,000 new jobs – the most since last April – is good news indeed for the President’s approval ratings.
What caused many economists to breathe a sigh of relief is that many in the private sector appear to be hiring again, including specialty trades such as manufacturing. While this is no time to be popping champagne and celebrating the demise of the Great Recession, last month’s jobs report tells us many things of the economy moving forward.
One of those indicators is foreign trade. This country is still the world’s #1 exporter, and it will not soon surrender that title. Over 96% of the world’s markets rest beyond our borders. We can only sell so many iPads and caramel mochas here stateside before we are stalled again in shallow economic waters.
Yes, American workers need foreign trade to boost employment here at home. That’s why the President should thank his former ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, and many more like him. Huntsman understands what a free market looks like, and he did as good a job as he could pushing Beijing to adopt similar open policies.
If the President has any hopes of turning this ship of state around and further lowering the unemployment rate, enhanced international commerce will be one pillar in that foundation. I don’t know how he should do it, but if Obama were smart (and I know he is), he should look for more individuals such as Huntsman in and around his cabinet.
I’m talking less about esoteric, policy-driven diplomats, and more business-savvy, commercially-minded folks who see dollar signs on behalf of the American economy. It’s time to get a sales force on the international trade stage – a U.S. “dream team” if you will, constantly pushing for American goods and know-how. The days of outsourcing are over, hopefully. The President said as much during his State of the Union. Let’s build on that quality-is-better mantra that Americans have been known for and renew the push beyond our shores.
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02/03/12
Can and will they cut spending
BY: Armstrong Williams
Can and will they cut Spending
Our Congressional members plan for a serious budget reduction in the future does not
work without a big initial down payment in spending cuts. Today's
Congress cannot bind future congresses, and Congress has been
notoriously unreliable with respect to the fiscal management of the
country's finances. Only a naive observer of America's today's
political environment could believe that congress will constrain
spending to bring the deficit under control when the economy improves.
The only point that the left may have is that fiscal stimulus may have a
small temporary benefit when the money is originally spent, but the
extent of the benefit depends on how the money is spent, e.g.
infrastructure, tax rebates, government program, etc., and technical
arguments about the multiplier effect of the spending. However, it has a
negative impact when it is finally paid for.
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02/02/12
Obama's Military Prowess
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Military Prowess
I have been very critical of this President. Across the board, I often find myself in 180 degree disagreement with him and his administration's policies. Among those disappointments has been his handling of Iraq, and the sheer demagoguery he displayed regarding the War on Terror, beginning with Iraq and certainly including issues such as Guantanamo Bay.
But I have to admit, he gets credit on his handling of one area specifically - the use of the military's special forces.
The Commander-in-Chief's singular decision and authorization of the use of the military's best fighting soldiers in the killing of Osama Bin Laden was impressive. Just this past week, Obama again called on the SEALs to rescue two hostages held in a Somali compound. The stealth warriors eliminated their targets and returned the hostages to safety. All in a day's work.
I admire that. If it works, keep doing it. And that's precisely what Obama did. Relying on the intelligence of his generals and their tedious calculations, he made the right calls. And he may even do it again should the need(s) arise.
Sure, there might have been casualties. And there very well could be in the future. Every loss of American life is regrettable and tragic. But in the final analysis, and compared to alternatives (whole brigades subject to IEDs??), this is smart tactics and even smart politics.
It should come as no surprise, then, to see similar behaviors reflected in Obama's budget offering set to be unveiled later this month. Greater plus-ups for special forces and technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) make sense to the average American. Why work harder to remove the enemy when one can work smarter and from a secure location? And given tight budget constraints and legacy costs such as veterans benefits and other personnel needs that drain Pentagon budgets, credit this administration with trying to do more with less. There will always be a good reason for more spending. That's not the problem. The problem is we don't have the money. The sooner both sides start acting in the right way given that reality, the sooner we can begin to grow our way out of colossal debt.
Yes, his budget will be bloated and fat in other areas, including Defense. But on this one issue, the President has served us well.
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02/01/12
Team Romney: Walk Like a Man
BY: Armstrong Williams
Team Romney: Walk Like a Man
The hit musical Jersey Boys is currently playing in Washington. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. It’s a great show depicting the rough-and-tumble life of Frankie Valli – frontman for the Four Seasons beginning in 1960.
Early in the group’s career, 1963 to be exact, Valli released his third of several #1 chart toppers – Walk Like a Man.
That should be the current theme song of the Romney campaign. Candidate Romney is doing all the right things, and getting not enough credit for it.
He ran a tight operation in Florida after a resounding defeat in South Carolina – with the ground game and institutional backing of key figures to secure the first place finish. And while we’re at it, folks, Romney won the Florida caucuses by a whopping landslide. It wasn't a race when the final ballots were tallied. Gingrich was a distant second. Yes, and Ron Paul had a mere 3%...
Romney going forward must now convince the base that he's a true conservative, which may be difficult in light of many of the statements he has made in the past and many of his actions as Governor of Massachusetts. He must now focus on the fact that that was the past and he has moved forward. He must continue to articulate the reasons he has changed. If he's able to do this he will be quite successful. He has certainly demonstrated that he can put fire in his speeches and not be a dull wall street type orator.
So Governor Romney should keep on doing what he’s doing. Take some Jersey Boys advice and walk like a man. Act as if he owns this nomination, and then go out there and show his fellow Republicans he’s the man for this job.
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01/31/12
Why Newt is good for the GOP
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why Newt is good for the GOP
I thought long and hard about this blog title. It could take on many meanings. But more than any other, I believe Newt Gingrich's decision to remain in the primary race until the bitter end is good for the party because it will keep Mitt Romney battle-ready. Think about it. We saw just a little bit of a threat from Newt in South Carolina (many would call that a MAJOR threat!), and look at how the Romney machine mobilized. It was quite impressive. And if you weren't paying attention, you can be sure the Obama campaign in Chicago was.
One of Romney's closest advisors - former Bush 41 political director Ron Kaufman - used to ask any candidate who ever considered running for office, "Do you have a primary opponent?" If the candidate answered "No", the story goes he would tell them, "Well, see if you can get one...It only makes you tougher for your general election opponent."
In a perfect world, every candidate would be ready for his/her general election opponent from Day 1, but the reality is they're often not. I don't believe Mitt is quite ready for the bump-and-run, smash-mouth political show he will face with President Obama. But he will be. And Newt will help him steel his resolve, hone his message, and present his superior argument to the American voter that the four-year debacle we called Obama's presidency should end.
Embrace these few weeks, my friends. If past is prologue, the challengers nipping at Governor Romney's heels will forge him in the fires of mischaracterizations and misrepresentations - something he can expect in hellacious amounts from Obama.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams
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01/30/12
Obama's Fall Surprise
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama Fall Surprise ?
As the fall elections for the presidency nears it will become increasingly clear that President Obama has no credible record of positive results on which to run.
The Obama campaign will and must resort to negative and demagoguery campaigning. However will it be adequate enough for his
return to four more years. Obama is in need of a huge bang such as the one he received after Osama Bin Laden was assassinated and it must occur
in relatively close proximity to the election. There are many opportunities that might afford such a bang, but probably the most likely would be an attack
on the nuclear facilities of Iran, which in their minds can be justified as an attempt to stabilize the Middle East and save the world from terrorists armed
with nuclear weapons.
Historically the president who is in office at the time of the commencement of war efforts receives a significant bounce in the
polls. A political animal such as President Obama will not be insensitive to this historical fact. If one watches closely you can understand the various
developments occurring now, which are the necessary ground work for such an attack. This is not to say that it will not become necessary to attack Iran if they
are indeed developing these weapons of mass destruction, but rather to question the timing which can be politically quite convenient.
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01/28/12
What worries you ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What worries you ?
I was speaking to a group of college students recently and raised the question of what worries them about their future. I followed up by asking whether they were optimistic or pessimistic? A student answered that her hopes were to secure a job upon graduation and was neither optimistic or pessimistic. I wasn't surprise in hearing that answer because it seems that many in the younger generation do not think deeply about the implications of out of control spending. Obviously many don't think about nor do they understand the impact of out of control debt on their future. They simply hope that everything is going to be okay.
The more mature generation who is well read, is extraordinarily concerned about our fiscal viability in the future. Those who are not well read are primarily concerned about whether anything will impact their safety net. One thing that distinguishes people from animals is our ability to process information . This allows us to plan and strategize for our future. When we are only concerned about the here and now we are forfeiting a huge part of the benefits of humanity and acting more like animals who tend to react to what's going on in the here and now.
Hopefully not only our younger generation but the current generation will come to understand before it's too late, that we are the captains of our own destiny. What we do to today has a profound impact on what we do and become tomorrow.
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01/27/12
A Long road for Newt and Obama
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Long road for Newt and Obama.
Few stalwarts in the Republican Tent No are afraid of giving the party whomever they choose. Before we continue our rejoicing and being awe struck by Newt's resurgence , please know there are two states where Newt has not made the ballot. He continues to live cheaply on debates and, to my knowledge, still hasn't 'girded for the long haul' and done the real work of organizing a 50 state machine (pace not making it on to two state ballots). Remember, also, that we've largely adopted proportional representation in awarding delegates, so Romney's not getting 'skunked' in these contests. Just as President Obama out-organized Hillary, Romney has out-organized Newt (actually, since Newt's not organized, after Florida's vote it could be a walkover). I'd still describe Romney as the favorite to win the requisite delegate total. And, the prospects for a brokered convention are also slight. I think most understand that that would "seem" anti-democratic - that's why we stopped the party-boss smoke-filled room in the first place.
Wait until the battle's joined with the all of a sudden gloating and prideful Barack Obama. He is an incumbent, but not a strong one. He has lost, in large part, the force of rhetoric (not that he can't speak, but no one believes him anymore), and must defend what record he's compiled. That last will be hard with 8+ percent unemployment, roaring deficits, and incoherence in plans to address our long-range issues in energy, competitiveness, tax policy, entitlements etc, etc. He is in the minds of many a failed chief executive.
Dance now, for the summer cometh...and there will be little joy in the BHO tent.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams
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01/26/12
Welcome to the new America.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Welcome to the new America
Are Americans prepared for another four years of excessive spending, class warfare, and unremitting political correctness if President Obama finds a miraculous way to win reelection ?
Ronald Reagan succeeded wildly running for president with the slogan “It’s morning in America.” Would anyone believe it if a candidate tried that now? The most optimistic any of us could muster in the past decade was “hope and change,” and hope, as Spinoza said, is a form of sadness; it’s what you cling to when the present is too hard to bear. Now that even hope and change has left us, what are we to do?
It’s not morning in America; it’s nearly sundown. We need a sense of urgency. Things will not simply work out on their own; we must fix them before it is too late, and there is not much time left until then.
Let me officially welcome you to the new America.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and Come join the discussion live 4-5, 6-8 p.m. est at www.livestream.com/armstrongwilliams
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01/25/12
"No Juice" Obama
BY: Armstrong Williams
>
> "No Juice" Obama
>
> I have to hand it to President Obama, he talks a good game. That teleprompter
can help a man work wonders with the spoken word.
>
> It's evident I don't care much for the President's policies, but there's good
reason. And nowhere is that more evident than with Obama's approach to energy.
>
> Last night, the President again revisited the importance of home-grown energy,
beginning with renewables. That's just not smart policy, and he knows it. We
are sitting on a massive gold mine that the Keystone project could tap, and he
ignores it in the name of what - some untapped, underdeveloped, lesser sources
in the form of wind and switchgrass? C'mon.
>
> I believe the President made a major mistake in spending any time last evening
discussing alternative energy sources. Now the Republicans can hammer him on a
record of weak energy policies. Let's not forget the administration isn't
exactly strong on alternative energy. Can you say "Solyndra?" Any further talk
only reminds policy makers of his past blunders. The White House should
consider itself lucky if it can avoid jail time for anyone in the Energy
Department as a result of that solar power fiasco.
>
> Then there's cap-and-trade legislation this White House attempted to push
through in prior years. That initiative alone would have cost every American
higher energy bills. Talk about make-or-break for blue-collar America. Even
those inclined to support the President such as West Virginia Senator Manchin
could not toe that party line. These seemingly inconsequential policies are
taking their toll. The residual effects of the cap-and-trade fight still haunt
this Administration, and they shouldn't discount that moving forward.
>
> In the case of Keystone, the special interests this President loves to rail
against are driving his agenda. Sure, they're of a different breed
(pro-environmentalists), but they are special interests nonetheless. This
country and its people are hurting. We can't afford to deny the potential to
create 20,000 new domestic jobs because of a NIMBY scare or some other anemic
argument.
>
> This isn't the last word on Keystone. Expect House Republicans to leverage
the President's remarks against him. And while they may not damage him
directly, they will use it as a cudgel against his party in the respective
chambers.
>
> I suspect many Democrats in the coming weeks will be calling down to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue begging the Administration to back away from its renewables
policies, or at the very least, be willing to compromise with the GOP on a more
comprehensive energy initiative.
>
> Maybe that's a good thing to come from last night's speech - we actually see
some bipartisan movement and consensus-building between both sides.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through
Friday.
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01/24/12
NEWS FLASH: Newt is not the nominee
BY: ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
NEWS FLASH: Newt is not the nominee
Saturday’s primary in South Carolina rocked the entire field. No doubt about it. But let’s not get carried away, folks. Yes, Newt Gingrich won handily with 40% of the vote. But now that the hangover has passed, let’s put the South Carolina primary in perspective.
A few hundred thousand votes in arguably one of the most conservative states in the Union does not a presidential candidate coronate. Gingrich won Saturday’s primary because of two red meat responses in packed convention centers that followed two bone-headed questions from moderators. Newt knew exactly what he was doing – he was playing to the crowd, and using the media and wacko leftist thought as the common enemy everyone in the room shared those nights.
That alone will not win the nomination. And it certainly will not win the presidency against a campaigner who is pretty adept at twisting words and waging class warfare.
I about lost my ham sandwich on Sunday when I read a close Gingrich ally telling reporters that Newt had “crossed the threshold of electability [last night].” WRONG.
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The former Speaker is a brilliant debater. I don’t dispute that. But the average American voter wants to hear how their neighbor will get his/her job back; not high-minded rhetoric regarding food stamp policies or what an elite media peddler looks like. Americans don’t think and act in Washington ways. Gingrich needs to start sharing some bold ideas. He even hinted as much over the weekend. As reported in The Hill yesterday, "Gingrich downplayed his debate performances in his victory speech to supporters Saturday night, saying: 'It's not that I'm a good debater it's that I articulate the deepest felt values of the American people.'" He knows he needs to do better outside of just being a superb orator.
Think about it. Everyone recalls 9-9-9 and which candidate owned that policy. Can anyone name some thing that Gingrich would fix – other than he was against the Ryan Medicare plan before he was for it?
See what’s wrong here?
Early indications from Florida point to another heated primary. And last night’s debate only confirmed this will be a gunfight in the Sunshine State. It should tell Romney’s team what they’ve wanted all along – a race that will steel the the eventual nominee (their belief) and prepare him for a tough general campaign.
This is a new race now. Gingrich and Romney both are far from the prize, and for different reasons.
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01/23/12
Mainstream media blatant socialist agenda
BY: Armstrong Williams
Mainstream media blatant socialist agenda
The mainstream media basically gets to choose our president based on the degree to which they choose to scrutinize each candidate. Those that they champion (Obama) are barely vetted at all, whereas those they disdain are dissected to the nth degree. Hopefully the American people will awaken to this phenomenon and not allow themselves to be so easily manipulated. Ideally the elite media will regain a sense of responsibility and integrity as they carry out a most important function in a society blessed with the freedom of the press.
Why is it that the Mainstream media is unable to understand the ultimate result of the socialist agenda they along with our president, are driving? Do they not realize that if they are successful, freedom of the press will ultimately be eliminated as well as their jobs and way of life? Unfortunately ideologues are usually incapable of objective reasoning and this in fact may be the answer to the question.
The reason political punditry has been so inaccurate during this political cycle, is because the mood of the country has been altered in a way that hasn't been seen during our lifetime. The American people are frightened. Not so much that they will not receive their retirement fund, but rather they will lose the American way of life for future generations. For that reason they are willing to accept character defects in someone they feel that may have the possibility of reestablishing the American dream. Multiple polls continue to show that the vast majority strongly feels this nation is moving in the wrong direction. There is also a feeling that this election may be our last opportunity to change directions. All political pundits should be aware of this mood.
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01/20/12
A noticeable invisibility in South Carolina
BY: Armstrong Williams
A noticeable invisibility in South Carolina
What I’ve found interesting these past few weeks is the noticeable absence of one heretofore prominent politician, even in his own state. I’m referring of course to South Carolina’s own Sen. Jim DeMint. Sure, he’s all over the Palmetto State, mixing and mingling with his constituents, and still very popular in the state. What I’m more puzzled by is the Senator’s lack of visibility on the national stage, especially when all eyes are on his home state and on a group that heralded him as its de facto kingmaker – the Tea Party.
I consider myself a regular consumer of political media, especially the cable daysides. And unless I’ve fallen asleep the past few weeks, DeMint just hasn’t been the regular fixture on the political circuit. I can’t say that I’ve seen him quoted in national publications who have been covering every angle of the GOP primary in the state. One would think someone so important to a movement such as the Tea Party might be given more prominence in the journalistic heavens, and yet he hasn’t.
Now, I like Jim DeMint a lot. He’s a true conservative. The point of this blog is not to question what he’s done but to publicly ponder the ‘why.’
It’s a safe bet the Tea Party has been on somewhat of a downward spiral lately. A Pew Research Center poll late last year confirmed the waning sentiment both nationally and in the hotbeds of congressional districts where Tea Party loyalists were elected. Some of this is media hype. It’s only natural a movement cannot hope to sustain a heightened level of enthusiasm day in and day out. After all, these are average Americans who have jobs and lives outside of politics.
But back to DeMint. I just find it interesting the South Carolina Senator has not been courted more by the candidates, at least not publicly. And if they are wooing him, DeMint’s not making a spectacle about it. If that’s his M.O., then more power to him. But it seems to me he would want to leverage the interest in his state and his Tea Party allegiances to only grow its power and influence. After all, politics is about influence – persuading your opponents and would-be supporters that yours is the right course of action.
I find it odd.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/18/12
GOP candidates overview
BY: Armstrong Williams
GOP candidates overview.
Say what you will about Ron Paul, we know if he were elected President, he would use a butcher's knife to cut the Washington bureaucracy and the Federal budget. Of all the candidates he is a true believer in small government and individual freedom. He has clearly read and understands the Constitution. He is like a born again Christian who has a solid commitment to the new testament. But for his isolationist and unrealistic views of foreign policy he would make a tremendous change agent as President of the United States.
Gingrich and Romney are committed to fiscal conservatism but they are not committed to minimum government and individual freedom in the same spirit as Ron Paul. Romney will be a good conservator of the status quo. He has proven himself as a capable manager and administrator. His vision is for a well run efficient and low cost government, but not necessarily a small government. Gingrich is perhaps the most effective political operative on the presidential stage. He may be more committed to a smaller government than Romney, but he's constrained by the real politic of Washington, DC. This will severely limit what he can and will achieve. Santorum and Governor Perry are making an appeal to the social conservatives as their support base. In my judgement this is a mistake because the real issue in this race is the financial integrity of the United States government. The social issues are a side and ineffective show. The candidate all did an impressive job at this week's SC debate in outlining their positions on the critical issues . The GOP has nothing to be ashamed of with the field that now exist.
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01/17/12
Newt returns to civility and logic
BY: Armstrong Williams
Newt returns to civility and logic.
Presidential candidate and former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich returned to his original game plan in last night's SC presidential debate of not being so negative towards his compatriots, but rather attacking the issues head on. He was particularly effective in responding to the issue of race. The questioner wanted to bait him about his earlier controversial race comments regarding janitorial jobs for youth. He clearly made the point that any type of job is good for young people, for it teaches them work ethic and set them on a path of self reliance. He was also highly effective with respect to foreign policy and how we should react towards our obvious enemies. His answers contrasted significantly with those of Ron Paul and Romney found himself echoing Gingrich. Santorum was Vanilla and not making big gaffe or scoring big points. Perry again maintained his role of comic relief. Given the fact that SC has correctly chosen the nominee for the GOP since 1980, the poll numbers over the next several days will be extremely revealing.
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01/16/12
MLK should be honored with more substantial progress
BY: Armstrong Williams
MLK should be honored with more substantial progress.
The black community currently faces, collectively, a series of problems, each related to the others, intertwined, each compounding one another, and we must face them all together; we as a nation cannot ignore any of them.
Interest groups, fundraisers, and politicians would like most to believe that circumstances can be changed with retooling underprivileged areas, as though people were robots, without any study of behaviors and free choices, which is about as effective as bringing a tennis racket to a baseball field.
Those in authority have their own agenda; they treat moral transgressions like food they pass over in a buffet line—they don’t want to hear or think about them, so they don’t. Against these well-funded politicians and interest groups feasting on the “social ills” of the black community, as though they are inanimate objects unable to make their own choices, we must affirm their freedom and look at the choices many of them make.
First, there is the family. The percentage of poor black children who live in single-mother households is 85%; such children are 4 times likely to live in poverty as those with two parents. Since a majority of black youth is being raised by single mothers, we must study these mothers. I have found that 38% of these mothers live below the poverty line, 62% of these mothers had never been married and almost half of them were also raised by single mothers! The lack of a proper family structure has become a revolving door of ill behavior. Is it possible that a horrible family structure could spill over to other areas of life including employment and education?
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01/12/12
A new kind of warfare
BY: Armstrong Williams
A new kind of warfare
A story that should certainly have your immediate attention is slowly developing in Iran. Over the past several months five Iranian Nuclear scientist have been assassinated. The latest one being yesterday when two motorcyclists attached a magnetic bomb to the car fender and rode away while detonating the bomb. No one has claimed responsibility and the Iranian government is accusing Israel and the USA of the assassinations for which they both vehemently denied any involvement. If in fact we are involved it might be a much easier way to stop their nuclear program than war. This could actually bring their nuclear development to a halt or at least drive it underground which would slow its progress significantly. Whoever is the mastermind behind these deadly attacks must have excellent intelligence in order to be successful without the hint of a trace. Many of these Iranian scientist and with good reason are fearful for their well being and more importantly their lives. Fear of death for many Iranian scientist is a good motivator in forcing them to rethink the repercussions of their deadly actions.
While this may seem barbaric it is not nearly as bad as inflicting thousands of casualties associated with war. Will this be a game changer in Iran's determination to develop an arsenal of nuclear weaponry.
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01/11/12
Prelude to the Fall of the Obama White house
BY: Armstrong Williams
Prelude to the Fall of the Obama White house.
President Obama's White house is in disarray. Can any business Executive have conflict with the Obama's confidante, Valerie Jarrett and survive. Thus far Jarret is 10 - 0 vs her rivals. With the departing of Bill Daley and the appointment of yet another Chief of Staff we are witnessing 5 Chief of Staffs in less than 4 years. We are now observing the collapse of a desperate Administration who accurately and logically are concluding that they have little or no chance for reelection. I think its fair to conclude that they will come up with some new and interesting strategy to portray Obama as the only hope for those people in our society who feel that the good times have passed them by. This in the minds of Obama and company, includes most of America. Unfortunately for them the people are not as stupid as the administration think they are. Therefore they understand that if you destroy the financial foundation of our nation that ultimately no one will benefit. They also understand that the people are not each other's enemy and the class war fare agenda will ultimately back fire on President Obama. We could possibly have a landslide of great proportions in November that encompasses Congress as well as the White house. Hopefully the GOP would have learned by watching how severely the Democrats bungled things when they held the reins of both Houses and the White house and not misinterpret the meaning of the true mandate.
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01/10/12
The Ron / Rand Paul hidden agenda
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Ron/Rand Paul hidden agenda
If Ron Paul is more moving to position his son as his successor on the presidential trail, he should come out and at least acknowledge the point. Sen. Rand Paul himself should begin to echo the case of what his father stands for, and how he believes he could carry that mantle in his own unique fashion. After all, the Tea Party movement is here to stay, and that’s several tens of thousands of instant supporters in his camp – some of the same ones who sent him as one of two of Kentucky’s favorite sons.
Further, Sen. Rand Paul should begin preparing himself by assuming a more leadership role in the Senate, if not in the true sense of the GOP hierarchy, at least in taking some tough stands on the issues of the day – beginning with the debt ceiling. Sure, we know where he stands, but will he LEAD his party and this country in some greater capacity.
Paul can’t win the 2012 nomination, but he has a cause and a collection of followers looking for its next genuine leader. Perhaps his son is the right person to step into that role. Only time will tell.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/09/12
Team Romney: Walk Like a Man
BY: Armstrong Williams
Team Romney: Walk Like a Man
The hit musical Jersey Boys is currently playing in Washington. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. It’s a great show depicting the rough-and-tumble life of Frankie Valli – frontman for the Four Seasons beginning in 1960.
Early in the group’s career, 1963 to be exact, Valli released his third of several #1 chart toppers – Walk Like a Man.
That should be the current theme song of the Romney campaign. Candidate Romney is doing all the right things, and getting none of the credit for it.
He ran a tight operation in Iowa – with the ground game and institutional backing of key figures to secure the first place finish. And while we’re at it, folks, Romney won the Iowa caucuses. He didn’t “tie” anyone. He won. Yes, it was a close race. But do you think the press would be saying Romney “tied” anyone if Rick Santorum or Ron Paul had finished first? Heck no. They would have pilloried the Massachusetts local for not finishing stronger and finishing the deed. That’s biased journalism if you ask me, and suggests the media wants to make the race even closer than it already is. And believe me, it’s close enough, as the results proved.
The same criticism can’t be leveled at Santorum’s camp. Make no mistake, he made a respectable showing, even with meager campaign resources. But the media can’t use that as a highlight for one candidate (Santorum), and treat it as a negative for another (Romney), by suggesting he is somehow buying this nomination.
So Governor Romney should keep on doing what he’s doing. Take some Jersey Boys advice and walk like a man. Act as if he owns this nomination, and then go out there and show his fellow Republicans he’s the man for this job.
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01/06/12
Rewarding innovation and not laziness
BY: Armstrong Williams
Rewarding innovation and not laziness
I believe businesses are not investing today because they feel or fear that the demand for their products or services is not there or not there in a large enough quantity to merit investment. Obviously this varies from business to business and from industry to industry.
Uncertainty in national leadership (especially the White house) sow continuous seeds of doubt and confusion: If combined with the well established fact that the leader is desirous of punishing the financially innovative to benefit and enrich the financially sloven, it is only a matter of time before it wreaks havoc on the productivity of the economy. Consequently businesses will cease to grow and future generations of entrepreneurial's will wither away. When this happens self doubt and confusion become the order of the day and a once great economic engine slowly disintegrates into a bygone era.
The seed of a profit motive based society that rewards work and innovation or a seed of doubt in the free-market system that rewards the entitled, either or which will become pervasive. It is up to the people to choose the leader who they think will grow them into a capitalistic world dominating economic engine and force to be reckon with for generations. The leader must set examples of what economic models despite their flaws has sustained the middle class and ultimately the nation for generations. A society is ultimately judge upon what it rewards, and in America’s case we should reward innovation and a good worth ethic. The examples that we set by rewarding the lazy and entitled have destroyed our economy and created an un warming welcome to investors, foreign and domestic.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/05/12
The lost American home dream
BY: Armstrong Williams
The lost American home dream
One of the foundations of the American Dream has always been the hope of someday purchasing one's own home. In the past, however, it took nearly a lifetime of
sacrifice before most people could afford to do so.
The first decade of the new millennium in America bore witness to a viral explosion in real estate investment, fueled by low mortgage rates and
an abandonment of the equity markets . The nation created a new market overnight to continue the necessary growth in the United States
and with one simple key: home mortgage debt.
In the blink of an eye, the American consumers, companies and investment markets shifted from an investment practice and equity-oriented
philosophy that had characterized the dot-com era to a debt-fueled runaway train with no brakes.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/04/12
The GOP Candidates: ACT II
BY: Armstrong Williams
The GOP Candidates. ACT II
The problem for third place candidate Ron Paul in Iowa is that a caucus situation with a relatively right wing voting base is ideal for his candidacy and yet he's unable to capitalize. If he couldn't win in Iowa than he's toast everywhere else. My prediction is that his 15 minutes of fame as a viable candidate is over. Now it's time to focus on what are the other message emanating from the Iowa Caucus. Mitt Romney inability to break over the 25% margin tells us that with all of his advantages, 3/4 of the GOP voters are still in search of someone else.
Will that someone else be Rick Santorum or could Gingrich re-emerge again? It will truly depend on the traction that Santorum is able to gain in a State where it is impossible for him to visit every county, because he just doesn't have the time or financial resources. If he can remain strong in the described setting than he will remain a strong candidate for the next month. However the reality is he will now be attacked by Gingrich for this is necessary for Newt to have Romney isolated into a one on one situation. Romney has no incentive to attack Santorum for no other reason than the fact he needs the conservative wing to be split so that he can prevail. The most conservative GOP voters must be split in order for Romney to prevail. Rick Perry after his embarrassing showing in Iowa has no choice but to quit the race. Michelle Bachman should do the same but will stay around for one or two more primaries. Who will their supporters get behind once they are no longer in the race ? It is likely to be Gingrich or Santorum which will be a tremendous boost for the candidate that survives.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/03/12
Winners and losers in Iowa
BY: Armstrong Williams
Winners and losers in Iowa
The famed Iowa caucuses are this week, and it’s time for some predictions, along with some clear messages to a few candidates that it’s perhaps time to pack it up and head on home.
But first, expect Mitt Romney to win this Tuesday. The overall GOP frontrunner has surprised pundits both in and out of the Hawkeye state with his deft campaigning and his behind-the-scenes courting of all the right power players. Even if Tea Party favorite Ron Paul edges out a victory over Romney, it’s still an important finish for the former Massachusetts governor.
An Iowa win or second place finish would position Romney nicely for New Hampshire and then South Carolina, Florida, etc. Yes, he finished second to Huckabee four years ago, but this time it’s different. And he knows it.
It also sends a clear message to the GOP establishment of who their “guy” needs to be. No more hand-wringing and waiting next to the water cooler for the next best thing. Been there, done that with oh, four or five others (remember: Trump, Perry, Christie, Cain, the list goes on). The party lieutenants need to step up and begin to get behind their frontrunner. We’re not there yet, but folks in the institutions need to begin to come to grips with Romney and become more focused on beating Obama.
Now, on to the losers. Even though former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is slated to do well in Iowa, the sensation is more like a roman candle firework – pretty to watch and loud, but short-lived and anti-climactic. Santorum knows this as well. He can do whatever he likes moving on to New Hampshire, but I fear this will be the high water mark of his presidential run.
Jon Huntsman and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann should both exit stage right following Iowa. You can bet Bachmann will not. After all, she did win earlier this year. But neither has the staying power, and Huntsman just hasn’t caught fire with any constituency.
More importantly perhaps, a Romney win would send a message to Governor Perry and maybe even Newt Gingrich that their days are numbered. The allure of Perry started dissipating the day after he announced. What a flop. And while he still has a lot of money in the bank, he’s been able to do absolutely nothing with it, appealing to no one. He will need to take a long hard look at his campaign moving forward, and make some bold moves if he’s to do any better as the primaries move south.
This week may say more about the losers than it will the winner in Iowa. That’s typically how the first test of presidential muster follows. I personally will be watching for how Romney will treat his win and what he decides to do with it. There are plenty in the GOP establishment still sour on the smooth campaigner, and he needs to shore up that element pretty darn quickly. Obama is waiting in the wings ready to pounce.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/22/11
Merry XMAS and Not happy holidays
BY: Armstrong Williams
Merry XMAS and Not Happy Holidays
It is interesting to watch people conduct themselves this time of year as they try to figure out whether they should say Merry Christmas or not based on the appearance and the belief of the person they're speaking with.
Whether you wish someone a Merry Christmas or not should have nothing to do with their belief or political philosophy, it is all about the holiday spirit.
Whether a person believes in the saving power of Jesus Christ or not is insignificant when it comes to wishing good will for a fellow human being. It's just like saying good morning to someone. Do you scrutinize and examine them before saying good morning, or are you actually hopeful they're having a good morning? If in fact we believe in the meaning of the season then their beliefs and politics become irrelevant. We are all children of the lord and deserve blessings one in the same.
We must stop being so artificially sensitive to something that is so good and wholesome. If we cease to capitulate to the destructive tendencies of political correctness we will diminish the pervasive dampening of the American spirit which, at this point and time, is in desperate need of revitalization.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/21/11
The Bigger Picture
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Bigger Picture
Just yesterday the House GOP rejected legislation that would have extended payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits for an extra two months. While it would have been great to see bipartisanship take a backseat to getting something done, I have to agree with House Speaker Boehner and his pursuit of tax cuts and how necessary it is to cut spending. It seems like Obama and his Democrats are missing the truly big picture.
You see, what is missing amongst all this payroll holiday tax talk is the admission that America is broke. We all know it, we all feel it, and at the very least we see it everyday in one form or another; America is Broke!
In order to pay for all of these tax cuts, and further expenditures, we have to borrow money from the Chinese. We, as United States citizens, are like drug addicts and the Chinese are our suppliers and loan sharks. Sure, an extra $80 or so is a lot of money to a lot of people, but it's not a large enough amount of money to hide the fact that it is borrowed money.
It's a rare case when increased debt can solve a debt problem. Very rare, and What About The Deficit!? Does no one mind their books anymore? 2012 will be the first year that the United States debt to GDP ratio will exceed 100%. Spending more money than you make is the quickest way to the poor house, and I don't want to see that for this great country of ours.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/20/11
Disappearing without a trace
BY: Armstrong Williams
Disappearing without a trace
How easily we forget. Hopefully the American people during this current election cycle will remember the lavish praise heaped upon John Corzine by President Obama and Vice President Biden. They told us he was one of the brightest and wisest members of their party. This is the same Corzine that presided over one of the largest financial debacles in the history of America in which $1.2 billion dollars of investors' capital disappeared without a trace. Perhaps it's also listening to individuals like Obama and Biden that is causing our financial freedoms to disappear without a trace.
While the President spends enormous amounts of money advertising to try and heap the negative attention on his opponents, we the people would be very wise to remember what this President has done in the past and not what he is now saying with his silver tongue, eloquence in the here and now. There's a well known saying, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." Let's make sure we're not shamed again.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/14/11
Business owners and private wealth individuals are hoarding cash
BY: Armstrong Williams
Business owners and private wealth individuals are hoarding cash
The business community realizes that the increased money supply is
financing government spending and the private sector must eventually pay
the piper. Many private wealth individuals and businessmen are hoarding
cash for fear of over regulation and the Obama administration strangling real
growth of the US economy.
Consequently, the business community is not investing as much
as it might because it is concerned about inflation and higher future
taxes to pay for the borrowing. Since business investment takes time
for a return, the business man making an investment now expecting a
return 2 or 3 years from now knows that his taxes are going to be
increased with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and the 3.8% new
Obama care tax on unearned earnings. Thus the businessman is not
investing today because they know their return is being significantly
reduced 2 years from now.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/13/11
Tax Credits to stimulate the economy ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Tax Credits to stimulate the economy ?
The ill conceived idea to stimulate the economy thru a tax credit for firms that
increase employment, shows an academic economist fundamental lack of
understanding of why companies increase employment. Jobs are a by-product
of increased sales and revenues. Companies do not like to hire employees.
They are expensive, require management and cannot be easily laid off in the
event of incompetence or loss of business. Companies increase employment
because they have additional business that needs to be processed, and they
cannot process it thru overtime or increased capital. No businessman in his
right mind would hire someone merely because labor is 10% cheaper because of
tax credits. He would only increase employment if that is his only
alternative to process additional business. If he has additional business,
then he will hire additional employees regardless of the 10% credit.
Therefore the credit is an inefficient way to increase employment and waste
of taxpayer money.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/09/11
Men and Philandering ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Men and Philandering?
Do women who have been successfully and happily married for many years not want to know if their husband is committing adultery? Are there conditions that you don't embarrass your wife and family? Is it critical that the adulterous affair is purely sexual and not threatening to your wife and marriage stability? Is discretion paramount? While we're not advocating this behavior, many women who are successfully married realize that their husbands will never be angels and that sometimes adultery happens. Would you break up a happy marriage for adulterous behavior?
These questions have been swirling around in my head lately as the number of mass media indictments of adultery has been increasing at an ever more rapid pace. My confusion came to a head during the recent, what I would like to call, “Herman Cain Show.” Every other week there was a new allegation, or a new woman claiming to have been harassed by the former presidential hopeful.
At first it seemed like a joke and a lie, and a poorly scripted one at that, but there are only so many times you can hear a joke before it starts to sound true. At this point, there has been so much swirling around about Herman Cain’s nefarious ways that it is impossible to ignore or even give the benefit of the doubt. But more importantly, is this the way powerful men conduct themselves in relationships?
Do powerful men have a secret longing for the days of the bible when a man could have as many wives as they could afford? Or will the democratization ‘scare them straight?’ Only time will tell.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/08/11
The Invisible Man - Timothy F. Geithner, US Treasury Secretary
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Invisible Man - Timothy F. Geithner, US Treasury Secretary
Treasury Secretary Geithner in Europe this week announced his support for the German and French plan to stabilize the Euro-zone.
Secretary Geithner merely sings in the chorus among his colleagues- he is one among many. He was virtually tossed out of Europe in September when he told European leaders to put aside their differences and resolve issues related to the catastrophic risk for markets because if Europe didn't erect a stronger firewall to end the European debt crisis then the world would truly be in trouble.
The Europeans were quick to remind the US Treasury Secretary that he should return home and use his same rhetoric to deal with the US debt levels and it's own catastrophic risk with the pension fund crisis, the recent downgrade of US debt and possible future downgrades as well. Just yesterday in France, Secretary Geithner exclaimed his confidence that the Euro-zone countries will succeed in their restructuring. But wait, didn’t Secretary Geithner also say he was confident in the Super Committee’s ability to compromise on reforms? If the past is any indication of the future, then we are very seriously in trouble.
Mr. Geithner came to his position as an acknowledged self tax preparing cheater and has never gained favor with the American public. The citizens of the United States of America deserve better, we deserve a strong and respected Treasury Secretary. As the Europeans have so persistently told Mr. Geithner, it is time to go home.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/06/11
We are vastly different people today
BY: Armstrong Williams
We are vastly different people today.
We have seen worst times than we're facing in the world today. Situations in many ways were more desperate but we have not faced them with such a generation of people with weak resolve. When we were facing such great difficulty we had a strength of resolve and resiliency that we just don't witness in today's era. It truly is the result that you should anticipate. We have been doing everything possible to create this total dependency in the population. To a large degree that vision has succeeded. We faced the Revolutionary War, Civil war and cold war and all had the potential to destroy us. The difference is we're not the same kind of people. We yield more and more to the temptation of the European socialist state. The point of which is to create weak and passive populations, what De Tocqueville referred to Democracy in America as Industrial Sheep. Unfortunately the sheep are no long industrist they are just sheep. They're wondering around looking for someone to tell them what to think and what to do.
We now have a mentality among the poupulous that nanny government must care for their ever awakening need. This is the dangerous attitude that is tearing us apart at the seams.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
12/01/11
Man Up Cain
BY: Armstrong Williams
Man Up Cain
Marriage should be for a life time and couples should work through betrayal and challenges that many marriages are confronted with. Herman Cain and his wife Gloria have been married for over 40 years. When you've invested that much time in a marriage there's a part of you that doesn't want to destroy your marriage because of some allegations, no matter how intense, and you also do not want to once again be alone. Obviously a marriage for many couples is not judged on a season of allegations and challenges, especially when you've been in the relationship for 46 years. Why would Cain knowingly urge his wife to give interviews defending his character when he knew she would later be humiliated for doing so? He knew without a doubt that she was enabling a lie which to many is worse than betrayal. Either Gloria Cain is very naive or Herman Cain is very deceptive. Cain cannot repent unless he admits and acknowledges his wrong doing and serious character flaws. All we have seen from Cain is deceit and hypocrisy and no admission of guilt. He should just apologize to the people who have given him their faith and trust. Cain needs to man up, acknowledge his short comings, and not profit from this chaotic behavior.
We are watching the last hope of human kind be destroyed by a group of people that have bought into a false reality. We have forgotten what makes human beings strive and what we owe to God, we are destroying it all. It's no longer a theoretical possibility, it's a strong possibility. Just look at the acting and posturing from the failed Super Committee when they knew all along the meetings and constant rhetoric would be an utter failure. I am truly beginning to worry about my beloved America. Truly.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/28/11
The Eurozone is tanking
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Eurozone is tanking !
What's going on in Europe is scaring the living daylights out of me. The Germans cannot sell German government bonds to the bond market. They only sold about 40% of their sovereign bonds last week. This is the strongest country in Europe and they can't sell their Euro bonds? That is proof positive that investors have zero confidence in the Euro. They have confidence in Germany, but not the Euro. If Germany sells Euro bonds and the Euro market breaks up. German Euro bonds will convert to Deutsche Mark bonds and no one knows how they will be priced. Italy is a story unto itself, it has gone so far down the wrong path that, in an auction on Friday, it had to pay investors 6.5% on six-month bonds.
This is all so painful to watch, mostly because it is a true indictment of the final breakup of the Eurozone, but when it breaks up what are the implications for Europe, world trade, and the good ol' USA? All we know is that the short term impact of a break up will Not be good.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/26/11
The Spoiled Pakistanis
The Spoiled Pakistanis
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Pakistanis continue to spit in our eyes despite all of our overtures and attempts to gain their friendship. They know we are over a barrel and we don't have the controls. Why have we given them so much autonomy? We have convinced ourselves that we need them so that we can pursue our goals in Afghanistan, but in order to find a solution to the Pakistani problem we must first reexamine our goals in Afghanistan. What are the realistic chances that we are going to convert them to a democratic society like ours? I suspect the chances are negative, it just won't happen.
By continuing to pursue democracy in Afghanistan we are simply wasting our time and resources just as Russia and every other society that has gone into Afghanistan over the century. This is perhaps a situation where we need to take the advice of the flight attendant, at the beginning of the flight who points out if there is a crisis place your own mask on first and then help the person next to you. We are quickly running out of options and are in of need major self examination and care before we can do anything to help the rest of the world.
How can we demand that other countries elect, or otherwise appoint, capable and astute leaders when the one that we have doesn't have the confidence of his own constituents? It is analogous to trying to sell landscaping services within your neighborhood while your own yard is a mess. It simple does not work.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/22/11
Super Committee hidden agenda
BY: Armstrong Williams
Super Committee failure
Some people seem surprised that the "Super Committee" has failed to achieve its goal, but it should not come as a shock. The Republicans are committed to not raising taxes, which the president certainly knows, and the Democrats are not committed to reducing out of control entitlements. It was quite predictable that an agreement would not be reached, which is why candidate Gingrich called the panel the silliest thing he has ever heard of.
It does, however, provide an excellent excuse for the President who presides over a dysfunctional government, but wants to exempt himself as part of that dysfunction yet lay it on everyone else. Had the Super Committee been able to reach an agreement the economy would not have improved in any substantial way because we're dealing with a relatively small amount of money in comparison to our debt and deficit, the result would have been more focus on Obama and his lack of leadership.
President Obama's goal from the start was for the committee to fail, this way he can rail against Congress in the upcoming Presidential election. Hopefully at some point Congress and the people will begin to hold the President's feet to the fire and tell him that he is our leader, Commander in Chief, and not the Cheerleader in Chief.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/21/11
Gigantic Time bomb
BY: Armstrong Williams
Gigantic Time bomb
Unfunded medicare liability is $90 trillion. Unfunded Social Security is $20 trillion. How can any of us comprehend the kind of debt that this country has? I thought $15 trillion in debt was a lot, this is absolute nonsense. What do we fund these liabilities with when the money becomes worthless? It's like the universe, how do you get your hands around something that size!? There is no way this country is going to do anything but crash and burn, the only issue is on what day. When the government stops printing money, what happens? Medicare and Medicaid strongly indicates that big government is caring for most people in our nation and as a result they have a gigantic time bomb sitting on their balance sheet.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/18/11
A rare glimpse into Obama's thinking
BY: Armstrong Williams
A rare glimpse into Obama’s thinking
If you haven’t read Fortune Magazine’s piece on its 2011 “Business Person of the Year”: Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz, it’s an interesting read. Reporter David Kaplan tells a compelling story not just of Schultz’s canny abilities in running a mega-powerful commercial titan such as Starbucks, but also how politically savvy the coffee magnate can be. Perhaps he never intended to wield such power, but according to the piece, he is.
And the President is paying attention as well. Evidently, earlier this September, Obama called Schultz to talk shop and seek his guidance on the current (weak) business climate across the country. Schultz had made it known that he was deeply concerned about the current trajectory (or nosedive) of the U.S. economy and what its leaders proposed to do about it.
Now, conversations between the leader of the country and a leader of a major U.S. company wouldn’t necessarily count as news. But what made this September conversation different is its timing. Obama called Schultz soon after the CEO announced in a public way that he was “disgusted with Washington’s dysfunction” and would no longer be making campaign contributions to incumbents in either party. Big news indeed. What hurt more was that Schultz is a big Democratic donor, and his inability to find his wallet for the foreseeable future bothered the White House immensely.
Let me get this straight. The best way to get the President’s attention is by announcing you’re not giving his party any more money? Are you serious?
And just to clear up any doubts he might’ve had in calling Schultz, Obama was quoted as saying, “I’d like to talk to you about a number of things, including your campaign initiative, as well as your thoughts on the economy and job creation.” What a joke.
What’s laughable is this President and his minions publicly decry contributions from major moguls, and PACs, yet quietly vie for the monetary attention.
When will the White House just come out and admit it's in full campaign mode? Stop trying to cover it up. It might make folks less inclined to avoid you if they know you intend to shake them down on why they're not giving campaign money this election cycle.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/16/11
Obamacare Supreme slippery slope
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obamacare Supreme Slippery Slope
If the Supreme Court were to allow the Obama administration to mandate purchases of health insurance, it would set an extraordinarily dangerous precedent, our government could tell its citizens how they must manage their own resources. This would establish a slippery slope of unfathomable complexity. It would start a transition into socialism and could only end with a communist dictatorship; it would be the beginning of the destruction of personal freedom in America.
Personal freedom has defined America since its inception and it is painful to see the very values on which we were founded, legally and literally, erode before our very eyes. As the old saying goes, if you give an inch they’ll take a mile; a health insurance mandate might not seem like much now, but allowing the government to determine how an individual should allocate their resources is the first step down a road that we, as Americans, should not want to travel.
What’s next, limiting and/or mandating the number of children conceived like China? Perhaps the next time one of our domestic car makers like Ford or GM is struggling the government can disallow the purchase of foreign cars. Or they could submit that, because our dollar is tanking any moneys that you earn beyond the limit of 300k monthly must go directly to the public coffers.
The big issue here is one that requires a bit of history. You see the original 13 states only accepted the idea of a federal government so long as its power remained limited, the line in the sand being drawn where an issue involved only one state; the Interstate Commerce Clause. The only way for our government to flex its muscle is by perverting the spirit of Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of our constitution and making health care national instead of state as it has been for decades. Once that dam breaks it will be far easier for our government to regulate the actions of any individual in any part of the United States and I, for one, don’t want ‘Big Brother’ breathing down my neck anymore than necessary.
Now that this case is before our nation's highest court it is my hope that some level of common sense will stir in the minds of the Supreme Court Justices. The Obamacare administration needs a serious reminder that a government that governs least governs best.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/15/11
My way or the Highway
BY: Armstrong Williams
My way or the Highway
John Corzine who is considered by many one of the smartest fixed income minds in the business took immeasurable risk with the capital of his firm. It was revealed that the company was leveraged 40-1. In summary, the company only had 2.5% equity invested against risk positions. Note: even in the height of the sub-prime crisis 40-1 leverage would have been considered extremely risk, where small movements in underlying positions could represent deleterious outcomes for investors. Did the my way or highway Jon Corzine not learn for the greatest financial meltdown seen in the US economy. The answer is simple, here is another example to the entrusted “gambling with other peoples money.” The irony of this is that in the August 2011 Bond deal there is a Key Man clause that states if Mr. Corzine departs prior to July 1, 2013 as MF Global’s full time chief executive officer due to his appointment to a federal position by the President of the United States and the confirmation of that appointment by the United States Senate, investors would get an additional 1.00% coupon on their existing 6.250% bonds. I beg to differ in that the “clause” should have said if John Corzine decides to increase the risk taking at MF Global similar to previous risk position at Goldman Sachs, investors should be redeemed their money at 100 cents on the dollar. Another alarming concern, there is approximately $600 million of unaccounted for customer funds.
Again the public trust has been breached by those who are entrusted to protect other people’s money. What is the difference between Corizine and Madoff? Corizine lost other people’s money by taking unnecessary and unapproved risks. Madoff stole other people’s money in a Ponzi scheme. What Corizine did may be technically legal but he certainly did not have approval from his shareholders to take “bet your company” risks. Where were the regulatory and supervisory agencies. I am beginning to think we may have to pad our mattresses again with money…..at least you know where it resides and if any is missing the house pet (cat or dog) can provide better answers than what we hear from the Wall Street experts (Regulators, Bankers etc)
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
LISTEN TO ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS LIVE TONIGHT AT 7:30 PM ON CNBC'S LARRY KUDLOW REPORT
11/11/11
What's best about our country, rests on our Veterans shoulders
BY: Armstrong Williams
What's best about our country, rests on our Veterans shoulders.
We often do not observe Veterans day as it should be. It's a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones and our family members who have served for the betterment of this great nation.
The thing to remember about war is that there are very few moments of individual gallantry. The individual combatant rarely dwarfs his surroundings. No John Wayne's to ride through a hale of enemy fire to save the day.
In fact, those one-dimensional embodiments of masculine striving are usually the first to die. Moments of war rarely allow for clarity.
War is a chaos where platoons of men are condemned to slaughter one another. War is a horror where one is ordered to kill strangers, to run in the face of enemy fire, to ignore the sight of his friends as they crumple to the ground. This lack of clarity becomes transparent to every soldier as his captain shouts, "Over the top men, everyone out!"
In that moment, each soldier finds himself engulfed in death and confusion. There is a scene in Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan", in which a young man has his arm blown off. He stumbles around, gazing at his shattered limb, unsure of what to do.
War is detached horror.
War is confusion.
I mention this only to point out that those Veterans, who grappled with man's worst, did so to preserve man's best. As we remember our Veterans, it hardly seems enough to remember these soldiers in cliques of gallantry.
It is not enough to reduce the service of our patriots to an excuse for a really big sale – as do retailers.
It is not enough to dilute this holiday with ostentatious displays of consumerism and pageantry. After all, the importance of celebrating Veterans Day is not to celebrate per say, but to confirm the significance of their sacrifice.
Let us not forget that what is best about this country rests on our Veterans shoulders.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/10/11
Election Day lessons for Voters
BY: Armstrong Williams
Election Day lessons for Voters
I made an interesting observation Tuesday night. No political scientist would jump to confirm this, as it’s merely an anecdote, not rooted in fact. But if it’s anywhere close to the truth, we have serious problems facing our country in the coming years from simply a perspective of being an informed voter.
I found myself late Tuesday evening walking around an Alexandria suburb, and was amazed at all the political signs for a series of candidates. There were signs for Alexandria Clerk of Court and perhaps a state delegate or two. But the ones I noticed the most were indicative of a heated race for a state Senate seat in the area (don’t ask me what district it was; I live in DC remember!). But the two candidates were close to each other in one thing – their names.
The incumbent – a Democrat – was named Barker, while his opponent was named Baker. Baker was a Republican whom not many expected to win, even though pollsters predicted the Virginia Senate could shift from its historic Democratic dominance to Republican control this cycle.
So there I am, and clearly in the Democratic bastion of Alexandria, there were more signs for Barker, the incumbent. When I stopped and asked a passerby who he was voting for, he looked at me puzzled, then pointed at the Barker sign, and said, “I guess that fella.”
When I asked him why, he couldn’t offer a concrete answer, but sheepishly responded, “I guess because he has more signs, he must be doing something right…”
As laughable as that seems, it dawned on me that, in this day and age where any voter can simply key in a few letters such as “Barker” on a Google search, they can learn all they want about that person. And yet, voters still choose to be rationally ignorant. That’s the political science term for those who believe because so many vote, and the likelihood that their individual ballot will make any difference to the overall outcome is so small, they choose to not participate at all. Or, in this case, the voter allowed the last thing he saw prior to casting his ballot to persuade his judgment.
Then I continued my un-scientific experiment by asking someone upon exiting the voting precinct who they voted for, Barker or Baker. She replied she didn’t know, but the one with the “D” after his name, because she was a lifelong Democrat. Here again, she’s entitled to vote for whomever she likes. But can we say that was an informed decision? Had she bothered to do any comparative analyses on where the incumbent stood on say, K-12 education funding? She assumed that since he was a Democrat, he would be correct on the issues. But that’s not always a given. Instead of proactively seeking information, less than, for example, she would if buying a dishwasher, she chose not to.
The point here folks, is voting is a wonderful thing. It’s a tremendous power our Founders gave to us, and our troops fight to preserve. When we – yes, ALL of us – choose to put so little effort into that action, it belittles the process and the sacrifices made to preserve the privilege. Notwithstanding the fact that many choose not to even vote at all these days, yet when they do, it should be done with a little more consideration and time invested. After all, the decisions at the local level impact us more than any other.
Something to think about…
(By the way, the incumbent Barker won Tuesday's election handily)
11/09/11
Obama's dirty laundry
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Dirty Laundry
"I can't stand him. He's a liar," Sarkozy said of Netanyahu, according to the website.
Obama replied, "You're tired of him; what about me? I have to deal with him every day," the site reported. -CNN
In an off-mic situation Obama and Sarkozy are discovered not to trust Netanyahu and Sarkozy went so far as to call him a liar. Not only did Obama refuse to defend him, but chimed in by saying he has to "deal" with the Israeli Prime Minister everyday. The disdain of these two world leaders for there ally was apparent. It is also apparent that the President's support of Israel publicly is only a facade. I truly hope the American people are taking serious notes now that they have finally seen our President's true feelings about Israel and the fact that the uneasiness that has been created since Obama's tenure is deep seeded and very personal. So Obama can continue to give hollow speeches trying to ease the concerns of his Jewish constituency, but alas the dirty laundry is out in the open for everyone to see and finally understand. Amazingly, or perhaps not, the main stream media barely reported the story and yet if it were a Republican president causing such a gaffe that it would have been front page headlines for quite sometime. What does it mean when our President joined in the denigration of one of our most trusted traditional allies? What does it tell us when the mainstream media glosses over the story. It means that people need to learn to think for themselves and not trust a jaded media which instead of reporting the news, manipulates every situation to fit their agenda.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/08/11
Consumerism
BY: Armstrong Williams
Consumerism
75% of our economy is built on consumer confidence, a foundation that is amorphous at best. Everything is great when going according to plan, but as soon as it gets hot in that kitchen you are left without any support whatsoever.
For our economy to be strong it has to be built on savings and investment. In addition to building up an emergency reserve, savings can also enable you to invest in companies that will provide you with residual income; the foundation of building wealth. In order to reach that point you will have to follow a path of delayed gratification. Just using a credit card and spending money that you don't have is the opposite of delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is what's necessary for success in any part of your life, not just the economy. We often must pass on the immediately available pleasure in our lives in order to focus on, and do, what is necessary to have a long term productive life. Compulsive behavior leads one to commit a sin every hour. You must discipline yourself and do what you need to do, not just what you want to do. Remember the popular song Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings? The point is that intellect has to come before feelings. When you think about it, President Obama was elected on 'Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings.' Obama is like the Dr. that has good bed side manners and he gives you a very soothing diagnosis that you have six weeks to live, but you feel great about it.
Think about it.
Hope and change?
Please let me remind you that Hope was and never will be a policy to return our nation to greatness. You must take action, which is lacking, and the action that we're taking is a good example of Einstein's warning that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/07/11
The race for a Veep should begin now
BY: Armstrong Williams
The race for a Veep should begin now
I know this may seem far-fetched for Republicans, especially since a nominee hasn’t even been picked yet, but I believe whoever ultimately gets the nod must select a running mate fairly quickly. The rationale is it’s becoming more apparent (at least now) that Obama will give the GOP nominee a run for his money, even as his approval rating hovers at 40% and could slide further. Yet Obama continues to campaign from the Oval Office, and will continue to make in-roads into his base, getting them to the point where a vote for him is not more of the same, but instead a vote against the Republican Party.
The electorate is volatile, and whoever the nominee is will need every advantage they can, and that includes more spokespersons to challenge this president and his administration.
Let’s assume Mitt Romney wins. Prior to his poorly-handled scandals, Herman Cain would’ve made a nice veep pick. Even though Cain was strong on similar issues as Romney, his background and skin color would have siphoned some of the black vote from Obama, I believe.
But that alone should not have forced Romney’s hand. More than race, Romney needs to burnish his conservative bona fides, and that means he needs to pick someone with mass appeal to the conservative right, and yes, someone to the right of Romney.
It doesn’t need to be a governor, Romney has that on his resume. Though governors do tend to fare better on presidential runs than say, Senators. I personally like someone like Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), but many would say he’s untested and too young. One day, however…
Finally, Joe Biden is not exactly batting .1000 of late. His gaffes and blunders make him prime fodder for a GOP bulldog to come after him; the sooner the better.
As much as Republicans and much of the country would like to see Obama run out of Washington on a rail, this race is going to be close, and dirty. The GOP nominee would serve himself well if he made his VP pick well in advance of the GOP Convention in Tampa, then use that added attention to hammer the Obama camp.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/04/11
Super Committee deadline
BY: Armstrong Williams
To be clear: It’s entirely possible the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction can fail to meet its mandated purpose of recommending reductions from $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion from the federal budget by Thanksgiving. That’s a tall order. But they mustnot fail if we expect our governing institutions to retain what little credibility that remains among them.
The first casualty of an empty Super Committee is our nation’s economic health. Set aside for the moment the sheer need for austerity. If the panel were to miss its mark, economic chaos could ensue. Moody’s Investor Service has already lowered our nation’s stellar credit rating. And just last week, the credit house said that, while no downgrade is automatic, the Super Committee would serve it and Congress well by tackling big budget busters such as entitlement reform. Put another way, Congress should get out of its own way.
Not long ago, Democrats led by the President blamed consumer demand as the key inhibitor to economic growth in 2011. Then Republicans piled on and said it was looming uncertainty that paralyzed investors and businesses alike, freezing precious capital. Even Obama later subscribed to that reasoning. So why is it now, when both parties clearly have their fingers on the crux of the matter, they are singularly responsible for that very uncertainty and yet refuse to execute the steps to end it?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/02/11
Cain Must explain and move forward
BY: Armstrong Williams
Can Cain Explain
What you hear from some conservative commentators, that this is a “high-tech lynching” of an “uppity black conservative” and the media punishing him for being “black while conservative,” is either ludicrous or boring. Ludicrous, because you can’t for a minute tell me Politico wouldn’t have run the story if it had been Romney, Perry, Paul or Bachmann. It has nothing to do with his skin color and everything to do with the fact that this is what news does today, and maybe the fact that he’s a Republican. That’s what newspapers do today in the Age of Twitter – they report first, ask questions later. And if it’s not ludicrous, it’s boring, because we already know the media is biased against Republicans. So what? We’ve been saying that for years.
But on the question of race. Don’t Republicans hate it when they oppose Democrats ‘of color’ on policy or make a personal accusation – and the first response of that Democrat ‘of color’ and his/her defenders is to say, “You must be a racist.” Don’t Republicans hate that? Well, why is the first response from some conservatives that this must have to do with Cain’s race? That makes them guilty of the same race-baiting we accuse Democrats of. Let’s stick to the issue.
The real question is, why is Mr. Cain’s response so inconsistent and incoherent? Most Republican voters find it hard to believe he didn’t remember details about a significant accusation only 12 years old. Put yourself in his shoes, Bruce. You’re successful. You have ambitions. You have a career and a reputation. And two women make accusations that could end it all today. You’re telling me you wouldn’t have that episode seared into your brain and soul for the rest of your life? So Republicans are right to have questions about all this and wonder why he’s having so much trouble remembering.
Republicans are a forgiving group. If he’d been clear, consistent, and open about this from the beginning and if the accusations truly were baseless, he’d be fine and it would be yesterday’s news. Especially if it turns out this wasn’t about sex or infidelity but was instead about inappropriate office humor, as Mr. Cain is suggesting.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
11/01/11
Immigration revisited
BY: Armstrong Williams
Immigration revisited
Is it possible to be pro-immigration in this country and still support the principles of the State of Alabama’s immigration laws, dubbed some of the strictest in the nation? Absolutely.
Sound paradoxical? Not at all.
First things first. Yes, the state’s laws are tough, and in some cases, questionable, as in one provision that requires students to document their immigration status before enrolling in school. The fact that less than 10% Hispanics failed to do so in recent weeks shouldn’t come as any surprise, if you believe that close to 10% of Alabama’s Hispanic population is here illegally. I don’t know the exact number in the state, but it’s not as if no one of Hispanic origin showed to school that day.
I hate to continue laying America’s toughest social problems – the economy, moral compass, immigration, etc. – at the feet of this president and Congress, but it’s their fault.
Alabama’s laws are based on a simple principle: If you’re in the state in such a manner that wantonly violates the laws of the land, then they’re going to do what the Feds are unwilling to do – step up and call you out.
If you don’t like the current immigration policies, then change the law! Don’t just complain about more responsible governments like Alabama’s who step up and actually enforce the laws on the books.
And listen, there is a role here for pro-immigration groups, both Hispanic and non – to play. It’s in everyone’s best interests to step up and clean up the immigration policies of the United States. Let’s end the confusion and the suspicious glances. Let’s end the mindless accusations such as one Alabama lawmaker, when he said he sponsored the bill because, “They were coming in here like thieves in the night and taking our jobs and tax revenue.” That’s a little over the top. Immigration violators are deserving of justice, not hatred. And when one slams into the other, then problems arise.
Congress and the president have a responsibility to address this issue; not bat it around every two or four years to score political points. Easier said than done? It shouldn’t be. Just look at states such as Arizona, South Carolina, Utah and Georgia. Alabama isn’t a border state, they’re just tired of waiting for the Feds to act. Aren’t we all.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/31/11
A chink in Obama's armor
BY: Armstrong Williams
A chink in Obama’s armor
Stop right there, Mr. President. Whoever is advising you that it’s alright and not a contradiction in any way that you can continue to rail against lobbyists while lining your pockets with their political help is selling you some bad corn whiskey, as my grandfather used to say.
A report by the New York Times last week uncovered that over a dozen of the President’s top campaign fundraisers all have close ties to the lobbying industry. This during the very weeks where Obama is out on the political hustings (at taxpayers’ expense, mind you) throwing all sorts of invectives at fat cats on Wall Street and all those who “influence Washington.” Something’s not right when Obama takes such a purist position on campaign dollars and self-righteously condemns those who would peddle their agendas yet has a virtual money-machine behind the White House curtain.
An Obama spokesman said on Friday, “Barack Obama hasn’t accepted a dime from federal lobbyists or political action committees…” Okay, someone smart set up a technical definition of what constituted a lobbyist and then found a way to flirt the rules. So you don’t actually have a registered lobbyist giving you money. Isn’t it still the same, Mr. President, when they are paid by corporations to run around the country and collect or “bundle” that same money the same purposes? If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, well, you get the picture.
This is a major chink in the President’s armor, because it begins to speak to his credibility on the campaign stump. I’m not exaggerating. The only bright side in his presidency are Obama’s personal likability scores among the voters; they believe he’s a genuinely sincere guy. But to see him and his campaign skirting around campaign issues in a campaign season…well, he begins to look a lot like Al Gore. And we all know what happened to Gore.
I personally don’t have an issue with accepting campaign dollars from lobbyists or corporations. The money will flow no matter what. Just look at McCain-Feingold and all the good that campaign-finance reform did…NOT.
Up until now, the President had some fairly firm ground upon which to attack Republicans, particularly with a ‘big business’ label. But if circumstances continue to show Obama is dipping his gravy ladle into the same cess pot of money as others, voters get cynical. And that’s the last thing the President needs now in this climate.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/27/11
America the beautiful
BY: Armstrong Williams
America the Beautiful
America is facing tough times: high unemployment, high debt, economic uncertainty, unstable relations amongst other nations, and the list goes on. I am not composing this article to magnify the issues. I am composing it for the individuals who are dealing with these issues on a daily basis: the soldiers in the trenches and the people facing tremendous odds and see no way out. The statistics that support defeat in this current economic climate are momentous, but to inform all readers LIFE IS NOT A STATISTICS TEST. Anyone facing hardship might not be blessed with millions, political status, or whatever trivial benefit your mind can conjure up but you are blessed with a choice. Many people think the greatness of a country lies within its tall buildings, economic exchanges, or political “status”.
Tall buildings don’t create tall buildings, and inanimate objects don’t create societies. This composition is an urge for the individuals to compete valiantly in the midst of speculative circumstances. The choice that lies within the hands of anyone reading this article is to survive or consensually become a victim. Embrace the challenges that you face daily, for they drive you to become better. Tap into your potential and ignite it with the inextinguishable flame of faith that can never, and will never, be defeated. Don’t ever let any movement or politician tell you that you are at the bottom. You may not be born with many means, but it’s not how you start it’s how you finish. Americans are not victims, we are winners. This country was not built on complaints, but actions driven by motivation to defeat a larger force. I am encouraging all Americans to consider the history of triumph and not consensual defeat. Did David complain to God about how big Goliath was? Did Churchill tuck and run against the Nazi’s? Did the Union concede to the excellent fighting ability of the South? Did Dr. King have the mentality that he and his followers were the bottom of all society? Did Steve Jobs give up and collect unemployment benefits after he was released from Apple? I think not.
Individuals that have lower means are actually at an advantage over those who do. The individuals with lower means are forced into a situation in which they must rely on their creative ability over inanimate objects. Everybody is blessed with a choice to compete or accept defeat regardless of circumstances. Competitors should not be focused on the difficulty of the problem, but the inefficiencies that the problems possess. We, as Americans, should obsess ourselves with solutions, not magnifying problems for that is what made us so great in the first place.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/25/11
No debt gifts for the Greeks
By: Armstrong Williams
No debt gifts for the Greeks
The last full week of October 2011 marked another bad week for Greece. Earlier Monday, the Athens stock market plummeted on news that the nation’s European allies had failed to meet an agreement to keep the nation afloat.
Greece’s bank shares took a beating on news they may be forced to accept higher losses on their government's bonds as part of the larger European deal.
And while the government seems paralyzed with inaction, the people of Greece (mostly public workers) took to the streets once again to protest.
I don’t generally have a problem with protesters. Ahh, who am I kidding – I usually do have a problem with them. The reason is they rarely can cite the reason for their anger. In this case, it’s even more evident as the protesters should be going after their policymakers for not taking the necessary steps for a return to long-term stability in the nation. Instead, they want a return to the status quo ante – an untenable state of affairs where government was seen as the answer to all of the country’s woes.
Sound familiar?
There’s a crisis of confidence in Europe right now, and its effects are spilling over in small but impactful ways in our country and its own inability to recover.
The sooner the eurozone’s leaders realize they need to address the Greek financial crisis for what it is – runaway government spending perpetrated and masked by irresponsible state leaders – the sooner the continent can prevent other larger nations from falling into similar situations.
I’m not one who wants to see an entire country suffer because of the ineptitude of a select few, but the example needs to be made of Greece for the greater good of other nations.
What kind of message does it send that a nation can pile billions of debt up and then, almost righteously, expect others to bail them out because they were “too big to fail?”
As one Eurozone analyst recently commented, “There is no prospect of revival in Greece until and unless Europe gets its act together. Greece will have to wait in this comatose state, zombified state, until Europe collapses or fixes its problems.”
While that statement may be accurate, it’s for a different reason. Europe won’t collapse, that much is certain. But to “fix” its problems, it must exact a form of economic punishment onto Greece the likes of which it has not seen. The sooner that can happen, the quicker the continent can begin to recover economically.
There is no easy way out for the Greeks. The pain is inevitable, the suffering is optional.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/20/11
Parasitic infestation of our nation
BY: Armstrong Williams
Parasitic infestation of our nation.
When our country and our system of government was established government worked, and it was accepted by patriots who were willing to sacrifice personal income and comfort in order to serve their fellow citizen and strengthen the fabric of our nation. Both government workers and politicians were not likely to seek lifetime positions because of the sacrificial nature of government service.
What would the founders think if they could see the situation today where Washington, DC is the richest city in the United States. Right now you're probably thinking to yourself, "Really? I find that hard to believe." Okay, click here. Interestingly enough this wealth has little or nothing to do with private industry. So what is it? Part of the reason for the wealth of this city is that, on average, Federal employees are compensated $126,000.00 annually. Perhaps someone should provide this information to the Occupy Wall Street Protesters so they can finally understand where the real target of their frustrations lie.
$126,000 is more than twice the compensation of the average American who supports these salaries out of their own pockets through taxation.
The government workers are parasites living off of everyone else and in many cases are contributing very little. In the last three years the number of federal employees has exploded and there are no signs in sight that this will slow down. In a time like ours where we are mired in a financial crisis can we really afford to maintain such a parasitic class in our nation?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/19/11
Economic Health
Economic Health
BY: Armstrong Williams
Long term chronic care for everyone, especially the elderly, is not affordable in Obamacare which is why they are scrambling to either remove that component of the bill or find some other monetary solution. Long term care is extraordinarily expensive, in fact in our current system over 40% of health care dollars are spent in the last six months of life. If you multiply that over an entire society you can begin to get an appreciation of the staggering amount of money we're talking about.
This is however one unaffordable component of the bill, in fact the entire Obamacare is unaffordable; one reason why so many employers are not hiring people. As an employer you automatically become responsible for huge healthcare benefits for every employee, significantly increasing the cost of hiring anyone on payroll. This is an excellent opportunity for people to awaken and understand that socialism will bankrupt capitalism. Capitalism is based upon the individual's responsibility for themselves and their families. Socialism is based on the governments responsibility for every individual. In order for socialism to work it must control all of the capital, which of course would be anathema for a capitalistic society. Therefore introducing Obamacare into a capitalistic society goes a long way towards destroying the whole concept of self reliance and financial independence. You cannot expect to continue a prosperous capitalist economy under a socialistic regime and there is ample historical evidence of this timeless truth. We must all hope that our system of government truly works and that the guardians of the constitution, the US Supreme Court will discard Obamacare, recognizing it's destructive nature.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/18/11
A Bankrupt Jobs bill
A Bankrupt jobs bill
By
Armstrong Williams
Jesse Jackson Jr. Proposed jobs bill would have a devastating ripple effect on the US economy if it were to pass.
What about the Americans who make less than $40,000 per year; the equivalent of $19.25 an hour? 65% of American workersmake less than $40,000 per year. Do they not have an incentive to quit their jobs and become unemployed to increase their income? There are approximately 211 million workers in the US and 137 million make less than $40,000. For the ease of arithmetic, let us assume 100 million workers quit their jobs for these new government jobs. The cost to the taxpayer would be an additional $4.0 trillion. The total cost ofJackson’s program to the government would be a whopping$6.2 trillion or 44% of GDP. Is the Federal government bankrupt yet? Almost half the GDP would go to highly paid government jobs for the unemployed.
Uncle Sam would not be spared from this carnage. Without these businesses making profits and employing their highly paid employees, there would be few, if any, tax paying entities remaining to shoulder the crushing tax burden resulting from the government hiring the unemployed at $40,000 per year.
Of course, the Federal Reserve Bank would come to the rescueof the economy as it always does when it senses a potential financial disaster. It’s time honored solution to most financial problems is to print money. It this case, it would print a lot of money. If it wanted to save the economy, it would print enough money so that $40,000 in real terms would be less than today’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or about $14,500 per year. This would require the Fed to triple the money supply. Therefore every dollar that you hold today would be worth $.33 if Jackson’s Job plan were to be “saved” by the Fed.
Fortunately, not even the Liberal Democrats in Congress are stupid enough to take Jackson’s job proposal seriously. Elementary arithmetic and common sense leads to theinescapable conclusion that $40,000 jobs for the unemployed would be an unmitigated economic disaster. But we all know that when media cameras are present, Congressmen tend to open their mouths before they think.
Unfortunately, members of Congress will not apply the logic of Jackson’s ridiculous jobs proposal to serious proposals ofextending unemployment benefits and raising the minimum wage. If they did, they would understand that extending unemployment benefits and having a high minimum wage also has a negative impact on the economy. The politically incorrect flip side of this argument is that reduced unemployment benefits and lower minimum wages would have a positive impact on the economy.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/17/11
A Bankrupt Jobs bill
A Bankrupt jobs bill
By
Armstrong Williams
Jesse Jackson Jr. Proposed jobs bill would have a devastating ripple effect on the US economy if it were to pass. The Chicago Congressmen is proposing that our Federal government paying $40,000 a year for all unemployed Americans.
Please bear in mind that there are 15 million unemployed Americans nation wide. The cost of the government employing them would be a staggering six hundred billion dollars. Try and wrap you common sense around this comic offering.
What about the Americans who make less than $40,000 per year; the equivalent of $19.25 an hour? 65% of American workersmake less than $40,000 per year. Do they not have an incentive to quit their jobs and become unemployed to increase their income? There are approximately 211 million workers in the US and 137 million make less than $40,000. For the ease of arithmetic, let us assume 100 million workers quit their jobs for these new government jobs. The cost to the taxpayer would be an additional $4.0 trillion. The total cost ofJackson’s program to the government would be a whopping$6.2 trillion or 44% of GDP. Is the Federal government bankrupt yet? Almost half the GDP would go to highly paid government jobs for the unemployed.
Uncle Sam would not be spared from this carnage. Without these businesses making profits and employing their highly paid employees, there would be few, if any, tax paying entities remaining to shoulder the crushing tax burden resulting from the government hiring the unemployed at $40,000 per year.
Of course, the Federal Reserve Bank would come to the rescueof the economy as it always does when it senses a potential financial disaster. It’s time honored solution to most financial problems is to print money. It this case, it would print a lot of money. If it wanted to save the economy, it would print enough money so that $40,000 in real terms would be less than today’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or about $14,500 per year. This would require the Fed to triple the money supply. Therefore every dollar that you hold today would be worth $.33 if Jackson’s Job plan were to be “saved” by the Fed.
Fortunately, not even the Liberal Democrats in Congress are stupid enough to take Jackson’s job proposal seriously. Elementary arithmetic and common sense leads to theinescapable conclusion that $40,000 jobs for the unemployed would be an unmitigated economic disaster. But we all know that when media cameras are present, Congressmen tend to open their mouths before they think.
Unfortunately, members of Congress will not apply the logic of Jackson’s ridiculous jobs proposal to serious proposals ofextending unemployment benefits and raising the minimum wage. If they did, they would understand that extending unemployment benefits and having a high minimum wage also has a negative impact on the economy. The politically incorrect flip side of this argument is that reduced unemployment benefits and lower minimum wages would have a positive impact on the economy.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/14/11
Social Darwinism Prevails.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Social Darwinism Prevails.
The most dangerous place in America today is atop the polls of the Republican Presidential field. If you channel surf, or read daily publications, you will see that the only economic plan put forward in the campaign has been Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax reform which has become the subject of ridicule and scorn. It was ignored completely until he surged in the polls as the leading contender. Four years ago the number 1 candidate in the Republican poll was Giluiani at 30% and McCain was a measly 14%.
Remember the fable about the father whale and the son whale swimming through the whaling fleet. The father said to the son, "if you don't blow your spout they won't know where to aim the harpoon." This is one of life's less glorious lessons, particularly when it comes to politics and business. If you have success you become a target not only of your competitors but of people who have succumb to the sins of jealousy and envy. Your competitors are coming after you because they want to displace you as number one, the jealous get a thrill out of taking down those who are successful.
There is a German term "schaden freude" meaning one relishes the misery of another, especially those who appear to be on the apex of life. It is an inevitable hazard of being number 1 and you can see political examples in the GOP primaries. In European diplomacy for the last 500 years powers 2 and 3 have always ganged up on the top dog. In sports everybody hates the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees. In business everybody is trying to find a way to displace Microsoft Windows. How many fans does Walmart have in the Liberal media despite supplying low cost goods to middle America? Why is McDonald's always criticized for good tasting low cost meals? Remember, in the real world social Darwinism prevails. Everybody wants to take down the winner, and when that winner successfully defends their place we know they have earned it.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/13/11
Can common sense prevail ?
Subject: Can common sense prevail ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Can common sense prevail ?
Some seem surprise that Hermain Cain is now the front runner. What Cain represents is something that has been severely lacking in political leadership, and that is common sense. Interestingly enough the vast majority of people in this country still have a modicum of common sense. Many politicians appear to have some when they first go to Washington and than rapidly lose it due to the influence of special interest groups, including organized political parties. If Mr. Cain can resist contamination by traditional Washington influences, he may prove to be just what our nation needs for restoration to greatness.
The Liberals must be twisting in the wind at the thought that the "racist" Republicans, including the Tea Party out of which Mr. Cain Sprung are endorsing to a large degree a black man. Could these racist actually not realize he's black or is it possible the moniker of racism is applied to the wrong party. If Mr. Cain becomes the nominee and chooses Mark Rubio as his VP the left wing will be in a severe quandary. A large component of what the left has always considered to be an unshakable voting base could abandon them. At which time they will have produce real and substantive policies and not emotional rhetoric.
Harry Belafonte, Cornell West, Tavis Smiley and others is it time for you to stop engaging in divisive rhetoric and turn your attention to ways of uplifting people instead of dividing them. When people listen to you they should go away with a sense of empowerment and ability rather than a sense of entitlement and impotence.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/12/11
Is there a black mindset ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Is there a black mindset ?
It's interesting that many of the so called black intellectuals have severely criticized Herman Cain for his social and political views. One has to wonder why they feel that anyone who is black must agree with their point of view, or otherwise has a suspect intellect. It does nothing except advance the negative stereotype that Black Americans are of a singular mindset, and undermines the efforts of the civil rights leaders of the past. Despite this, Herman Cain very wisely didn't react emotionally to Cornell West's diatribe, but rather calmly explained that his views were cultivated by growing up in the real world of hard work and economic reality as opposed to the artificial world of academia.
It is high time for the overall black community to recognize that each one of them has a brain and the ability to think and reach conclusions for themselves. They must be reminded that one of the strengths of this community that allowed them to survive slavery, Jim Crow, and violent racism was a system of values that transcended race or class. They also identified with Godly principles. It is my hope that this community will once again place principle above politics to the benefit of the entire country and not just Black Americans.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/11/11
Most Litigious nation in the world
BY: Armstrong Williams
Most litigious nation in the world.
Republicans are right to draw a line in the sand. We have an obligation to say “no” to tax increases that do nothing to stem the profligate, big-government spending favored by the Democrats. Unchecked government spending is a road that, if traveled, will further plunge our nation into a downward spiral of economic weakness due to massive debt and uncontrollable entitlements, which Democrats will argue may only be solved by “redistributing wealth” through back-breaking tax increases that will erode the spirit and principles that distinguish our country leaving only a shadow of past greatness. That is what is at stake; the stakes have never been higher.
Conservatives cannot allow Republican lawmakers to soften or defect on the Party’s fundamental principles; or worse, align with those who are diametrically opposed to everything the GOP stands for: free enterprise, reasonable taxes, limited government and tort reform. Yes, tort reform and here’s why.
Ignoring tort reform has been devastating to taxpayers, the economy and American business. The U.S. is the most litigious nation in the world; it weakens us competitively and lessens respect for America’s legal system in the eyes of the world. The question isn’t how this critical issue fell from our sight lines to the sidelines. The question is: Why have we permitted trial lawyers to worm their way into our ranks to undermine GOP priorities and the Party itself?
Williams is the author of the new book "Reawakening Virtues". Listen to Williams daily on Sirius Power 128, 7pm-8pm and 4am-5am set. www.rightsidewire.com.
10/10/11
Bloomberg for President ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Bloomberg for President ?
Michael Bloomberg is making maneuvers to announce his candidacy for President and challenge Obama and the GOP field as an Independent. His strategy is to launch his campaign beginning August 2012 with a media blitz leading up to election day.
According to Crain's newspaper, Bloomberg's wealth increased by $2 Billion dollars from last year. He is preparing his personal war chest to fund his presidential race.
Can this strategy win Bloomberg the White house in 2012? His goal is to win in the Electoral College. His advisers believe Obama has a third of the electoral College locked, the GOP has a third and a well funded Independent could prevail in the Electoral College.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/07/11
Government spending dark side
BY: Armstrong Williams
Government spending dark side.
Government spending "crowds out" private spending. At best, it transfers a dollar of private spending through taxation to the public sector. However closer analysis of government spending confirms that it is less efficient in creating income and wealth than private spending. For example, no rational consumer buying a new car would destroy his old car worth $3,000 unless he was given $4,000 of someone else’s money in a “cash for clunkers” program to do so.
The liberal establishment maintains that it is not current taxation which finances the government deficit spending but debt. Thus it is not crowding out private spending. However, government debt crowds out private borrowing and investment. Liberal economists argue that government borrowing is not crowding out private investment because the banks have plenty of money to lend to the private sector. Unfortunately, in an attempt to protect depositors and the government guarantee of such deposits, the bank regulators have increased the credit underwriting standards on the banks. Consequently, banks are not lending to struggling small and medium sized businesses that need working capital to grow and create jobs.
Monetary stimulus is no longer an option. Over the past three years, the Federal Reserve has attempted to stimulate the economy by printing money and reducing short-term interest rates to near 0%. Unfortunately, this monetary stimulus is setting the stage for inflation.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/06/11
Time to focus on mechanics
Subject: Time to focus on mechanics
Thursday, October 6 Blog
BY: Armstrong Williams
Time to focus on mechanics
So New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is not running for the Republican nomination for president. It’s now time for the GOP to wipe away the tears and get down to the business of nominating the one who will in fact face President Obama next November. Make no mistake, it will be a formidable test. Obama and his team will bring several hundred million dollars to bear, attacking the Republican candidate with everything they have.
Equal to the task, you can bet Republicans will be loaded for bear – ready to lay into an abysmal record of dysfunction and borderline ineptitude.
And it’s on those points that Republican primary voters should base their decision. Let’s face it, Obama is struggling to run the nation. His economic team acts like they earned their economics degrees from an online bank that doubles as a college on weekends.
And all the talk recently over a new Obama makeover – a more charming president – plays right into the hands of someone who knows how to run an organization, not just talk a good game.
That’s right, 2012 may just be the year of the Technocrat-in-Chief. I’m referring to someone who knows the inner movements of an institution, what makes it tick, and how to turn things around when it’s no longer functioning properly. We’ve had “hope” and “change.” And just as the McCain bumper stickers of 2008 were right (“Hope is not an Agenda”), they had the wrong man for the job then.
I’m not officially endorsing him, but given these obvious revelations, Mitt Romney is looking more and more like the guy who can do the job, not just talk about the job. His very nature is mechanical, even his mannerisms. But doggone it, the guy knows what makes a company tick – from its people , to its culture, to its bottom line. And Lord knows our nation’s bottom line needs some adjusting.
So as the wannabes and the almost-rans have finally filtered out, we now know a few things about the present field: 1) Sarah Palin is NOT running for president; 2) Ron Paul will finally exit stage right as a viable presidential contender; 3) Herman Cain is a serious man with some serious gumption to say some serious things; 4) Rick Perry is fading fast; and 5) Mitt Romney, on paper at least, is looking like the technocrat who could get the job done. It may not be graceful and full of style, but hey, haven’t we tried that already?? Look where it got us.
Order Armstrong Williams' new book today on Amazon.com "Reawakening Virtues". Listen to Williams daily on Sirius Power 128, 7pm-8pm est. www.rightsidewire.com
10/04/11
Obama's New Deal Rehash
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's New Deal Rehash
President Obama, the man who personally identified himself with the virtue of hope and as the embodiment of change, has the stalest ideas of anyone in Washington. A lot has been said about the jobs bill he keeps exhorting Congress to pass while it lingers in the Democrat-controlled Senate, namely that it is just a rehash of the stimulus package passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress in 2009. The only difference, of course, is that it will be paid for with tax increases—it’s an even worse idea.
Both stimuli are simply poor rehashes of the New Deal. Obama has bought into the long debunked myth that we spent our way out of the Great Depression. For those not familiar with the debunking, allow me to summarize briefly. Money has to come from somewhere, if you simply print money you inflate prices and have, in so doing, effectively wound up where you started.
It's sad that the facts of the Depression are so easily forgotten. Economist Lawrence Reed of the Mackinac Institute says President Herbert Hoover is mistakenly presented in standard history texts as a laissez-faire president while the reality is that he signed into law so many costly and foolish bills that one of Franklin Roosevelt’s top aides later said, “practically the whole New Deal was extrapolated from programs that Hoover started."
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
10/03/11
The wrong way to campaign
The wrong way to campaign
BY: Armstrong Williams
I can’t figure former House Speaker Newt Gingrich out. The second tier candidate just doesn’t know when to put his best strengths forward while tempering his enormous ego.
While campaigning in Iowa over the weekend, Gingrich apparently told a crowd in the Hawkeye State the biggest reason to vote for him over his GOP rivals isn’t his ideas or even his new Contract with America. Gosh-darnit, he’s just plain smarter than the rest.
Huh?
“[I]f you watch them and watch me,” Gingrich told Iowans, “the difference in the depth of knowledge and the difference in the ability to debate Obama, the difference in actually having done it at the national level…I’m a pretty good mechanic who knows how to fix the car and the other folks are good at selling it. They’re nice people, but they don’t have the knowledge to do something like this on this scale. This is enormously complicated.”
What humility. What demurring decency. And this guy says he’s a populist? A man of the people? Which group – the megalomaniacal society of America?
It won’t take long for voters to realize that perhaps Gingrich is the wrong man for the job precisely because he thinks he can go up against President Obama. That’s one of the president’s largest weaknesses – his propensity to talk down to average Americans; to lecture them as though he is the Omniscient One.
Gingrich is following suit, and it doesn’t suit him well at all. This is the same candidate who, by the way, railed against the Ryan Medicare plan, only to apologize in less than 24 hours with a less-than-savvy response. Yeah, that’s smart alright.
It seems Gingrich is continuing his free-fall in this nominating race; so much so that, if he had any hopes of serving in a Cain/Romney/Perry/Christie cabinet, even those chances are dimming.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/30/11
Joe Biden's moment of candor
BY: Armstrong Williams
Joe Biden’s moment of candor
Say what you will about the Vice President, but Joe Biden has one helluva mouth on him. Whether it’s telling the President in front of a large crowd (and a very hot mic) this is one big…er, well, you know…or telling a key swing presidential state that his boss is to blame for their financial woes, he’s nothing if he ain’t honest.
Early yesterday (while on a campaign swing, mind you), Joe Biden missed a key talking point while visiting a local Florida radio station. Apparently, the abysmal state of America’s economy is no longer former President Bush’s fault, but his own!
“There’s a lot of people in Florida that have good reason to be upset because they’ve lost jobs," Biden told WLRN in the interview. "Even though 50 some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that's not relevant."
"What’s relevant is, we’re in charge. And right now, we are the ones in charge, and it’s gotten better but it hasn't gotten good enough. And in states like Florida it's even been more stagnant because of the real estate market.”
And now here come the RNC attack ads, Mr. Vice President…
Look, it seems everyone in the country BUT the White House knows the Obama Administration has underperformed in fixing the economy. I’m just glad someone high in the administration finally admitted it.
The sad truth here is there is still time to turn this economy around and take credit for it. If Obama would quit the shrill complaining and finger-pointing and go about responsibly addressing the nation’s woes, his handlers wouldn’t have to worry about Joe Biden going off the reservation.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/29/11
Coke: The un-American cola?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Coke: The un-American cola?
I don’t care what anyone says, Coca-Cola is distinctly an American brand. Isn’t it the next line after “Mom,” “apple pie” and “baseball?” From it’s unique, Old Glory red color to the taste that launched a thousand ships, Coke belongs in the USA.
You may be asking: was there ever any doubt it would leave? Well, yeah.
That’s the word from Coke’s top executive earlier this week when asked what he felt about America’s tax policies. According to the Financial Times, CEO Muhtar Kent said “in many respects” it was easier dealing with the Chinese on business issues, which he compared the Communist country to a “well-managed company.” Kent went on to tell the FT, “In the west, we’re forgetting what really worked 20 years ago. In China and other markets around the world, you see the kind of attention to detail about how business works and how business creates employment.”
Now, set aside China’s abysmal human rights record and its terrible pollution propensities, because they have no bearing on what one of the world’s top executives just told us all – America is no longer open for business.
The world’s largest economy moves with the nimbleness of an elephant, and acts like an ass when it makes business decisions. Gee, I wonder where I’ve seen those two animals recently? Oh, right…they are the symbols of our country’s political parties. Go figure.
Look, there’s nothing like the cold hard truth of economic reality. You can criticize Kent for many things, but he’s right – the private sector is the job creator in this country, and throughout the world.
This Congress heralds its own virtues when its members avoid the 15th government shutdown in as many months, and we wonder why Wall Street quakes in its boots?
If you want to create jobs and generate commerce, you need to move product. You move product by staying competitive. It’s almost to a point where to be “competitive” in this country means you must’ve somehow swindled someone out of some thing. That’s the bogus line our president seems to parrot when he sees a company doing well.
“Let’s tax them, or regulate them…” he says. “Someone is making money? Oh, my, well this here family isn’t, so I guess we should ‘investigate’ what’s gone wrong…”
We need to end this assault on American businesses, and stop penalizing them through our tax code when they want to go out and market to 95% of the customers beyond American borders.
If Coca-Cola is worried about American know-how to attract business, so should the rest of the country.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/28/11
I miss Bill Clinton
I miss Bill Clinton
BY: Armstrong Williams
I never thought it would come to this. I never imagined a time post 2000 when I would actually lament a return to the past. But here we are, facing a recession as deep and even longer than the one in the early 1990s. A recession that ushered in none other than the Comeback Kid – President William Jefferson Clinton.
His was a presidency that brought us DNA samples; Don’t ask, Don’t tell; school uniforms; and wagging fingers regarding a certain intern.
But set all that aside (if you can), and recall some of the fiscal successes of his presidency, and it’s easy to long for those days again.
Yes, the United States enjoyed years of growing surpluses during the Clinton presidency – many of which could be attributed equally to the Republican Congress – but pair them together, and it’s easy to see why the country could use another Bill Clinton in place of the current Oval Office occupant. Here’s why:
One thing is evident regarding the Clinton years, he knew when he had been beat. Following the loss of both houses of Congress in 1994, the president rightly declared, “The era of Big Government is over.” He spent the next several years resisting that fact, but enacting policies that matched the statement. Remember welfare reform in 1996? It took a Republican Congress to force a liberal president to enact that landmark law. Yet it took a chief executive to do his part.
President Obama knows the era of big government in 2011 is over. It took the Tea Party to prove to him this fact. Now, he must repeat the steps of Clinton and work with Republicans to enact meaningful, center-right policies that reflect the will of this nation. Resistance is futile. Just look at the imminent loss of the Democrat-controlled Senate in 2012, and perhaps even the loss of Obama’s own job if he’s not careful in these upcoming months.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/27/11
'A house is not a home if there's no one there.'
BY: Armstrong Williams
'A house is not a home if there's no one there.'
Even as housing prices decline, the average home price in America is still almost 4 times annual income, making financing a home the only option for many people. When housing finance first took hold as the primary method by which Americans bought home, in the 1950s, the average house cost about one year’s income. The run up in housing prices has made it such that even those who get into homes don’t actually own them for most of their lives. They finance, often a small fraction of the value of the home (holding less than 1% equity in many cases).
Today, with declining employment among young Americans, estimated at around 17% for those between 18 and 24, many have delayed long term commitments because of their inability to support a household. They are often priced out of the houses near major employment centers, and have had to resort to moving far out of metropolitan areas if they are to find an affordable home. In fact, the very term ‘affordable’ has taken on almost Orwellian significance, as many people find that they will essentially be in debt for most of their lives if they buy.
The effects on neighborhoods have been even more pernicious, with an estimated $500 billion a year in home equity lost since 2008. In 2009 alone, an estimated 91.5 million families lost more than $2 trillion dollar in nominal home value. With almost half of all home sales since 2008 being foreclosures and short sales, neighborhoods have been decimated. Not only has the home value for neighbors who stay in their homes been decimated, but so have the neighborhoods themselves. Some neighborhoods in places like Riverside County in California, and Louden County in Northern Virginia look almost like ghost towns, with practically brand new, vacant houses littering new developments. As Luther Vandross once said, ‘A house is not a home if there’s no one there.’ The same can be said of a neighborhood.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/26/11
Herman Cain for Veep
BY: Armstrong Williams
Herman Cain for Veep
I continue to be impressed with Herman Cain. And after the kind of week he’s had - first during Thursday night’s GOP debates, and then winning Florida’s straw poll – it’s beginning to show this guy has given the presidency a lot of careful thought. And his views are resonating with the masses.
That’s what it takes to win this nomination – consideration over not just what it will take to pull this economy out of recession, but what to do about the other big problems we as a society face. You see, Cain doesn’t fixate on one thing. It all has a purpose, fits together.
That’s what comes through when you’re a veteran CEO. I see those same traits in him as I do in me when I run my business. It’s almost a black-and-white picture. I say “almost” because public policy is inherently grey. But even then, Cain seems to understand and appreciate the nuances of what he or the next President will face.
So why the title of this blog as Cain for VICE president? I just doubt he can win. The deck seems stacked against him. Not because of the color of his skin (isn’t it great, by the way, that in these times, we can say such things without hesitation? That’s progress.), but rather, he lacks the network and infrastructure to pull off the upset.
But even if he can’t go all the way and secure the GOP nomination, the ultimate winner should definitely take a look at this man for his #2 spot.
What a powerful ticket partner Cain would make; a successful business man who also takes time to study foreign relations and other executive mandates. Yet he doesn’t lose sight of the common sense that escapes Washington by the ton each and every day.
And unlike other so-called second tier candidates such as Jon Huntsman or Rick Santorum, there’s no desperation in Cain’s voice. He’s not trying to out-shout his peers on the stage. He has points to be made, and he’ll wait his turn to make them. But when it does come around to him, his responses are equally demonstrative and purposeful. His thoughts on Social Security last Thursday and how to reform the program, for example, showed the consideration he’s given these intractable issues we face.
Like I said, I continue to be impressed with Mr. Cain.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/22/11
Diplomatic Lunacy
BY: Armstrong Williams
Diplomatic Lunacy
Palestinian Authority efforts to secure statehood represent an abandonment of the very foundation of the peace process, which requires the Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate directly to resolve their conflict. The PA lusts for statehood despite its near-total reliance on foreign aid to prop up its frail economy and the government’s physical and political division between PA-controlled areas on the West Bank and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
The proposition of Palestinian statehood today is ludicrous: this would involve bestowing legitimacy on a government that includes a radical, Islamist terrorist group which is committed to the destruction of its neighbor Israel, has championed use of suicide terrorism to murder innocents, and has indiscriminately fired thousands of rockets into Israeli towns and cities after Israel withdrew completely from Gaza.
Should the U.N. really grant the precious gift of global recognition to a PA that pays salaries to known terrorists imprisoned in Israeli jails, honors suicide terrorists as martyrs and holds them up as role models for children?
The Palestinian strategy for leading the world down this misguided path is insidious. The PA is aiming to drive a wedge between the United States and Israel, undermining America’s role as an honest broker in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and marginalizing our country’s global standing by cloaking anti-Israel intent in the internationalization of the conflict.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/21/11
The Plight of Farmers
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Plight of Farmers
Having grown up on a tobacco farm and worked at the US Department of Agriculture, I can tell you that the concerns that keep black farmers up at night are not unique and are mostly shared by farmers of all stripes. Aside from some specific issues of discrimination, black farmers worry about access to capital, pray for a little luck with the weather and wish for a more predictable regulatory environment. High levels of uncertainty translate into a lack of investments and lack of jobs on the farm just as on Wall Street. Farmers are practical people. They understand that uncertainty in the capital markets is tied to the economy as a whole. Their concerns about the weather are typically conveyed to a higher power, not Washington bureacrats. But when a seemingly endless stream of burdensome, costly and scientifically unfounded regulations threatens their livelihood, they expect the government to stop and consider their plight. And when the President visits rural America as he did this month and dismisses these concerns out of hand, it sends a clear message to them that now is not the time for new investments in the American farm.
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09/20/11
Hold....Hold.....Hold
BY: Armstrong Williams
Hold. Hold. Hold....
The Republican Party and common sense thinking people in this country must maintain their core message. The core message is that the Federal Government has an unsustainable spending problem resulting in crippling deficits and an overbearing national debt that is a drag on America’s economy. To eliminate the deficit, government spending must be cut. Since entitlement spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is nearly 60% of the budget and growing significantly faster than national income, entitlement spending must be reduced. Increased taxes are not a viable option because history has shown that Congress uses increased tax receipts to increase government programs; not to pay down deficits. History also shows that increasing tax rates does not raise tax revenues in the long run.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/19/11
Obama's Economic trickery
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Economic trickery
The only economic metric that matters to most “Main Street” Americans is jobs. Unfortunately, the news on this front is getting progressively worst. Unemployment continues to remain stubbornly high at over 9.1%. The percentage of Americans working is 58.1%. This is the lowest percentage of Americans working since 1983 and Americans living in poverty is at an all time high of 15%.
Traditional Keynesian fiscal stimulus tools used by the Obama administration to stimulate the economy in 2009 and 2010 have been an unequivocal failure. Taxpayers paid in excess of $800 billion for this failed stimulus venture. As a result of this failure and the current political environment, these fiscal spending tools are not now available for stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Americans will not be duped into wasting more money on another failed stimulus package by calling for $1.5 trillion in new revenue as part of a plan to find more than $3 trillion in budget savings over the next 10 years. Obama's call for $450 billion in new stimulus dollars is just another trick on the public that will fail miserably.
The Federal Reserve Bank has also used traditional Keynesian monetary policy to stimulate the economy. Quantitative Easing (“QE”) I and QE ll have also failed to stimulate sustained growth in the economy. Given the status of current interest rates and the excess liquidity in the economy, it is unlikely that a new QE lll will work. Interest rates are at record lows. Reducing interest rates further is not practical. Even Fed President Geithner has ruled out QE lll.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/15/11
What Won't Work for House Democrats in 2012
Lagos, Nigeria - The upset loss earlier this week in a special election to replace disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner - followed by a sure-win for Republicans out West in Nevada – does not bode well for congressional Democrats moving into 2012.
Sure, we’ll hear the usual banter that these special elections rarely serve as reliable bellwethers for national elections. Heck, I even said as much about the open Republican seat in New York26 earlier this year.
But this situation seems different. Not only are the stakes higher, and the presidential race draws nearer. Those factors alone should cause the national Democratic party to worry. But also, it signals to me a key plank in the Democrats’ attack platform is woefully overestimated by the Party, or it just plain won’t work anymore.
Of course, I’m referring to the Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s budget and how Democrats excoriated the House Republican for his courageous (and right) observations regarding the future of Medicare. Mr. Ryan was even so thoughtful as to offer some constructive thoughts on how to save the program. I find it odd that Democrats chose to ignore that “minor” detail. If someone were so politically bent to destroy a program as they allege, then why would the perpetrator think through a solution to keep that same program solvent?
At any rate, Democrats believed they had a magic elixir to help them win back the House in 2012, or at least make a respectable show of it.
They certainly tried the tactics in NY9 and NV2, throwing everything they could at the candidates to make the case stick. But it didn’t work.
GOP Party officials told me this morning they feel as though they can weather these attacks in pretty much any district moving into next year, especially in a New York seat where Democrats outnumber Republicans three-to-one in party registration. Granted, this race was more about the infidelities of Mr. Weiner, and Republicans can only rest so much on their laurels.
But it’s a positive note when demagoguing an issue will only get a candidate so far. Especially during a time when both parties should be serious regarding our nation’s debt. To play seniors versus defense issues in an attempt to score points is tired and old.
Let’s hope both sides learn a few lessons as we gear up for 2012.
09/14/11
Revisiting 9-11 on Foreign Land
This week from my hotel Room in Lagos, Nigeria for the first time in almost 10 years I watched The Towers fall. I listened to the tales of widows, friends, and comrades as they recounted that day. I saw footage I’d never seen of firefighters running into the towers as others staggered out, and once again remembered the virtues of courage, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be a hero. And I was overwhelmed with emotions. Just as hard as I had that day, maybe even more so because of what we’ve been through and where we are as a nation 10 years later.
It is always difficult, if not impossible, to vanquish fear and emotion and look at such an event rationally in the immediate aftermath. It is easy now to realize the mistakes our leaders made, but the 10th anniversary has allowed me to absolve some of those sins. It doesn’t necessarily justify all the actions of the past 10 years by both the Bush and Obama administrations, but it puts them in context.
As president, your number one goal should be to protect the American people. People that believe Bush didn’t feel the pain of those 2,977 deaths, or the deaths of the Soldiers he put in harms way in the War on Terror is deluding themselves. The same as those that think Pres. Obama doesn’t care about the troops that have died in the past 3 years are nimwits. Pres. Obama has expanded the war into Pakistan, strengthened the Patriot Act, and kept Guantanamo open because he cares, and he never wants anything like 9/11 to happen again.
We must realize that no person or group can destroy our country as long as we perceive and heed FDR’s warning- “the only thing to fear is fear itself.”
09/09/11
Obama's New Mantra "Pass The Bill"
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's New Mantra "Pass The Bill"
President Obama proposed many things that should have been done earlier- tax cuts for the middle class, tax cuts for businesses, and money for infrastructure projects. In many ways I like his proposals, but then I can’t help but remember that he promised to rebuild our infrastructure and schools 3 years ago when he asked for, and received roughly $800 billion for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We still haven’t seen much good from that law, other than payoffs to failed businesses like Solyndra and a dead economy. Also, while I like the extension of the 4.2% payroll tax rate, I can’t help but fear that cutting it to 3.1%, as he proposed, will only hasten the Social Security time bomb we all know will soon blow. Lastly, he learned from his past mistake by not offering any pie-in-the-sky number guarantee of the unemployment rate if this bill passes; however, he seems to be making the same mistake he did with the health care bill in that he offers no real specifics and hopes that it all works out after the bill is passed. For the sake of America, I hope whatever the final bill is, that it works, but having seen this movie before, count me skeptical.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/08/11
GOP Debate observations
BY: Armstrong Williams
GOP Debate observations
One thing that was apparent during last night's GOP presidential debate is that each of the candidates has a much better grasp of economic issues than our President. There were some who distinguished themselves with well-thought out answers and solutions. Mitt Romney, Gov. Perry and former Speaker New Gingrich were among the best to lay out well reasoned plans that not only offered constructive solutions, but revealed they know some of the intractable problems we as a nation face as well.
There were others who extinguished any enthusiasm that might have been otherwise present by simply trotting out tired sound bites. This schtick from the likes of Bachmann and Ron Paul is getting old, and I believe the typical Republican primary voter will see through the gauze of the rhetoric and start to tune those folks out.
Herman Cain continued to make a strong showing with his usual and logical self, but let’s get serious – as serious as some in the pundit world want to take him, he is not posting real numbers and support behind his candidacy.
As interesting as the candidates were, those who posed the questions were even more interesting because it was apparent that they were considerably more interested in stoking malcontent than impassioned debate. I don’t know how we remove the “reality TV” acts from these serious events, but it must at least begin to subside.
All in all, it was an extremely informative debate and Americans considering the 2012 elections are more educated about the GOP field of candidates.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/07/11
Obama's speech---what I hope to hear
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama’s speech – what I hope to hear
President Obama’s much anticipated speech on his jobs proposal this week will no doubt remind Americans why 1 out of every 10 of them is unemployed. He’ll wax and wane in his usual professorial manner over the tug and pull of supply and demand economics.
Let’s not forget that he will also feature some of his 2012 campaign lines – phrases on how we can’t return to the “failed policies of the past”…which someone in the White House feels that will continue to salve the wounds of Americans by blaming Bush.
What I hope to hear is an admission from the President. I would like, just once, to hear him acknowledge that government cannot create one job that is sustainable, profitable, and in the private sector. It’s very good at employing people, mind you. Just look at the tens of millions of federal employees who sucked off the federal largesse, especially during the burgeoning stimulus months.
But are any of those jobs sustainable, and does one dollar spent on a federal job outweigh and outlast one dollar spent creating a job in the private sector? Unequivocally, that answer is no. Simple logic defies anything to the contrary.
If I want to create a federal job, I must first borrow approximately 65 cents of every dollar from say, China, to fund that job. Not to mention the agency that employs the public worker will not pay federal income taxes the way a private sector employer would. And on the rarest of occasions, that building will not pay real estate taxes due to legacy purchases decades old, especially in Washington, DC.
So, please, Mr. President, enter into that august room on Thursday and admit the best jobs that last and yield the most benefit are the ones government does NOT create. Set the right conditions with regulatory and monetary policies, then get out of the way.
It won’t be easy. Corporations are hoarding cash. Why? They fear the government and its heavy-handedness. They fear bail-outs for otherwise inefficient casualties of economic Darwinism. And they fear the uncertainty of a tax code run amok.
So assuage those fears. Americans need to hear from someone who sounds more like he holds an MBA than a PhD. Let’s hope this president can give us that this week.
A little more business acumen in our White House can only help this economy. Heck, he’s tried everything else…
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/06/11
Who is responsible for the current financial crisis?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Who is responsible for the current financial crisis?
The financial community is not the sole cause of the current crisis. It did what Congress wanted it to do i.e. make risky loans to home owners who would not otherwise get a loan in the unregulated mortgage market. American consumers were encouraged to buy homes whether they could afford them or not. Homeowners were also under the mistaken belief that home ownership was an investment and not a housing expense. The annual costs of home ownership with mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance can be over 10% of the value of a home. That means a home has to appreciate more than 10% annually in order for a home to be a good investment.
These housing policies significantly contributed to driving up the prices of residential real estate over the past 20 years. They also contributed to overleveraged homeowners and more risky mortgage loans held by banks and investors. However it was the regulation of financial institutions which contributed to the bust of the housing bubble and caused the financial crisis we have today.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
09/01/11
Another missed opportunity at détente
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BY: Armstrong Williams
Another missed opportunity at détente
There they go again. Both Republicans and the White House are shirking what remains of their constitutional duties to represent the will of the people and actually come to agreement on the toughest issues facing this nation, and now they’re squabbling over when the President will give yet another speech? While it appears they may have worked this out and let the President have his day in the sun, it’s another example of the sheer dysfunctional nature of our current leaders.
Set aside for the moment the fact that all this President does is SPEAK. There are no actions coming from either him or his so called economic team. He went around the country on a bus to do what – listen to people tell him what he already knew – that they’re out of a job?!?
Speaker John Boehner again missed a golden opportunity to ease tensions with the White House, prove that he is the bigger man in these tenuous discussions, and set the table for what everyone knows will be a difficult season of negotiations as the so-called Super Committee convenes.
So Obama wants to give a prime time address. Let him! What political damage can he possibly inflict, Mr. Speaker? It’s not as if your pollsters are telling you his popularity will meteorically rise. If past is prologue, this will be another dud of a speech.
Remember the last joint session? When the President gave some (lame) speech on how health care will pull this economy out of recession and save the country? Well, it didn’t happen.
The biggest jolt Obama’s ratings have had this year is when we got Osama Bin Laden. Would anyone have wished that didn’t happen just to keep Obama down?
Give me a break. When is someone on Capitol Hill going to start acting like an adult and force this President to either engage on real deficit reduction, economy growing, or just shut up?
Thank the good Lord the House Republicans didn’t try to salvage the GOP presidential debates as a legitimate reason for postponing Obama’s address. If anything, frankly I wish the candidates would be MORE engaged on these matters. Flex some presidential heft for a change and push yourself out there on how we should address these problems. Or here’s an idea – at least lay out some principles that both sides should bear in mind when negotiating. Or try to be the Mediator-in-Chief early by saying they ought to get in a room and stay there until a decision is reached.
And by the way, if you’re going to offer a reason on why the leader of the country and the free world can’t address a joint session of Congress, please don’t blame security. What a lame excuse.
We have some big weeks ahead of us, Congress. Let’s keep the amateur hour to a minimum for a change…
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/31/11
Denial of Individual freedom and Liberties
BY: Armstrong Williams
Denial of Individual freedom and Liberties
The federal government has used the guise of Civil Rights to make a grab at American rights. They have used Civil Rights to greatly expand federal powers including the Interstate Commerce Laws, privacy restrictions, and economic control over business. This has placed minorities into a position where mainstream America see the protection of minority rights as hand in hand with the denial of their own individual freedom and Liberties.
In no way am I asserting that the denial of basic rights to American Blacks was appropriate. However, some of the mechanisms by which those rights were delivered, opened the door for concentrated private interest operating through the institution of government to steal American freedom and wealth.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/29/11
The poorer get poorer and the rich get richer
The poorer get poorer and the rich get richer
By: Armstrong Williams
August 29, 2011
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood minorities today is not
racial or ethnic. In fact, the minority I'm referring to comes with
people of every race, color, creed and religion - the wealthy. Make
no mistake about it. Building wealth is one of the most difficult
things someone can do, which is why so few people do it. How few?
Wealth estimates derived from 1998 Federal estate tax return data
show that about 6.5 million individuals in the United States had
gross assets of $625,000 or more and represented about 3.4 percent of
the U.S. adult population. As a group, they owned more than $11.1
trillion in total assets or 32.6 percent of the total U.S. personal
asset holdings. That's 3.4 percent of the population representing
32.6 percent of the country's wealth!
The wealthy are a true minority in the world and are often criticized and ridiculed for
their success in spite of the fact that everyone, given the choice, would
rather try it rich than continue being poor. I don't know where it
originated, but the cliché "the poor get poorer and the rich get
richer" has been in use for some time, implying that the poor will
never rise out of poverty. Is this true? Why do people stay mired in
poverty while others can pass on generational wealth?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/26/11
We can handle the truth
BY: Armstrong Williams
We can handle the Truth
The American people are just plain tired of the lies at this point. No amount of Fed goosing the economy is going to bring back the consumer without more jobs. It’s time to realize that the overall economy has decoupled from the stock market. Despite what the companies look like – flush with cash and impressive balance sheets, one is hard pressed to find major industries with actual demand growth. It’s even rarer to find industries that are hiring people. Most of the newfound fitness in corporate America has come from cutting the fat, and laying people off. But corporate belts have reached the last loophole. They’re as tight as they can get without cutting off their own circulation.
Let’s just call this what it is. It’s not a ‘Great Recession’ anymore. This is a classic depression – a state of the economy when individuals and corporations have to sell their long term assets to fund current necessities. Let’s do away with all the double-speak, and false confidence-inducing rhetoric (stimulus, quantitative easing, low headline inflation, jobless recovery, and all that) and come out and level with the American people. Come on. They already know, and they just want you to say it. Surely there are a few good men in Washington who can handle the truth.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/25/11
"When you fail to plan, you plan to fail"
BY: Armstrong Williams
"When you fail to plan, you plan to fail"
The biggest mistake people make in terms of financial management is that they live only in the here and now, and discount their future needs. Bad move when it comes to your finances. You have to take responsibility now. Make a strict budget and stick to it. Don’t get caught in a cycle of credit debt that prevents you from saving for the future. Every person can and should start planning for the future today. Sadly, many people postpone planning for retirement. Either they don’t want to take time and effort away from their present activities, or they assume that they lack the financial abilities to be truly successful. Neither reason is valid. Really, it comes down to daily financial management.
You have to prioritize your financial expenses. Instead of taking out loans to buy a larger home or a flashier car, make it a point to live below your means. Stop spending foolishly on weddings and budget that money for future unexpected financial challenges. Never go in credit card debt for today’s needs. Make sure you have some financial padding to cover emergencies such as illness, or temporary unemployment. Most importantly, set aside 12% of your earnings for the future. Then make sure you grow that retirement savings by diversifying your risks, and investing with a sound long term strategy. That’s the surest way to join the ranks of America’s millionaires. Of course, you’ll never see that common sense bit of advice on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But it is the best way to enjoy better lives down the road.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/24/11
Calling for Leadership
BY: Armstrong Williams
Calling for Leadership
The fire of popular discontentment that has consumed the Middle East and is rapidly spreading in Europe may well leap across the oceans to America. The conditions are ripe for conflagration -- the tinder is dry, and the powder keg is close at hand. The consequences of the recent government budget cuts have yet to hit home for the average American, but it will soon. And, compounding already high unemployment and declining social benefits, the American people are suffering from political and business leadership that is woefully out of touch with the masses. To wit President Obama’s massive spending on national health insurance instead of focusing on jobs; Wall Street’s arrogant insistence on keeping its’ tax allowances for luxury expenditures while the rest of the country scrambles to survive; the frightening inability of both parties in Congress to look beyond anything but their own reelection and sectarian interests; the downgrade of American debt by the ratings agencies, and the rapid debasement of individual savings caused by massive Fed money printing.
Although these problems are overwhelming they are not insurmountable with good Moral Leadership.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/23/11
The stalled economy
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Stalled Economy
Let us recap: When the stimulus packaged was passed by Congress , President Obama assured Americans that this huge unfunded spending proposal was necessary to keep unemployment from rising and would restore growth to the recessionary economy. On July 11, 2009 President Obama said the stimulus package “worked as intended...” “The recovery plan was not designed to work over four months. It is designed to work over two years (my emphasis)…" Unfortunately this is not how the stimulus package was sold to the American people. In his January 24th 2009 radio address the President said the purpose of the stimulus plan is “to immediately (my emphasis) jumpstart job creation as well as long-term economic growth.” Immediately is not two years. In fairness to Obama, he also told the American people that “this is not just a short-term program to boost employment. It’s one that will invest in our most important priorities like energy and education; health care and a new infrastructure.” In other words, the real purpose of the stimulus package was to substantially increase government spending using economic stimulus and job recovery as a smoke screen to sell the American people. Unfortunately, at the time, mainstream media was too intoxicated with Obama mania to point out the real purpose of the stimulus package to the American people.
At this point, very few economists and businessmen see light at the end of the recessionary tunnel. When the $78720Billion package was passed by Congress in February 2009, the unemployment rate was 8.1%. If the purpose of the stimulus package was to keep employment from increasing beyond 8.1% and to stimulate economic growth, it has so far failed. Since February 2009, the unemployment rate increased to 9.5% and is expected to exceed 10% by the end of 2011. US Gross Domestic Product is expected to have declined about 1-2% in the 2nd quarter after declining 5.7% in the 1st quarter. Clearly, the fiscal policies and the proposed agenda of the Obama administration have not yet helped mitigate the recession. However, if the purpose was to substantially increase government spending, it has succeeded.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/22/11
Crises produce times of political detente
BY: Armstrong Williams
Crises produce times of political detente
Historically, great crises produce times of political détente in Washington. The Social Security crisis of the early 80s. The deep recessions and subsequent Kemp-Roth reforms of 1981. The September 11th terrorist attacks. Those are but three examples of when both parties came together to enact some difficult but landmark policies. And in the wake of those tough fights where both sides gave a little, there was an era of comity. Oh it didn’t last for long, but it was there. It was a time when legislators were reminded of why they came to Washington in the first place. They reflected on their great stations in history, and how the threads of their own stories would weave into the fabric and future of this nation.
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08/17/11
Will they return and show real leadership?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Will they return and show real leadership?
Whew, aren’t we glad that is over…for now.
It’s been a few weeks since lawmakers took this country to the precipice of financial ruin, seemingly reveled in their fleeting power to do so, and then gingerly backed us all away. I can’t help but think they actually enjoyed the ride. Lord knows we watched every minute unfold in excruciating detail. And at every turn, lawmakers were not laboring in sweats, up at all hours of the night. No, they golfed with each other, sauntered over to the West Wing and sat around while press pools took pictures.
Then they had the audacity to troll out to the microphones, after presumably making sound, principled arguments for why we couldn’t go the other party’s direction, and proceed to rip their opponents’ heads off in the media.
How many times did we see such shenanigans played out? On both sides?
Then in the final minutes, cooler heads prevailed. The president looked presidential (finally). The Speaker and congressional leaders came together and cut a deal to raise the debt limit. Only they didn’t strike a “grand bargain.” In classic congressional gamesmanship, they kicked the can down the road. Sure, tough decisions were made, but not the toughest. Not the ones that would set us on a path out of default. They agreed to come back in a few months and finish the hard work.
Will they and can they do the hard work and show real leadership when they return after Labor Day?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/16/11
Global warming is irrevelant
BY: Armstrong Williams
Global warming is irrelevant
Readers, Readers, Readers: I'm agonizing and debating my thoughts, slightly. What I have argued and debated in the past is that industrial activity - anthropogenic activity - has consequences, e.g. the putting of large amounts of carbon based materials into the environment. Whether that causes "global warming" I don't know and I submit can't be proven given the paucity of the data base - how can you prove an underlying climatic cycle that may be hundreds or thousands of years long in periodicity with just about 100 years of so of truly detailed and reliable data? And, once you understand that base cycle you still have to prove that there is a causal connection - not a spurious correlation - between any observed deviation and the base cycle. So, no...I don't agree that there is a demonstrable/proveable "anthropogenic component of global warming." What there is, however, is a change in the chemistry of the world's oceans due to its service as a carbon sink for the planet. I truly don't know if that's changed the weather, or, if so, how and how much it has done so. Those that say they know are engaging in faith-based statements, not science as I was taught it. In fact, to make a stronger statement, it is pretty much infeasible to say anything "scientifically" about cosmology - the origin, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe - as it is a single-run system. Remember, a science experiment is demonstrable, repeatable and measurable. How do you do that with the origin of the universe? That's why things like the big bang THEORY are just that.....theories. And things like gravity and aspects of thermodynamics can be termed laws. We can run experiments in gravity and thermodynamics - repeatable and measurable ones - and when we observe things that are invariant, we can call them laws: law of gravity, first and second laws of thermodynamics etc.
Now, given you now know what I really think, whether it is connected with global warming or not, carbon-based pollution is just that...pollution. I'm anti-pollution, so I would support reasonable, commensurate steps to combat carbon-based pollution. And, yes, in addition to being pro-tree, I am also pro-children. In fact, I'm so "pro-children" that I think they shouldn't be arbitrarily destroyed in their mothers' wombs, but that's a different argument.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/15/11
Social unrest, justified and unjustified
BY: Armstrong Williams
Social unrest, justified and unjustified.
The fire of popular discontentment that has consumed the Middle East and is rapidly spreading in Europe may well leap across the oceans to America. The conditions are ripe, the tinder is dry, and the powder keg is close at hand. The consequences of the government recent budget cuts have yet to hit home for the average American. But compounding already high unemployment and declining social benefits, the American people are suffering from a political and business leadership that is woefully out of touch with the masses. To wit President Obama’s massive spending on national health insurance instead of focusing on jobs; Wall Street’s arrogant insistence on keeping its’ tax allowances for luxury expenditures while the rest of the country scrambles to survive; the frightening inability of both parties in Congress to look beyond anything but their own reelection and sectarian interests; the downgrade of American debt by the ratings agencies, and the rapid debasement of the U.S. currency by massive Fed lending.
Let us not be as clueless as the leaders of Britain and the Middle East. Why is it so obvious to us that the repressive regimes in Tunisia and Egypt had outlived their time, and clueless to the fact that those same influences are forcing change in our society?
It is crucial that the under privilege people in this nation recognize that the opportunities for financial success still exist and that no one is depriving them of those desires, unlike many of the other nations of the world. They should not be confused and must recognize that the American dream, which is a foundation of our nation is alive and thriving.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/04/11
Putting In Work
Putting In Work:
By Armstrong Williams
Now that the debt ceiling charade is over (for now) and the politicians have smugly retreated to their lavish homes and offices (Abandoning the FAA in the process), the average American is faced with the stark reality. How are we going to get back to work to rebuild the wealth that was lost over the past few years?
Let’s clear the air first. No matter what Washington promises about creating jobs, it can’t deliver. That would be like Dorothy and her friends expecting the Wizard of Oz to grant them some brains, heart and courage along with a ticket back to Kansas. It just won’t happen. Look at what has happened in America thus far. Despite the massive, debt-fueled bailout of the big banks and automakers, banks haven’t started lending again and employment remains anemic. While the perverse logic of Washington and Wall Street might tell you that incurring massive additional debt will lead to growth, main-street is not so naive. The average consumer and business owner has refused to take on additional debt. Consumers are paying down credit cards and declining new offers. Businesses are exchanging debt for equity at a growing pace. This deleveraging process is likely to continue for some time, and the American consumer is not likely to be the work horse of the international economy in the future. Getting rid of debt and excess spending is a good thing for our country.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/02/11
The other things
BY: Armstrong Williams
The other things:
I can't but think that the "original sin" in getting us to where we are now (on the brink of the Today's Aug 2 limitation on borrowing - it is NOT a default date as there would have been plenty of money to pay the Treasuries that are due [couple trillion in receipts and a few hundred billion in debt service] - the real issue is that without further borrowing, it is the OTHER things the USG does that it won't have the money to do) is this: Why didn't the POTUS use the vast power of writing the budget to set his priorities in this coming fight. I think this is a FUNDAMENTAL mistake on his part. Had he sent a serious document to the Congress, they would've had to contend with it. As it was, he sent something so execrable that it got not a single vote, R or D, losing 97-0. This was not just a tactical error, it was an abdication of his real duty to propose serious legislation. It boggles my mind that a president wouldn't do that. In fact, one of the problems with this whole process is that we've ignored 'regular order' - you know, proposing a bill, referral to committee, hearings, markups, then vote out of committee and to the floor for debate/vote. We used to CONSIDER legislation, now we argue about really important things: TARP, Obamacare, now the debt limit, until a vote is jammed through (less the world come to an end). No debate worthy of the name, no regular order, and NO deliberation. It is a terrible way to make policy. In fact, it reduces policy to the political. That is a shame, regardless where you stand on the political spectrum.
But, the point of this little missive was to point out where we started off the tracks: no credible budget submission by the administration. I believe the likeliest explanation is that BHO was determined to make the R's detail their preferred cuts to entitlements (all the better to demagogue with) - he's done this, but he never submitted a real proposal (as the head of the CBO said: "we don't score speeches"). I should also point out that the only proposals that have been actually submitted as legislation and voted on are from the R's: the Ryan budget, and the cut-cap-balance. The latter only lost for the lack of four votes switching in the senate. I would also point out that both Switzerland and Germany have balanced budget provisions in their basic laws, so this is not a Neanderthal proposal. And deficits can be run and taxes raised under the proposal but they require super majorities (2/3, I'd prefer only 3/5 but they didn't ask me).
Why are we repeating the mistake of GHWB? What good is it to give this administration more money to play with? Or, what good does it do to propose raising taxes on anyone in challenged economic times? This first step Debt ceiling measure which easily passed the House yesterday - and it is only a first step - has to be about spending reductions. Then we get to tax reform and entitlement reform for the long run in turn. In fact, that is what we MUST do now. We simply don't have time for anything else. We'll see the Senate finalize extending the debt limit for the short term today while tax/entitlement reform/further spending cuts are worked. There aren't the votes for anything else. Of course, we can always miscalculate. And, BHO has shown nothing if not the ability to miscalculate throughout this one: foregoing the chance to send a real budget; thinking he could 'stare down' or otherwise intimidate R's into tax rate increases, etc.
We'll see. What should have taken several days to accomplish in both chambers of congress, actually dragged on for several months at the expense of we the people. This is what they call high drama and the eleventh hour deal which is sealed just before the clock strikes midnight. Shame, Shame, Shame. When will American's finally awaken to the fact that both sides are one and the same.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
08/01/11
Sins of the father
BY: Armstrong Williams
Sins of the father
Once again, the civic leaders inside this city leave a mark that’s just as soon forgotten. This time, Marion Christopher Barry, the son of Washington’s former mayor, Marion Barry, was indicted on possession of drugs and PCP.
Insert your favorite joke here about the apple not falling too far from the tree or whatever euphemism you care to use.
Apparently, Marion Jr. was dealing the same substances his father was notorious for while running this city. And when the 5-0 came knocking, Junior jumped out his window and fled. At least he was smarter than the old man to have an apartment where a jump wouldn’t kill him. It was only a matter, of time, however, before he returned to his apartment and was arrested.
This is sad, folks. Just sad. But I guess we all have to step back and ask, “What did we expect?”
In 1990, Barry the Elder was deep into his third term as mayor of Washington. But that ride came to an abrupt end as he was caught in an FBI sting operation that filmed the public official smoking crack cocaine and blaming everyone but himself for his actions.
Unfortunately episodes and recurrences like the Barrys’ happen every day in America. The sins of the father spill over onto the son. Why? They learn this behavior. There is no authority figure in the home to set what’s right from wrong for the children.
We know children, they are led by example, and when the only example they have to follow is that of a criminal deviant, deviancy soon follows.
WARNING: shameless plug about to occur!! This is exactly one of the issues I discuss in my new book, Reawakening Virtues (available in your favorite bookstore or online at Amazon.com). How can society ever hope to better itself when parents don’t wake up, stand up, and shape up to be more active participants in how their children are raised.
When parents do more in the home, society as a whole benefits. There’s no better social program than a good home. No, good homes don’t always exist, but so long as parents carelessly shirk their duties to raise their children in good, honorable, and morally-sound directions, we’ll see more Marion Barry’s in court and prison.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/29/11
The path to wealth building
BY: Armstrong Williams
The path to wealth building
The fastest way to build wealth is to associate with the right people. Likewise, the fastest way to the poorhouse is to associate with the wrong people or try to achieve wealth independently. You cannot get rich on your own. If you develop relationships with successful individuals, you will greatly enhance your opportunities for financial stability. Finding a mentor who can advise and counsel you about your personal situation is a great way to learn the ins and outs of the financial world. Mentors not only provide positive reinforcement and a vast amount of real life knowledge, but they help provide connections, business opportunities, and potential partnerships. Even if these relationships don’t prove to be financial booms, they allow you to expand your network and improve your business and communications skills. Finally, examine your social scene and beware of those who are negative, jealous, and consumed with envy and are hurting your chances to succeed and realize your true entrepreneurial potential.
Like anything else, building wealth takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and focus. If you truly want to experience financial stability, then you absolutely must be willing to sacrifice and spend the necessary time to achieve your goals. Besides creating a strong work ethic, you must cultivate your creative side and continually challenge yourself to be innovative and thinking outside the box. Leaving your comfort zone is a key aspect of improving innovation. You must be willing to try new things, experience different customs, and participate in unusual situations so that your breadth of knowledge grows wider. The more creative you become, the more your hard work will pay off.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/28/11
Billionaire Assets
BY: Armstrong Williams
Billionaire Assets
Money itself is inert, and like an idea, it has no value unless it is actively employed or exchanged to get work accomplished. And just like an idea can be good or bad, money can be used constructively or destructively.
When money is used constructively, money creates or buys an asset. An asset is something that creates income, can appreciate in value, and sometimes allows for tax advantages like a piece of real estate or a business. I would also add that the best assets to have are those that make you a return on your investment (i.e. puts money back in your pocket). When money is used destructively or irresponsibly, it creates a liability. A liability is something that depreciates in value, increases your expenses, or in accounting terms that means takes money out of your pocket. Credit card debt, also called consumer debt, is the best and most extreme example of a liability because you continue to pay for something that provides you no benefit. Cars, for example, are another liability because they decrease in value over time and you pay insurance and maintenance. Unlike the credit card debt, they do provide the benefit of transportation.
Building wealth is all about acquiring assets with assets. (A job is not an asset because you do not own it and you have no equity from it you can pass on to someone else like you can with a business or real estate). A person is an asset (or a liability!) and that’s why companies have human resource divisions—to locate and place their assets. What determines if people are assets (or liabilities) are two things everyone has: a body and a mind. From the neck down a person’s labor is worth about $20/hr. So what is a person’s value from the neck up? Billions of dollars. Thought process is the only thing separating a janitor from a professor or a ditch digger from a billionaire. How do we think about how we spend our time and money?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/27/11
The will of the people
The will of the people
By Armstrong Williams - 07/27/11 08:53 AM ET
The president's speech Monday night was typical of his entire presidency; he demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of fundamental economics and leadership.
Once again he implicated President Bush as the cause of all our economic problems. Once again he demonized the rich without acknowledging the fact that the leader of his own party, Harry Reid, put forth a plan that includes no increase in taxes on anyone. This is because Reid recognizes that the additional revenues that would be generated by increasing taxes on the rich wouldn't come close to solving the problem.
Calls for such increases are gimmicks to stoke the fires of class warfare and to garner more political support for himself. Obama obviously thinks that we are extraordinarily simplistic and don't have the ability to open our eyes and truly understand this economic crisis. He believes if he repeats something enough, many will begin to believe that it is fact. I believe that he will be shocked to discover that we the people are not as naive as he is.
Or perhaps I am wrong; perhaps the American people are naïve; perhaps if he repeats himself enough times, then what he says really will be taken as fact. The possibility is frightening. Can our country survive another term under President Obama? Will Obama follow the fate of Bush I? Can he truly be serious about raising taxes in this struggling economy ? Are many in this nation, and his blind followers, really unable to see the painstakingly clear economic ineptitude exemplified by our president? There are so many questions but so few answers.
Maybe an egregious and continuing failure in the presidency is what it will take for the American people to reawaken to the fact that this is our country and the government works for us! The future of this nation should not be at their whim, or held hostage to silly budget negotiations. The future of this nation is, and should be, the will of the people!
07/26/11
America's Deepening Immorality
America’s deepening immorality
By Armstrong Williams - 07/26/11 08:51 AM ET
An utterly riveting cable TV show called “Love Crimes of Kabul” follows the stories of Afghan women who have been imprisoned for breaking strict Sharia law governing sex outside of marriage. Their crimes would be hardly recognizable in the United States: adultery, fornication, prostitution and lewd behavior have become pretty much the norm here.
In one fascinating episode, a young woman has become pregnant while unmarried. Her parents turn her in to the authorities in disgrace. Her father laments that each time he goes out in public he shields his face out of shame. The neighborhood gossip is unbearable, cries the mother. Her lover is also charged and awaits trial in a neighboring jail.
As the episode develops, the parents attempt to negotiate a quick wedding. If they get married before the trial, perhaps the judge will be more lenient — prison sentences for moral crimes range from two to 15 years in Afghanistan. The situation presents a hardship for both families. The young man comes from a poor family and has no job or dowry to offer. The young woman’s family laments that if she does not get married she faces the prospect of raising her child in prison — and when she gets out she would have no viable options for marriage (in Afghanistan, virginity is a prized asset). After a series of negotiations conducted by the young man’s uncle, the handcuffed couple gets married in family court just before they are set to face trial.
The judge hears the case. He reviews the evidence — including a confession by the young woman, a medical test confirming her pregnancy and eyewitness accounts from a neighbor who caught them in the act. He concludes that they are guilty. However, he notes, the strength of the family unit is a fundamental value in Islam. He considers the fact that they are now married, and urges them to return home to raise their family in earnest. He sentences them to time served. The newlyweds are elated. The families are happy because their honor has been restored.
Let’s pan to America circa 2011. A young unmarried woman has a child out of wedlock. Nothing happens. The father abandons her and the baby girl. He is not held accountable. The young lady is poor, has trouble raising the child alone, and therefore neglects her. The toddler goes missing. A massive search ensues. The young woman goes out and parties like a rock star. Eventually the toddler’s decaying corpse is found in the woods with duct tape covering her mouth, discarded like a piece of trash. A media circus ensues. The woman is charged with murder. It gets even more sordid. Her winning defense is that she lied about the "accidental" death of her child because of the trauma of sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her own father. She is acquitted by a jury of her peers.
Which outcome would you rather have? A dead child or a strong young family supported by the community?
Comments (17)
07/25/11
A terrible gamble
A terrible gamble
By Armstrong Williams - 07/25/11 08:34 AM ET
If you’ve been living in the United States during the past three months and you're not aware of this “debt crisis” everyone inside the Beltway is talking about, then you’re living under a rock.
The sad truth is, the rest of the world knows about it as well, they’re watching, and let’s just say they’re even more scared than we are on these shores. The reason? The U.S. dollar acts as the reserve currency for hosts of commodities traded every second of every day around the world. Further, the dollar also acts as the “pegged” currency from which many more goods and services are linked, most notably oil.
And for anyone waking up yesterday in London, they would have read this headline in the The Sunday Times: “WASHINGTON PLAYS POKER WITH WORLD ECONOMY.” The editorial from which that headline came goes on to say, “It would be unthinkable now were it not for a dangerous stand-off between the White House and Congress over the country’s debt. … With this humiliating and destabilising threat hanging over them, one would expect politicians in Washington would be rushing to strike a deal. Far from it. They are engaged in a game of political brinkmanship. The U.S. economy is in danger of looking alarmingly dysfunctional.”
Dysfunctional, ladies and gentlemen. And after the weekend’s events, I have to say I’m not sure what sort of poker game House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is trying to play, let alone win.
I’m on a roll with this “poker” analogy, so let’s keep it going. Both the White House and congressional Republicans are holding measly hands, say, a jack and 10 off-suit. The rest of their hand is full of meaningless low cards, and they’re essentially drawing dead. They’ve both gone all in, and at best, they will split the pot.
Yet here we find ourselves barely 10 days from “Debt-ageddon” and it seems both sides are trying to out-bluff and out-maneuver the other. For what? What would it accomplish? Are these politicians so hell-bent on beating the other side that they have forgotten why they’re working round the clock — to save the financial health of the country?
Let’s be honest, both sides are to blame here, so they should stop jockeying for more political points, because it will do neither any good.
Of course, if the Speaker keeps up this “exit strategy” where he leaves seemingly every other day, then Americans may decide at whose feet they would lay responsibility. Even a recent Fox News poll said Americans would blame congressional Republicans, not the president, if the U.S. were to default on its loan obligations. That’s a Fox poll, folks. That should scare Republicans, but more importantly, it should tell them that, even if they are right on the mission here (which they are), they’re doing a terrible job of sharing that with the American people.
Either way, this is a terrible gamble to make. I’d just as soon see both sides fold and start the talks fresh than risk going right up until the deadline with no deal. Every day they dawdle, the world’s financial markets squirm at such political brinksmanship.
Comments (5)
07/22/11
A dumb move
A dumb move
By Armstrong Williams - 07/22/11 08:49 AM ET
As Washington, Wall Street and virtually every other major institution in this country remained engrossed this week in the ongoing debt-ceiling negotiations, another federal feat occurred that received very little fanfare even though it has broad implications for our country.
I’m referring to the landing of NASA’s final mission of the shuttle Atlantis following its last 13-day mission.
That’s right, folks, after yesterday, there will not be another human spaceflight for at least four to five years, according to industry experts.
You see, someone at the White House had the bright idea that the federal government shouldn’t be in the manned exploration of space business anymore, but rather the private sector should be.
I know what you’re thinking — this is Armstrong Williams arguing for government to do something over the private sector? In this instance, I think it’s smart for the feds to remain intimately involved in how we as Americans explore, understand and ultimately dominate the final frontier.
The talk now is for human spaceflight to be run primarily by private-sector interests, yet bankrolled by NASA. Terrific, now the space agency will transition from recruiting and training the best scientists in the world into acting as government regulators.
And therein lies the problem — this is one area that has not been tested and approved. Notwithstanding the fact that this economy is teetering on the brink of another recession, can we really expect private enterprise to step up when, if anything, entrepreneurs and innovators of all stripes are hedging their bets?
And what of the major talent in science and technology NASA loses by shifting to this new role as overseer? Will companies eagerly move to recruit that talent before a major brain drain occurs?
I just fear a move of this magnitude should have been debated and deliberated more by Congress and other experts. Humans are just beginning to understand the marvels of this universe. Many of the answers to future problems, I believe, do not lie on this planet.
Don’t we limit our potential as Americans if we’re forced to hitch rides into space with the Russians or the Chinese? And if the private sector does in fact keep pace with technological advances, will its aims be equally altruistic, or will the next seat to Mars go to the highest bidder, as opposed to the smartest physicist?
Too many questions and not enough answers make the grounding of our human spaceflight program a very dumb move.
07/22/11
America's Deepening Immorality
America’s Deepening Immorality
By Armstrong Williams
An utterly riveting cable TV show called the “Love Crimes of Kabul” follows the stories of Afghan women who have been imprisoned for breaking strict Sharia law governing sex outside of marriage. Their crimes would be hardly recognizable in the United States: adultery, fornication, prostitution and lewd behavior have become pretty much the norm here.
In one fascinating episode, a young woman has become pregnant while unmarried. Her parents turn her into the authorities in disgrace. Her father laments that each time he goes out in public he shields his face out of shame. The neighborhood gossip is unbearable, cries the mother. Her lover is also charged and awaits trial in a neighboring jail.
As the episode develops, the parents attempt to negotiate a quick wedding. If they get married before the trial, perhaps the judge will be more lenient – prison sentences for moral crimes range from 2-15 years in Afghanistan. The situation presents a hardship for both families. The young man comes from a poor family and has no job or dowry to offer. The young woman’s family laments that if she does not get married she faces the prospect of raising her child in prison -- and when she gets out she would have no viable options for marriage (in Afghanistan, virginity is a prized asset). After a series of negotiations conducted by the young man’s uncle, the handcuffed couple gets married in family court just before they are set to face trial.
The judge hears the case. He reviews the evidence – including a confession by the young woman, a medical test confirming her pregnancy, and eyewitness accounts from a neighbor who caught them in the act. He concludes that they are guilty. However, he notes, the strength of the family unit is a fundamental value in Islam. He considers the fact that they are now married, and urges them to return home to raise their family in earnest. He sentences them to time served. The newlyweds are elated. The families are happy because their honor has been restored.
Let’s pan to America circa 2011. A young unmarried woman has a child out of wedlock. Nothing happens. The father abandons her and the baby girl. He is not held accountable. The young lady is poor, has trouble raising the child alone, and therefore neglects her. The toddler goes missing. A massive search ensues. The young woman goes out and parties like a rock star. Eventually the toddler’s decaying corpse is found in the woods with duct tape covering her mouth, discarded like a piece of trash. A media circus ensues. The woman is charged with murder. It gets even more sordid. Her winning defense is that she lied about the ‘accidental’ death of her child because of the trauma of sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her own father. She is acquitted by a jury of her peers.
Which outcome would you rather have? A dead child or a strong young family supported by the community?
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/21/11
Rational Exuberance
Rational Exuberance:
By Armstrong Williams
We have to face the fact that tough times lie ahead. But just because we all might have to tighten our belts, does not mean we should fall pray to a gloomy outlook. In times of struggle, we must take comfort in the certainty that the economy will once again rebound, and times of plenty must eventually return.
An economy is life writ large. It is a word that conveys sum individuals’ hopes, desires, ambitions, triumphs and frustrations. At any given time, these individual trajectories are going in all directions. As one company goes bankrupt, throwing thousands of people out of work, a leveraged-buyout firm finds it can buy the leftover assets at a fire sale price. It cobbles together the bones of defunct companies and breathes life into them, giving rise to new opportunities for employment and shareholder wealth.
The falling dollar has, for some, signaled a falling sky, a dimming horizon. But for others, the dollar’s decline has given rise to a whole new world of opportunity. As the value of the U.S. dollar falls, imported goods become more expensive, and domestic industries, long thought dead, spring life again. Look at companies like American Apparel, one of the few U.S. clothing retailers that rely on domestic manufacturing. The U.S. textile industry, a dominant international force a hundred years ago, fell prey to cheap manufacturing in Asia and other foreign countries. Today, most of our clothing is made abroad. But companies like American Apparel, who manufactures their clothing domestically at a Los Angeles, California facility, finds their businesses flourishing amid a diminished import market.
The bright side of high fuel costs and a weak dollar is that is makes it more difficult for foreign imports to displace American products. In fact, because of the weak dollar, American assets are particularly attractive abroad.
During times of struggle, whether individually or collectively, we would do well to look ahead to the coming bounty and prepare for it. We should not get so consumed by our hardships that we fail to see the good that can become of them – or rather what we make of them. This is a time for rational exuberance. We know we will get through this, and when we do, we, as a nation will be fitter, stronger and better adapted to the realities of this brave new world. It is just a matter of time.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/20/11
We are in desperate need of Superior Leadership
BY: Armstrong Williams
We are in desperate need of Superior Leadership:
There is another dilemma facing politicians regarding the debt ceiling. If the debt ceiling is not increased, the US government will have to make drastic cuts in spending. This will have a negative impact in the short-term on both the economy and the AAA credit rating of US debt by the rating agencies. According to a recent WSJ/NBC poll, 55% of Americans believe that not raising the debt ceiling will create serious problems. Unfortunately, if the debt ceiling is increased without a major restructuring of the government’s budget leading to a balanced budget, the deficits and national debt will continue to grow. This will also have a negative impact on the long-term prospects for the economy and the government’s credit rating. Furthermore, it will push the deficit and debt crisis into the future where it will be even more painful to solve.
In the debate on raising the debt ceiling above the current level of $14.3 trillion, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have a winning political strategy. Both parties agree that the current and projected deficit is too large. The best solution to balancing the budget and reducing the national debt depends on one’s political philosophy. If you are a conservative, you want to cut spending, including entitlement spending, and reduce marginal tax rates. Let private sector growth generate increased individual income and increased tax revenues. If you are a liberal, you want to keep government big, increase entitlements and finance it all with other people’s money, i.e. increased taxes on the rich. While that path may not grow the income of the country as fast as the conservative philosophy, liberals believe that Americans will be better off because elected politicians, not the free market, will “fairly” allocate and redistribute America’s income according to their political goals.
Fortunately for the Republicans’ election prospects in 2012, but unfortunately for America, on President Obama’s watch the economic recovery has been a disaster. The only thing that matters to most Americans right now is jobs and economic well-being. When Mr. Obama took office in January 2009, the labor participation rate was 64.8% compared to 64.1% in June 2011, and the unemployment rate was 8% versus 9.2% today. Voters are much less concerned about political philosophy than their actual economic well-being. Consequently the political debate over the debt ceiling is a sideshow for most Americans. The political class needs to accept the fact that neither side will be able to emerge with a clear victory from the debt ceiling debate, which is merely one battle in a much larger ideological conflict.
Read Armstrong Williams, author of the brand new book Reawakening Virtues, content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/19/11
Our nation's future is at stake !
BY: Armstrong Williams
Our nation's future is at stake !
The Congress now faces a choice. It must choose between the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. One or the other is certain. If House and Senate members take the easy way out of these debt talks, they and this nation will come to regret those actions. Regret defined here is an emotional and intelligent dislike for personal past behaviors. And that is clearly what they, and we, will face if we don’t turn this corner toward fiscal austerity.
The pain of regret will leave its scar for years. Even if we extend the debt ceiling in some artificial or short-term way, regret will still haunt us. For it will mean that policymakers weren’t prepared to make the difficult and lasting decisions to avoid such calamities in the future. That is why this debate embodies so many other policy discussions. Think about it – future negotiations over taxes, entitlements, new programs, old programs – they will all hinge on how this Congress emerges from these discussions. Will both sides agree that enough is enough, and put an end to the credit card mentality that has gripped this government?
The pain of discipline is equally unpleasant. I won’t mince words. It will not be easy or free of deep afflictions. We passed that threshold decades ago. Discipline means the tough decisions were made in the name of long-term dividends. We will surely benefit if Congress can get a grip on its spending habits. More importantly, our economy will breathe a little easier and run more smoothly without the crushing saddle of debt.
Yes, folks, it’s time to remind policymakers and every American that these debt negotiations will bring pain the likes of which we have not seen as a prosperous nation. But the first step toward economic recovery is first acknowledging the inevitable.
The stakes are getting higher. These next few days are critical.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/18/11
McConnell plan a red herring
BY: Armstrong Williams
McConnell plan a red herring
The Hill reporters Erik Wasson and Alex Bolton each had a unique perspective on the debt talks coming out of the weekend with regards to Senator Mitch McConnell’s “plan B.” This of course is the fallback plan that would give President Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling on his own, with a few caveats and demands along the way.
The more I study this, the more I agree with those Wasson interviewed regarding the outcome. Nothing good, neither politically nor policy-wise, can come of this effort.
Yes, the plan would raise the debt ceiling, but at what cost?
First of all, I fear McConnell’s motivations for granting this authority to the White House are less than noble. If pressed, I think McConnell himself would agree he’s trying to score political points on this and help his Republican counterparts in the House.
But this fallback plan has no long-term intentions or goals. Like most initiatives coming out of both the House and Senate, it merely kicks the can down the road, all while “sending a message.” We don’t need any more of those types of negotiations.
I’m glad the likes of Sen. Marco Rubio told The Hill’s Bolton, “The problem isn’t the debt ceiling, it’s the debt.” Truer words have never been spoken.
If the rank-and-file on both sides of the dome get this, how come the leadership does not?
Just look at Senate Majority Leader Reid. He’s been going along with the McConnell fallback option. That alone should tell you something’s not right. It’s clear he’s willing to give the President an increase at all costs, which is another reason to oppose this effort.
The lesson heading into this week is still the same one from weeks prior – there is no “quick fix” and it certainly won’t be easy.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/14/11
Wall Street Weighs in on Debt Talks
BY: Armstrong Williams
Wall Street Weighs in on Debt Talks
Well folks, if you didn’t think it was crunch time for lawmakers in Washington, it’s clear now. Talk is cheap. That’s not me saying it. That’s one of the big three credit agencies, Moody’s Investor Service, which threatened yesterday after the markets closed that the U.S. risked losing its top-notch credit rating if it couldn’t fix the debt mess.
Some Democrats would see that announcement as proof positive that Republicans are playing with fire here and they should abandon their childish antics to force President Obama to deep spending cuts.
What nonsense.
If the Republicans were to allow the limit on the debt ceiling to be raised, it would give the country what, a two-year reprieve? We need long-term reform and austerity, not short-term political fixes that get us through the next election. That’s how we get in trouble every few years.
What Moody’s announcement does tell me is that gridlock in Washington is not isolated only to the Federal City. That rhetoric and lack of action means something to real-world people out trying to move products, goods and services in a global economy.
Both parties are responsible for this mess. And the sooner lawmakers on both sides stop running to their favorite cable studios after every meeting at the White House to blast the other side with cheap insults, the sooner we can address some serious issues.
I’ve learned one thing this month that should continue to teach future leaders lessons for decades – we can’t afford to have politicians who sit around and do nothing and expect to get reelected. It’s no longer enough to “wait till November” to let elections decide who the winner and loser are in the prior cycle.
Voters should pay close attention to this impasse. Billions of dollars and perhaps trillions more in lost economic activity hang in the balance. Unlike Ireland, Spain, Greece and other countries who either have or come eerily close to default, the U.S. can actually DO SOMETHING about its current fiscal straits. And that does not mean a quick vote to raise the debt ceiling. In effect, all we would be doing is taking out another credit card. We don’t do that at home when we’re tens of thousands in debt. Why should our federal government do the same when we’re trillions in the hole?
The stakes are getting higher. These next few days are critical.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/12/11
Symbolic Independence
BY: Armstrong Williams
Symbolic Independence
South Sudan is a sparsely populated and largely undeveloped land full of lush savanna, jungle and the famous Sud – a vast collection of swamps that form the source of the Nile River in Sudan. Until now, these largely dispersed and independent tribal groups have been joined together in hopes of defeating a common enemy. But it remains to be seen whether they can actually form a strong enough national identity to garner the political and economic capacity they will need to survive as an independent nation. Especially now, any decline in national unity or collective purpose will weaken the new South Sudan considerably. The disparate groups will especially need such unity if they are to effectively negotiate the oil pipeline stranglehold currently enjoyed by the North.
At the end of the day, the logic of two Sudans is hard to fathom. They share so many natural networks; rivers, animal and human migration patterns, and natural resources. The best scenario that could arise from this new period of separation is that each side truly appreciates how much they depend upon the other. The stakes are high for economic cooperation, especially around oil exports, which form the largest share of each economy. South Sudan can neither produce nor export without help from the North. Northern Sudan’s trading prowess and port access is useless without products to sell and distribute.
The optimal scenario is that the two countries would eventually develop a pragmatic approach to matters of mutual concern. But for now, good fences will have to suffice. For the South that means a resolution of the border demarcation in Abyei, the contested, oil rich region around the North South border. For the North, it means that the South must largely stay out of the internecine conflicts in Darfur and Southern Kordufan – something that will be difficult for Southerners given the strong ethnic ties, and the support they enjoyed from those regions during the independence struggle.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/12/11
A role for Sen. McConnell to play
BY: Armstrong Williams
A role for Sen. McConnell to play
I’ll probably get some angry mail for this, but I’m a little disappointed in the Senate Republican leader lately. By any sober assessment, he’s really been sitting on the sidelines of the current debt ceiling negotiations. Rumor was a few weeks ago, House and Senate GOP staff were swapping mixed signals between the two leaders’ offices over what deals would be acceptable to the other chamber.
It’s hard enough to negotiate with Democrats. I can’t imagine first figuring out what Sen. McConnell needs to have in order to move forward with his support.
I’d like to see the Minority Leader take a more forceful role in the talks in the coming weeks. The press corps is certainly willing to give him an audience whenever he speaks. But simply appearing on FOX News Sunday shows doesn’t quite rise to the level that others such as Speaker Boehner and President Obama have elevated themselves to.
A lot hangs in the balance. Many believe the Senate is on the verge of switching to Republican control. Yet if McConnell can’t seem to create a unified voice coming out of his party, that could seriously hamper his electoral chances come next November.
I get it – the Senate is full of 100 individual, often lone voices. But all the more reason for McConnell to try and coordinate as many as he can now. The potential fallout if he does not is evident. You can bet Democrats will skewer Senate Republicans if Sen. Reid starts forcing the rank-and-file to take difficult votes.
I don’t like the way this is shaping up in the Senate. There is less of a Tea Party influence, and more of a good old-fashioned missed opportunity on the part of the Kentucky Senator.
Watch in the coming weeks if McConnell steps up more. He certainly possesses the political gravitas and respect of his colleagues. Now it’s time to see him off the sidelines and into the “game” a bit more on these debt discussions.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/11/11
Stay the course on debt negotiations
BY: Armstrong Williams
Stay the course on debt negotiations
You best settle in folks, because the ongoing debate surrounding the debt ceiling talks between the White House and House Republicans is just starting to get good. Detect a sense of optimism in my writing? You should.
I’m not as optimistic about an impending deal as I am excited over this entire process; IF (and that’s a big “If”) this continues on a current path of both sides doing some real soul-searching on what they can and can’t live without.
We must stay the course. As someone said early yesterday morning, “In Washington, the obvious has become the impossible.” The federal government is no closer to avoiding default on its loans, which makes these negotiations all the more imperative.
We are getting a firsthand view of the difficult issues both parties are facing when it comes to compromise. Neither side will win on this issue. And perhaps the sooner both the President and Speaker Boehner realize that, the quicker we can reach a resolution.
Both parties will be able to go into the November elections claiming victory and the ability to criticize the other party for items and options they put on the table. That’s okay.
What a seminal moment in our nation’s history I feel we are watching here. No, it’s not pretty, but we are seeing the branches of government butting heads and fighting with each other for the good of the country. What would be the absolute worst thing at this time is if both sides felt they had a better option of just walking away from the process and taking their chances next November.
We’ve seen that movie too many times, Mr. and Mrs. America. We cannot afford to wait for another meaningless “mandate of the people” that invariably gets misinterpreted by either winning party.
No, now is the time to stay the course on these negotiations. Small setbacks and walking away episodes are fine, so long as both return, with clear minds, and a fresh perspective on how to fix what has been broken for decades.
We are just in the beginning stages of what will be a long era of fiscal austerity. I applaud both parties in the House and Senate (less the White House, but that’s a topic for a future column) for seeing the legacy-setting moves they are making here today. Policymakers will not fix these ailments in one budget cycle. It’s refreshing to see some long-term thinking on the part of Washington.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/08/11
For one to win, another must lose
BY: Armstrong Williams
For one to win, another must lose.
My parents taught us to respect money, but not to worship it or allow it to possess you. They taught us how to build enduring wealth through an unbreakable value system based on principles and uncompromising virtues. Attaining wealth without faith, compassion, integrity and concern for bringing others along, can lead to emptiness and despair.
The national lottery, "Survivor," "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," "Big Brother," etc., have become staples of our cultural consciousness. These shows and events - and their promise of instant fortune - nourish our secret desires for power and respect. The common thread: all of these game shows carry the suggestion of an alternative, an escape from the daily drudgery of work. They promise that with a million dollars, all of our problems and anxieties will disappear.
The message probably has a special resonance in America where citizens have been weaned on the myth that fortune awaits them. Lacking a sense of genuine cultural history, Americans have been bound together by a common belief in credit. Capitalism is our motherland and our cultural heritage was forged in the post-Civil War boom, when shrewd men took advantage of the Industrial Revolution to secure vast fortunes. From their success, sprang the notion that in America, a better life awaited. This rags to riches theme formed a powerful folklore; one that linked capitalism with the beautiful possibilities of life. The capitalist system is built upon the notion that the friction of workers competing against one another benefits the consumer and thus the economy. The classic definition of capitalism is that for one to win, another must lose.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/07/11
TSA Lack of Respect
BY: Armstrong Williams
TSA Lack of Respect
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~Lord Acton 1887
Have you traveled by air recently? Have you been one of the many lucky enough to be groped by the TSA? Every week there is a report of some TSA agents at some airport in, what I still like to believe, our great nation clearly overstepping boundaries, and every subsequent report is worse than the last.
There is one story that has gotten a lot of publicity recently and rightly so. Apparently a 95-year-old Lukemia patient on her way to an assisted living facility required further screening because there was something "wet" in her diaper. Something wet? In a diaper!? Heaven's No!!
Many of the agents employed at Home Land Security airports are not people of great accomplishment, and are not the most intellectually sophisticated people in our society. Yet when given a badge and some authority they allow the power to intoxicate them in believing they can mistreat and humiliate people at their whim. Unfortunately there seems to be no oversight of this behavior and, in fact, some of the supervisors also engage in this deplorable behavior. While it is true that we need to be vigilant against terrorist activity this should not be done at the expense of the freedom and dignity of our citizenry. We should devote as much attention to being respectful to the constituents of our great nation as we do to protecting it.
After all, the TSA goes through this dog and pony show to make us feel safe, but how safe can we feel when there exists the possibility that we've paid several hundred dollars only to be molested and publicly humiliated by the very same people responsible for our flight safety. Or even worse you could have been the parent forced to watch as your crying 6 year old daughter had her nether regions searched by a government agent fulfilling their duty. Disgusting.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/06/11
Casey Anthony
BY: Armstrong Williams
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE OF MIND
Casey Anthony.
Do we yet have another OJ Simpson like case in which someone who is obviously guilty walks free to the dismay of so many?
The little that we do know as fact is confounding at best. The mother does not report her child missing for a month, that in and of itself is unimaginable. When it finally is reported she relates that the child was abducted by a house keeper that does not exist and then it somehow became her wealthy boyfriend that abducted the child until it became clear that he did not exist. Let us not forget the duct tape found around the baby. How do you explain that in the context of an accidental death? And since when do we put duct tape on our babies? Placing all these facts together stretches the limits of credulity to think this woman is innocent, which is why her lawyers wouldn't allow her to testify. Casey Anthony's hands were obviously unclean, and they were hiding it, but then again that is what they were paid for. The jury had, but did not exercise, an option of returning a conviction less than first degree murder. No justice for the child, and the mother must live the rest of her life with her conscience never at peace.
Yes, the judicial system worked. She faced her accuser and, by a jury of her peers, Casey Anthony was acquitted. But is that enough? Should we as a society just go about our normal lives in the wake of such tragedy? But if we should not, then who among us should stand up and say, “Something’s not right here”?
We live in a world full of gray, I get that. Casey Anthony murders her two year old daughter-by accidental drowning or whatever fantasy you may choose to assign to the unquestionable death of this innocent life- and is found not guilty. Only in America.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/05/11
Enslaved on Independence Day
BY: Armstrong Williams
Enslaved on Independence Day
Every day we as humans are poised to learn lessons, or at least be reminded of them. This week, those lessons should be even more profound as we celebrate our nation’s independence.
It’s funny but sad at how so few Americans truly know what our Founding Fathers faced those centuries ago. As the most powerful army in the world was assembling on the shores of the New World with more soldiers than even our largest cities, these men were assembling in a hall to pen a manifesto of freedom.
At the end of the Declaration, they dedicated their lives, their entire property and their honor to this cause – this commitment to a principle that all persons should live free. Yes, they were willing to give everything for freedom. What sacrifice. What willingness to see a dream so noble come true with so much on the line.
That lesson should be heeded for our nation’s lawmakers today as we move into the final days of this debt ceiling debate. What are they willing to sacrifice beyond their own proximate goal to get reelected? Sure, they say they are speaking on behalf of their constituents, but are they really?
Isn’t it the case that what Americans want most – more than anything else – is the ability to live as free as they can? To live and work and leave a better life for their children? How can that be when our government is doing all it can to ensure our children are enslaved in oceans of debt?
It’s evident to me that freedom is embodied in every last American and what many communicate to me on my radio show and in the thousands of emails and letters I receive. They don’t want to be led. No, these voters and individuals want leaders in Washington to carry out the will of the people. There’s a big difference there. To be led is to say that we are lemmings – less than fully intelligent and waiting for the sage wisdom of those in Washington to lead us to some promised land of Federal largesse. Not so.
What Americans really want is a group of lawmakers with a transcendent principle of freedom constantly acting as the lens through which all policy is viewed. If something enables or inspires individual liberty and freedom (and doesn’t impose some obligation on our fellow man), then they should pursue such policies. That is the will of most Americans, and they want lawmakers to enact that will – not mindlessly lead them where we all don’t want to go.
Let’s think about that as we celebrate our independence this glorious week .
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
07/01/11
An opening for Pelosi
BY: Armstrong Williams
An opening for Pelosi
She doesn’t know it yet, but the week following the July 4th Congressional recess, Rep. Nancy Pelosi has an opportunity to step up on behalf of her party and lead the House, at least, out of its current gridlock over the debt limit debate.
What prompts me to say such a thing is that all eyes are now focused on the President, Speaker Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. That combo alone should cause someone of her great pride and sense of leadership to want to get in the mix.
But set egos aside for a moment, because that’s what ultimately trips up the players in this town. No, the former House Speaker can and should insert herself into the mix by extending an olive branch to the man who bested her and her party and offer to assist House Republicans with a way out of this current stalemate.
There are many plus sides to this tactic. Pelosi knows House Rs could easily roll her and the Democrats in the chamber. She also knows she’s less than two dozen seats from reclaiming the majority. And despite what she told reporters a few weeks ago that her party is in the minority, they don’t have to lead, I believe she could leverage her position for a long-term good.
Think about it, Republicans hold a tenuous grasp on the majority to begin with. Democrats also have now secured their election-year cudgel with which they will bash House Republicans (Medicare). But she has nothing to offer the voters come next November. No new plan or even a good reason why voters should send her party back to Washington in 2012 with the majority.
If she negotiates a deal with Republicans, she can prove to the country that her party is the one interested in solutions and compromise. That Democrats are no longer the party of “No” and they can not only protect vital programs such as Medicare, they’re also in touch with the harsh realities facing this country.
What else does she have to stand on if she disregards this window of opportunity? Nothing. Even the White House is quietly questioning her strength outside of her fundraising prowess. And if President Obama is reelected to another term, the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue will be forced to deal with the current leadership vacuum in the House. Democrats simply cannot do the things for the country Obama wants to do with the stale, same old guard in control.
Something to think about in the coming weeks.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8pm and 4-5am, Monday through Friday.
Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/30/11
Myth of Hiring Unemployed Workers
Congress is considering a tax credit or reduction in employer social security payments to stimulate hiring of unemployed workers. Unfortunately the proponents of these programs show a fundamental lack of understanding of why companies increase employment. Jobs are a by-product of increased sales and revenues. Capitalist companies do not hire workers merely to employ a larger work force. This may happen in socialist economies but certainly not capitalist economies. In a modern capitalist economy, employees are expensive, require management and cannot be easily laid off in the event of incompetence or loss of business. Companies only increase employment because they have additional business that needs to be processed. No business hiresadditional labor because tax credits make it 10% cheaper. It hires additional labor only as the last alternative to servicing its current and expected business. Furthermore, if the company has additional business, then it will hire additional employees regardless of the 10% tax credit. Therefore the tax credit is an inefficient way to increase employment and waste of taxpayer money.
06/29/11
TSA's Lack of Respect
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~Lord Acton 1887
Have you traveled by air recently? Have you been one of the many lucky enough to be groped by the TSA? Every week there is a report of some TSA agents at some airport in, what I still like to believe, our great nation clearly overstepping boundaries, and every subsequent report is worse than the last.
There is one story that has gotten a lot of publicity recently and rightly so. Apparently a 95-year-old Lukemia patient on her way to an assisted living facility required further screening because there was something "wet" in her diaper. Something wet? In a diaper!? Heaven's No!!
Many of the agents employed at Home Land Security airports are not people of great accomplishment, and are not the most intellectually sophisticated people in our society. Yet when given a badge and some authority they allow the power to intoxicate them in believing they can mistreat and humiliate people at their whim. Unfortunately there seems to be no oversight of this behavior and, in fact, some of the supervisors also engage in this deplorable behavior. While it is true that we need to be vigilant against terrorist activity this should not be done at the expense of the freedom and dignity of our citizenry. We should devote as much attention to being respectful to the constituents of our great nation as we do to protecting it.
After all, the TSA goes through this dog and pony show to make us feel safe, but how safe can we feel when there exists the possibility that we've paid several hundred dollars only to be molested and publicly humiliated by the very same people responsible for our flight safety. Or even worse you could have been the parent forced to watch as your crying 6 year old daughter had her nether regions searched by a government agent fulfilling their duty. Disgusting.
06/28/11
There are no sacred cows.
BY: Armstrong Williams
There are no sacred cows
When it comes to executing the decisions that matter, that truly impacts this country for generations to come, three set of people come to mind: those who don’t know what’s happening, those who watch what’s happening, and those who make things happen.
I won’t attempt to draw parallels between the three known political factions with the “doers” versus those who dawdle, for all bear some responsibility of seemingly waiting for something good to happen to them through no actions of their own. But let’s single out that specific category of “those who do” and determine what exactly it will take to turn any member of either party into genuine catalysts for change.
I’ve studied the debt ceiling debate and the impending crisis surrounding it for months now, and a very important characteristics come to mind on what is needed to address and solve this intractable problem.
A critical element to resolving any impasse dealing with spending the people’s money is compromise. As often as the term is tossed about, very few policymakers are willing to practice it, at least not when it comes to debt reduction. Notice how I did not use the word “consensus.” Long viewed as the preferred term of lawmakers because it suggested that both sides moved to the middle of a particular piece of legislation without surrendering one’s key agenda. Today, that can no longer be the case.
We need true sacrifice if the country is to return to fiscal balance. Taken further, that means both sides must acquiesce to significant, painful cuts. There can be no other way. The softer, easier alternatives of the past are just that – in the past. We can’t auction off the Post Office, shutter the Education Department or end federal funding of the NEA to pay for the piles of debt both parties have amassed through the generations.
Cuts, and deep ones at that, must be on the table and proffered by both sides. There are no sacred cows. Every day, Americans understand this truism more and more. They see it in the hard realities of no jobs being created, private investments and innovation being stifled because of federal spending “crowding out” such enterprising pursuits. The federal leviathan is slowly constricting our economy. The voters now understand that. It’s time those they elected did as well, and made some hard choices to address all of our concerns.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/27/11
Why Newt Should Step Down
Another week has passed and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is still in the race for the GOP nomination. Why that is the case is beyond me.
Let’s face it, the only one who believes Newt has a chance is Newt himself, and as time and history have both proved, that’s not enough. In fact, that’s a sure sign the guy needs to drop out of the presidential race.
The entire Republican field has lapped him. They’re pushing hard in Iowa, New Hampshire, even in South Carolina and Florida. They’re making the nation’s former top lawmaker look sort of silly in his views on policies he once knew like the back of his hand (can someone say Medicare?).
C’mon, when you’ve lost your policy compass, your entire fundraising team, and you’d rather go on a two-week cruise in the middle of the presidential season, then it’s time to hang up your spurs and go back to running a health care think tank.
But Newt said over the weekend he’s raring to go. In fact, the loss of his staff was not a setback, but rather a situation that now allows him to feel “liberated.” What many would see as a string of bad luck and a reflection of a weak candidate, Gingrich instead see it as an opportunity to “focus on big solutions” as he told FOX News over the weekend and not match the pattern of Washington insider consultants.
Give me a break. Why is everything with the Speaker a major shift in the forces of the universe – all working together for his good? The fact that his entire team disintegrated in front of him is not a plus. It’s a minus. Only Al Gore or John Edwards would view such twists and abandonment as “liberating.”
Ok, so he wants to put a good spin on the fact that his campaign is unraveling. But therein lies a good lesson in life for Newt to learn – when it’s time to throw in the towel. There are still plenty of good money-making years left in his life, as a consultant.
Give up the White House quixotic pursuit, Mr. Speaker. You are better off, and the country as well, if you return to espousing big, Republican, conservative ideas and letting the pros of this generation run the White House’s current occupant out of a job next year.
06/24/11
Time to call the Democrats' bluff on debt deal
BY: Armstrong Williams
Time to call the Democrats’ bluff on debt deal
Vice President Joe Biden’s bicameral, bipartisan talks went into the ditch early yesterday when House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl – the top Republicans in the negotiations – walked out over a deal that would ultimately involve Republicans agreeing to tax hikes.
A lot of progress had been made heretofore, and Republicans sort of knew when the question would come around to tax hikes to help eat into the nation’s massive debt, it would be gut check time. Republicans have a great argument – this is absolutely the worse time to be raising taxes, on anyone. If you don’t believe there is a ripple effect, just ask the White House why it decided to release millions of gallons of crude from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves. They know that even the slightest bit of relief at any consumer outlet – the pump, the grocery store, even from the Tax Man – has to be a good thing.
So Democrats know they’re playing with a new Third Rail of American politics – tax hikes. And it looks like they don’t want to be electrocuted.
By the same token, we must get a deal. We must begin to eat away at this country’s debt.
So here’s what I propose. We all know the Democrats aren’t truly serious about cutting spending, especially not on their Holy Grails of Social Security and Medicare, even though that’s where the most revenue can and should come.
So call their bluffs. Republicans should go ahead and say they are open to revenue raisers of some sort, but ONLY to the point that the amount of cuts is in direct proportion to the amount that spending ultimately contributed to the national debt. In other words, if the debt totals were the result of eight parts spending, and one part tax relief of the past, then suspend for the time being the fact that tax cuts actually SPUR the economy and mandate one thing: Democrats must agree they will cut eight dollars in spending from the debt for every one dollar they seek to raise in taxes.
I personally believe the ratio is more like 15:1 or even 35:1, but that’s not the point.
There’s no way Democrats will agree to such a deal, so call their bluff on the tax hikes. Because if Republicans don’t, they’ll be susceptible to charges such as the one Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made today that the GOP isn’t really serious about trimming the debt – a classic (yet lame) line used often in this town.
Republicans win either way – we either step closer to ending this constricting debt or Democrats end up looking like fools because they can’t kick the spending addiction they’ve come to love through the decades.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/23/11
Behavior-action-must rule the day
BY: Armstrong Williams
Behavior-action-must rule the day
It’s tempting to simplify and view Washington DC as the lair of three different types of people – Democrats, Republicans, and now the ever-growing Tea Party faithful. Pundits and political scientists are prone to slide the actors of this political drama into these three columns. When you know where one sits, it’s easier to understand where they will stand on the issues of the day.
Yet when it comes to executing the decisions that matter, that will truly impact this country for generations to come, another set of three come to mind: those who don’t know what’s happening, those who watch what’s happening, and those who make things happen.
I won’t attempt to draw parallels between the three known political factions with the “doers” versus those who dawdle, for all bear some responsibility of seemingly waiting for something good to happen to them through no actions of their own.
It is in this instance where lawmakers must examine themselves and prove they are worthy. The pursuit of self-esteem must yield to self-control. We live today in a society where emotion precedes behavior. If lawmakers feel good about a path they are taking, they’re more apt to choose it. Such an outcome will not and cannot occur with the debt. Behavior – action – must rule the day. And those actions of austerity must continue whether a lawmaker feels good about it or not.
America is waiting for its next class of political heroes. And I sense those who step forward and answer the call will be remembered less as Republican or Democrat, and more as those who chose to stop watching the process and started transforming the process.
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06/22/11
Obama's Constitutional Crisis?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Constitutional Crisis ?
Why is our President trying to create a constitutional crisis over the war powers act. Under the war powers act the President can engage in hostile activities for 90 days or he needs congressional approval. It is clear that US is engaged in hostile activities in Libya, when it sends drones to bomb Khadaffi forces and Military targets. It may be less clear when we're spending ten million dollars daily to support the NATO alliance in its aggression against Khadaffi. Nevertheless, a large segment of the GOP and the Democratic Party would have supported Obama's position in Libya if he had chosen to go before Congress. By choosing to ignore the war powers act, the President has set the stage for a constitutional crisis between his right to commit US forces and Congress prerogative to declare War.
Why is our president setting up a confrontation with Congress over Libya?
The principle reason the constitution gives Congress the final authority on war is because the American people must be united in any hostile activities and our forefather's were concerned about President's who would set us on a collision coarse without the approval of we the people.
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06/21/11
Reelection is the arch-enemy of courage
BY: Armstrong Williams
Reelection is the arch-enemy of courage
One thing is certain, the American people are growing tired of those who offer excuses for their inactivity. Earlier this month, a Washington Post poll asked which party Americans trust the most to address the country’s largest problems. A record 20 percent of Americans indicated they put their faith in “neither” party, the highest percentage in over three decades. One in five doesn’t trust either party to set aside its partisanship long enough to tackle the big issues. Think about that; not abortion, or farm credits or even welfare. We’re talking about the ability of our country to meet its financial obligations, and 20 percent of Americans would rather see the milkman take an honest stab at it. Hence the need for “doers”, those who are willing to check their party labels at the door, and, consequences be damned, they’re going to do what they feel is in the best interests of their constituents.
Keep in mind that courage without the first element – compromise – is folly. It’s not enough to get tough with the issues, one must be willing to not only go after someone else’s ox, they must be willing to place their own on the altar of fiscal discipline.
Reelection is the arch-enemy of courage. The two cannot coexist peacefully in this debt reduction climate. At the very least, policymakers must rearrange their priorities to the point where getting elected to office is not the first and last thoughts that dictate the positions they take. It’s happening now with the collection of House Republican freshmen, and it will only fester as voters grow weary of gridlock.
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06/20/11
Run Rick, Run !
BY: Armstrong Williams
Run Rick, Run!
There were a lot of interesting speeches and political talk coming out of this year’s Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans this past weekend, but the one everyone seems to keep mentioning is Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
The Lone Star State chief executive proved he knows a thing or two about states’ rights, the 10th Amendment, and the confiscatory nature of the federal government. Tea Party faithful will like that. Yet the governor has also shown that he can execute. During some lean years around the country where unemployment hovers in the high 9s, Texas posted a May unemployment of a steady 8 percent. Prior to the Great Recession, Texas counted itself as one of the strongest job creators in the private sector, many of whom laid that credit at Perry’s feet.
So it’s no surprise the Texas governor would immediately vault to the top of the GOP nominating ranks if he were to decide to run. But isn’t that expected? It’s also no surprise that the party faithful are less than enchanted with the current crop of candidates, and one more contender of Perry’s background and charisma would certainly shake up the field. It would also test the mettle of Romney and Pawlenty, something the entire process should welcome, for it only makes them more formidable against a strong Democrat opponent.
Perhaps Perry’s strongest trait is his chief executive status of a large, diverse state. Certainly Bush 43 got a bump by virtue of the fact that he heralded from the Republic of Texas. Then there’s the fact he’s a governor, and voters historically like the notion of governors going on to run for president.
Perry’s liabilities are equally clear. He’s from Texas. Americans are still hung over from the Bush era. I’m not sure they’re ready for another candidate who comes closest to mirroring a Bush. Perry is also coming in late to this dance. Some will argue there is still plenty of time, and given Perry’s fundraising prowess, perhaps that’s accurate. But presidential races are growing more and more formulaic through the cycles. As one veteran recently told me, presidential wannabes need to plan as though they are always running, then opt to withdraw. They can’t exactly plan as though they’re not running, only to change their mind and opt in. That latter scenario describes Perry’s “don’t make me do it” situation.
So “run Rick, run.” It’s anybody’s nomination at this point.
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06/17/11
Enduring Lessons of my Father
BY: Armstrong Williams
Enduring Lessons of my Father
Like most parents, my father expected a lot of his 10 children (eight boys and two girls) and he pushed them - by encouragement and the occasional lash - to fulfill their potential. I remember the strong grip of his hands as he taught me how to throw. Just as I remember, with perfect vividness, the strength of his arms as he hugged me after I won the 1976 high school oratory contest, or the abundance of joy in his face as I received my college diploma. More importantly, though, my father was there when I didn't meet his expectations. He taught us the personal satisfaction of doing a job well, but he never abandoned us when we fell short of our aspirations. Beyond the father/son cliches of practicing sports together, dad was always there. It is amazing what men can achieve when their father's believe in them.
My father's idea of manhood was bound up in a deeply spiritual mandate to fulfill one's potential. The values that he taught me - personal responsibility, economic independence, thrift, the importance of having a strong work ethic, the joy of learning, ambition and perseverance - I now realize are essential ingredients to success When we embrace these timeless values, the walls between us fall and other differences - skin color, background and politics - become inconsequential. We see that we all want an essential joy for our families and ourselves. There is more uniting us than there is dividing us.
My father understood that faith and family values were the foundation that helped us navigate our lives. Those same beliefs are what motivate my siblings and I as we go about our lives. Every day we try to model our conduct on the example that my father set. We thank him for teaching us right from wrong and instilling in us the values that have kept us searching and striving to stay on the right side of our Creator.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/16/11
The President and Puerto Rico
BY: Armstrong Williams
The President and Puerto Rico
President Obama gave a speech earlier this week in Puerto Rico. What’s significant about that visit wasn’t the speech, or some new stance on the issue that has been the one consistent question on the part of the Commonwealth – statehood - rather, it was the fact the President chose to visit the place at all.
Not since John Kennedy was president in 1961 has a sitting Chief Executive visited the island. That’s almost 50 years since the leader of that territory – the President to all Americans – visited in some official capacity.
I find that amazing and sad at the same time. It’s sad because this nation needs to feel like a country again – the “united” in United States has frankly exited stage right. We are too consumed with our own individual identities, self-worth, and self-absorption that we have lost all track of what makes us distinctly American and, more importantly, how we share that kindred spirit with each other.
So kudos to the President for this move. While it wasn’t bold in any foreign or domestic policy sense, it does say a lot about this Administration’s desire to reach out to all in the land. Sure, there were political motivations. But are the Republicans more upset at the White House trying to secure a strong Puerto Rican demographic in Florida – a key swing state – or are they mad they didn’t think to send one of Obama’s GOP predecessors there first? Hello George W. Bush…
Suspend the political calculus for a moment and see this visit for what it was – an important check-in by the Commander-in-Chief on a spot of land that is very important to us as a nation.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/15/11
Fair & Logical Taxation
BY: Armstrong Williams
Fair & Logical Taxation
Is it hard to understand why the GOP isn't advocating a major overhaul of our tax structure? Our tax code is so complex that no one, regardless of how compulsive they are, can comply with every aspect of it. Which means that is possible for anyone to be cited for a tax violation at the will of the government. Now it is true that our financial crisis requires an enhanced revenue stream for the government but it is idiocy to attempt to achieve this by higher taxes. There is a much more logical way to achieve enhanced revenue and not destroy the economy in the process, we must reform the system and make it fair and equitable for everyone including the rich who are also we the people. The first step is closing loop holes, which simply allow manipulation and corruption, and second is lowering tax rates to a level that is reasonable for everyone. These measures would include significant simplification of the tax code which, as a bonus, reduces the risk to every tax payer of being cited for an infraction. Since raising taxes consistently results in revenue decreases for the government and lowering taxes consistently increase revenue, a combination of lowering tax rates and closing tax loop holes should result in a windfall for our government while at the same time raising the spirit of the people.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/14/11
Leadership and Indiscretion
Leadership and indiscretions
By Armstrong Williams
What is it that makes us all think we can get away with it? And by all, I mean all men. It seems that across the board, and irrespective of political affiliation, men have failed at exhibiting the better part of valor when it comes to sex. The recent and devastating implosions of once powerful men, whether Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congressman Anthony Weiner or Senator John Edwards suggest a powerful connection between sex, power and the public eye.
But what many forget is the fact that married men cheat all the time. The alarming divorce rate and rate of out of wedlock births alone is proof enough of this. So it should come of no surprise that men who reach the pinnacles of power succumb to some of the same problems that mere mortals struggle with every day. Or should it? After all, people in power know that fame is a double edged sword. It amplifies your successes and failures alike. You would think that discretion in sexual matters would be on the first page of the public figure’s handbook. And yet, time and again, the sexual indiscretions of powerful men spill out of the bedroom and onto the front page.
But this brings up a real question about leadership. Some would question whether a man who has cheated on his spouse and lied about it to the public the way Congressman Weiner did is really fit for leadership. My question is, given what we know now about men in power and a few exceptional women, are they any less qualified once their indiscretions have surfaced than they were before so?
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06/13/11
Joke's on the press after Palin email witch-hunt turns up zilch
BY: Armstrong Williams
Joke's on the press corps after Palin email witch-hunt turns up zilch
It was the biggest non-story story in Washington since Al Gore’s global warming tirades. I’m talking about the release of thousands of emails of former Governor Sarah Palin last Friday in Juneau, Alaska. The release of emails (printed on paper) had reporters forming lines the lengths of which made the O.J. Simpson trial look like a queue at the local Dairy Queen.
News outlets such as the Washington Post publicly heralded their “read em here first” status. Never mind that no reporter had actually spent any time and bothered to read them. The editors just wanted to get the “full coverage” mantra out in order to light up the Google tote board.
That was Friday. By Saturday, a shocking revelation ripped through the nation’s headlines: Palin had a 3rd email account!! Oh, the political tremors that were felt then! No lie, folks. That was the headline if you weren’t following. Surely, there would be something more salacious to uncover, no? I have three email accounts. Does the Washington Post want to put a dozen reporters on the case?
More breaking news revealed from poring over the Lost Scrolls of Palin – she used her email to discuss the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens. Wow, what amazing sleuth work on the part of the mainstream media. Here we have the sitting governor of the state whose most powerful son – the senior Senator – has been indicted and she (gasped) wanted to discuss the matter! Someone call Rod Blagojevich and tell him that’s how one uses email – not to sell a Senate seat to the highest bidder.
And then finally on Sunday, the coup de grace. The Associated Press reporting that Palin’s emails painted her as an “image conscious, driven leader angling for higher office.” Well now, they just described every member of the U.S. House and Senate. Chuck Schumer, look out.
This would be funny if the handling of the release by the media weren’t so sad. If only the press corps threw the same amount of time and energy into uncovering why this Administration can’t seem to create one job in the private sector.
The Huffington Post’s John Linkins said it best on Friday when pondering if the press was really performing a public service, or just wasting a lot of time in scouring through mundane and overall meaningless emails, saying, “…It’s really not hard to think that the joke might somehow be on us.”
Indeed, it is.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/10/11
Privatizing Social Security
BY: Armstrong Williams
Privatizing Social Security
You can only raise taxes or increase the retirement age by so much. The problem of too few workers supporting too many retirees will continue to lurk as long as infant mortality rates continue to decrease and life expectancy continues to increase.
The only way to actually solve the problem is to transfer our Social Security taxes into privately managed universal savings accounts. Under such a system, each individual would be responsible for managing his or her retirement savings. Rather than have money bogged down in a low-yield Treasury bill (as currently is the case), an individual could benefit from much higher rates of return in the stock market.
Under a privatized system, a worker can simply enter into a computer his desired benefits and retirement age. The computer then specifies how much he must withdraw from his salary each month in order to meet those goals. In such a manner, the worker can sculpt his retirement savings to meet his individual needs.
Giving people more of a choice in their retirement planning will better connect them to the economy. Each American will understand that his retirement savings rest in the well-being of the economy. Consequently, the populace will be less likely to make a run on their banks at the first signs of financial tremors.
The free-market economy will strengthen as citizens exert control over their financial well-being, rather than relying upon the government to administer aid like some subtle narcotic.
The alternative is to continue ignoring the problem. Most of our politicians are comfortable with that. Social Security is one of those issues that can only get a politician in trouble — mostly because citizens rely on it, but they generally don't know how it works. That's the real reason that a Social Security overhaul currently lacks enough votes to pass through the Senate — politicians are scared to touch it.
Unfortunately if they don't find the courage to overhaul the system, it is either going to collapse or its maintenance is going to result in crushing tax rates for our children.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/09/11
Gutter Journalism at Newsweek
BY: Armstrong Williams
Gutter Journalism at Newsweek
If you ever needed a reason for why news magazines are starving for attention and consumer dollars, just stroll down the aisle of your favorite supermarket and you can judge this industry by its cover(s) alone. They’re pathetic. They continually fight against their very core to deliver cutting-edge journalism that compiles the top stories of the week, and instead look increasingly like their neighboring world wrestling federation pubs.
I couldn’t believe what I saw last night while in my area bookstore. I had heard about Newsweek’s controversial cover of Governor Mitt Romney and a colleague remarking how “tasteless” it was, but it didn’t hit home until I actually saw it.
There on the cover I saw some gangly body with the head of Mitt Romney photo-shopped on top. The idea was to borrow a theme from the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon” and affix some political twist with a back-handed compliment that all those darn Mormons are just so successful these days… What gives?? As if anyone outside of Manhattan would pick up on such stupidity.
This is beyond poor taste or junior varsity decision-making by Newsweek’s editors. They were clearly trying to make a statement – to mock the Republican’s presidential front-runner and remind everyone who didn’t already know that Mitt Romney was some “crazy” Mormon.
Why is it that Newsweek and other mainstream media publications can feign outrage and trot out all sorts of “isms” when it suits their agendas, yet it’s perfectly acceptable mock others as they deem? Will Newsweek’s editors next run a photo of Rick Santorum on a Catholic cross with some cute headline of his messianic drive toward the White House? Where is the line? And who at Newsweek gets to decide?
The sad commentary here is that Newsweek is now notorious for such infantile moves. And their chief target during the past few years has been Sarah Palin. The magazine’s disdain for the Alaskan governor is palpable. On its Oct. 13, 2008 issue, Newsweek ran an extreme close-up shot of Palin on its cover. Only that one was not photo-shopped, revealing less-than-flattering views of her deep pores, stray facial hair and other blemishes a woman would never want shared. Ever see that with Hillary Clinton when she was running? Let’s put it this way, if the same photo was taken of Vice President Joe Biden, we could probably count the number of ear hairs the man had, as well as how many of his teeth were beginning to yellow.
Not to be outdone, Newsweek followed up with a mid-November 2009 cover of Palin on its cover showing her legs in some high-cut shorts. The shot was actually not taken by Newsweek, but instead bootlegged off a cover shoot Palin did for Runner’s World magazine.
This is a world-class news magazine. Why does it need to stoop to such lows to advance its agenda and tear down conservatives?
Try and think of one shot of President Obama on the cover of a magazine in an equally unflattering light. You can’t.
The Newsweek Romney cover is beyond the pale. Draw a parallel to our sitting president if you disagree.
Would anyone cry foul if Obama were running for president and Newsweek depicted him in the colorful Maasai tribal garb of his father’s African homeland, Kenya? You get the idea and the stereotype formed there. No one would dare accept such an overtly racist depiction. And yet Newsweek shamelessly bashes a man for his religious faith, and we’re expected to view that as all in good taste?
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06/08/11
Calamity vs Opportunity
BY: Armstrong Williams
Calamity v Opportunity
The magnitude of global events over the past few years signals a shift in the world’s geopolitical order. Economic growth in the major developed nations has slowed and the world is looking to emerging economies to drive global expansion. We have been the lynchpin for the global economy for decades, what nations are now prepared to lead the way if the once great US of A continues to spiral economically out of control? America’s identity has been strongly defined by its commitment to the less fortunate, The New Deal, War on Poverty, and social insurance programs have helped America develop social cohesion. However, these same programs are bankrupting and negatively impacting our economy and our human capital is paying a huge price as a result. We should know from the past that the models of Communism and Socialism have not sustained themselves and in many ways have self-destructed. In the long haul capitalism, which built America, is the best model for long existing super powers.
Whenever great change occurs things fall apart, but that is not the end of the story. In the place of old traditions, new ones inevitably emerge. As the world becomes more complex and interdependent, local relationships give way to national relationships and broader interdependencies. To the casual observer, this process of coming together on the global stage might appear chaotic and fraught with uncertainties, but the courageous and far sighted recognize change for what it is: an opportunity to grow.
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06/07/11
The end of Rep. Anthony Weiner
BY: Armstrong Williams
The end of Rep. Anthony Weiner
Shocking revelations yesterday of lewd texts sent via Twitter by New York Congressman Anthony Weiner can only point to one outcome – he must resign.
It’s the best move for him, but more importantly, it’s the best thing for his family, notably his young bride and his nascent marriage.
I felt Weiner did a fairly nice job at his press conference confronting his sins head on. But what undercut his entire effort was the part in his statement where he indicated he would not resign his post. It was as if he was saying, “I did something wrong, but it doesn’t rise to the level of my ending my political career.”
If revealed body parts alone were indications of degrees of the offense, then Weiner loses his seat as well. Just look at his up-state colleague, former Rep. Chris Lee. He merely sent shirtless photos of himself, and immediately stepped down.
Weiner has been sexting and/or texting girls other than his wife for years now, and he thinks he can side-step or outlast this revelation through one press conference?
This whole episode suggests the story is not yet fully written. I suspect Weiner did more than just text these women. Or if that was all he did, then there is someone else where he crossed the line, physically. Perhaps time will tell. Why else would he decide, at the moment when it appeared he was escaping this brouhaha, that it was time to come clean if he had nothing else to hide?
The fact that Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has called for a congressional ethics investigation should tip us off that she’s first and foremost protecting the party. Good for her. It’s not worth forfeiting the principles of her caucus for a pol who has been all about himself. For not only has Weiner alienated himself with his pompous ways, but he also attacked vehemently the national press corps, essentially calling them all liars, scoffing at their questions.
This entire episode is bad for representative government. Ensign, Vitter, Lee, Schwarzenegger, Edwards…what’s next? Both parties must realize the personal peccadillos of its members must move to the back of the room. When these members arrive in Washington, they need to have their game faces on. The quickest way to restore some of the MAJOR credibility this institution has lost is to actually move legislation and achieve something on behalf of the true owners of government – the people.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
06/06/11
Immigration, Immigration, Immigration
BY: Armstrong Williams
Immigration, Immigration, Immigration:
Illegal immigrant labor is a performance enhancing drug with wide side effects. By hiring illegals, companies get an edge over other firms that don’t. They buy cheap labor from individuals who have no civil rights whatsoever: they cannot complain if they are cheated on their paycheck, protest unhealthy working conditions, or reject wages beneath the minimum federal wage level. If they do complain, they can be immediately detained and sent back to their countries of origin with none of the due process that would be accorded an American citizen. And so this keeps them in their place – a place of legal limbo - and gives U.S. firms access to what is essentially slave labor.
Before now, we’ve had a tacit agreement between big business and big government to leave the immigration issue unresolved. After all, illegal labor has acted as a subsidy to businesses and consumers of the cheap labor. But that arrangement seems to be cracking, and that’s a good thing. The American people want their borders defended and their rights protected by the Government that they, the citizens, have elected. This is especially true in a recession when Americans are facing unprecedented unemployment, debt and declining living standards.
The recent Supreme Court ruling was right for America – legally, factually and morally. But the Supreme Court’s vocal minority, along with a strange bedfellows' coalition of big business and civil rights organizations would have you believe that a reasonable business regulation is an encroachment on the civil rights of legal immigrants. Nothing could be further from the truth. The regulations are narrowly tailored in accordance with Federal definitions of “illegal” status, and they accord appropriate due process for the offending corporations. No one can be rejected for a job because they “look” illegal. But businesses have the additional responsibility of verifying an applicant’s immigration status. All of the normal civil rights protections for workers has been undisturbed by the ruling.
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06/03/11
Vegetables Make Me Sick?
The recent outbreak of E.Coli in the produce of the European Union started my thoughts down a path I hope I will never have to find the end of. What happens when I can no longer trust what I require for sustenance?
More than 2,000 people have fallen ill and more than a dozen have lost their lives due to the outbreak. I do my best to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as often as possible, and as a consumer with limited resources it would be out of the realm of possibility for me to test everything that I ate. For this reason we have a trust of our food suppliers that is borne of the marketplace. We believe that our food suppliers will not sell us contaminated products if for no other reason than to protect their brand name. Nobody wants to be known as the supplier of mal-effected consumables which is why Spanish farmers were outraged that Germany chose to point the finger at them. While I understand that Germany wants to solve the problem and exonerate themselves, they must understand that a public lambasting is not the best solution. It is the European Union after all. Regardless, the finger-pointing and the lack of progress in their investigation isn’t the most alarming part of this story.
What really made me worrisome was to discover that if this type of outbreak were to happen in the United States it would be legal. Yes, legal. Growers and processors in the United States are not required to test food for disease causing agents, like bacteria or other microorganisms, before it is shipped to grocery stores and markets. Let me say that again. In the United States of America our food suppliers are not required to make sure the food they produce is safe to eat before it is shipped. Despite this, our track record here in the US has not been terrible which places me in a bit of a dilemma, does that mean we should trust our suppliers more, or less?
-AW
06/02/11
By Surgery or Scissor
Watching our congress fight over the budget and now the debt ceiling is sickening. How did we, as a country, get to the point where our elected officials are so rife with incompetence that they’re looking down the barrel of a gun, can see the bullet in the chamber, and yet still want to argue over whether or not it will kill. I don’t get it, the most powerful government in the world falling prey to it’s own financial imprudence. Furthermore, what does all of this say about us, the people of the United States of America, if these are our elected representatives; the very people we choose to champion our best interests in government.
This reminds me of those people you hear about being neck-deep in credit card debt and choose to resolve the issue by getting more credit. Is insolvency one of our Nation’s core values? I am starting to think that this administration believes it is. First Wall Street was too big to fail and got bailed out and now Medicare is too important to reform? Who is going to bail us out? I will give you one hint; it won’t be the Chinese.
If you can’t stay afloat you don’t add more water to the ship, you roll up your pant legs and start bailing. Which, in financial terms, would mean to cut spending. Drastically. The excess expenditures are there to be cut, and it needs to be done, by surgery or scissor.
-AW
06/01/11
Saint Sarah, Our "Joan of Arc"
BY: Armstrong Williams
Saint Sarah, Our "Joan of Arc"
The media finally has some excitement to report in the political arena as Sarah Palin has once again invigorated their pens. Is she running is she not? Can she win? Will she win? Even her recent ‘One Nation’ bus tour has been put under the lens of a microscope, the inspection revealing that the bus tour (according to realclearpolitics.com) is actually a campaign test run.
Why is she such a lightning rod? She is perpetually lambasted, and yet, the media can't seem to get enough, and if she's as stupid and inconsequential as she's portrayed, then why are they so fascinated with her? Maybe the answer lies in the fact that she's non-traditional and represents a serious threat to the political status quo, be that Democrat or Republican. She certainly isn’t lacking in charisma, people are drawn to, and cheer for, her at every turn. It's as if she has used politics to become a legitimate celebrity but has maintained enough clout to still be considered a political threat. Despite her celebrity status among politicians she has been so damaged by relentless attacks that she's probably not a viable presidential candidate. But really, who can say?
Regardless, one must admire her fortitude and courage. No matter how many times, or in what way she is attacked she just keeps on trucking, keeps on being Sarah Palin. We can only hope some of the other Republican candidates will learn some important things from her daily sacrifice.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/31/11
Republican presidential calculus with Palin in the race
BY: Armstrong Williams
Republican presidential calculus with Palin in the race
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is back in the news again. If you never tune off FOX News, she never left the prime time spotlight. But this time, it’s different, it seems.
Her posse has loaded up a big RV and she’s taking a bus tour around some of the most historic sites in the land. All of this launched, of course, during Sunday’s Rolling Thunder – a must-attend event for any biker or Harley rider to roll through downtown Washington DC to honor the fallen, POWs, and MIAs during the Vietnam conflict.
Full of class, the riders welcomed Palin so long as she didn’t turn the event into a political circus and away from its true and needed purpose.
But what does Palin’s latest move mean to the GOP nominating calculus? For months now, I had it on good authority the governor was not running. She was attending functions in Iowa alright, but charging fees (a no-no in the caucus state) for appearances and book-signings. It all seemed as though she was ready to turn the idea of a Palin on the Republican ticket into a windfall.
Others with similar pedigrees quickly filled the vacuum she left.
And yet here we are, still very very early in the nominating process, and Palin is drawing crowds that would make even Barack Obama green with envy.
But is she running? Even her staff won’t release details to the press corps on the nature of her stops, let alone times and locations. And when asked if she is indeed running, Palin’s stock answer is, “I’m thinking about it.” Will somebody please pass that information along to Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann?
Her candidacy for the nomination is ripe to fill the void Palin left. Yet if Palin returns, that’s too much “girl power” for the right to handle.
Here’s who it does help – Mitt Romney. The former governor and businessman now looks to be the most sane, smart choice so long as candidates such as Ron Paul, Palin and Bachmann join in the fray. Romney may also be charting his own path to the presidency this cycle by not paying so much attention in Iowa – a state he knows he can’t win – and instead spending more time in New Hampshire (where he’ll formally announce this week) and other early primary states.
Suffice it to say the GOP field is wide open. Even Herman Cain will stand to gain in a state such as Iowa so long as Republican voters are still sorting through their choices. One thing I’m eager to see in the coming weeks is which candidate is increasingly proving he or she is the most electable in an Obama matchup. I’ve yet to see that trait emerge in the early days of the season.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
Re
05/30/11
Memorial Day Remembrance
BY: Armstrong Williams
Memorial Day Remembrance
Lest we forget, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's wars.
Established in the 1860s during the American Civil War, Memorial Day tapped into the general human need to honor our dead who had contributed honorably to this great country.
Many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice have ignored the true meaning of Memorial Day.
We often do not observe the day as it should be. It's a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones and our family members who have given their lives for the betterment of this great nation.
The thing to remember about war is that there are very few moments of individual gallantry. The individual combatant rarely dwarfs his surroundings. No John Waynes to ride through a hale of enemy fire to save the day.
In fact, those one-dimensional embodiments of masculine striving are usually the first to die. Moments of war rarely allow for clarity.
War is a chaos where platoons of men are condemned to slaughter one another. War is a horror where one is ordered to kill strangers, to run in the face of enemy fire, to ignore the sight of his friends as they crumple to the ground. This lack of clarity becomes transparent to every soldier as his captain shouts, "Over the top men, everyone out!"
In that moment, each soldier finds himself engulfed in death and confusion. There is a scene in Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan", in which a young man has his arm blown off. He stumbles around, gazing at his shattered limb, unsure of what to do.
War is detached horror.
War is confusion.
With this in mind, do something different this Memorial Day.
Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
Visit memorials and fly U.S. flags at half-staff until noon and pledge to aid the disabled veterans, widows, widowers and orphans of those that died in conflicts and wars.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/27/11
The Politics of Shared Sacrifice
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Politics Of Shared Sacrifice
According to recent polls, most Americans believe that the dangers of further debt increases outweigh the dangers of defaulting on our current debt. The politicians have done an excellent job of selling the obvious. Bankers and economists, the holders of that debt, largely disagree with mainstream sentiment because it ultimately means they don't get paid back. But the political calculus among the general electorate is more complicated ---
While, according to polls, most people agree with the Republican position that the national debt is a ticking time bomb, and even that painful sacrifices are needed, the political disconnect occurs over what people perceive as the Republicans' unwillingness to share the sacrifice -- that is, they want to impose painful spending cuts on the poor and elderly, while giving away massive tax breaks to the rich and well connected. And they want all of this after the business community was bailed out of the banking crisis with taxpayer funds -- the bailouts being the major cause of our increased debt levels. This is a ripe opportunity to play political arbitrage by the Dems, and they've used it to their advantage recently.
So here you have businesses sitting on free taxpayer (borrowed) cash and complaining about tax increases, while trying to force those same taxpayers to swallow cuts to essential social programs. People are beginning to see this as a disingenuous, not to mention fundamentally unfair, approach to fixing the economy.
Until this conundrum is resolved, America will continue to be in a stalemate over the debt and the structural adjustments we need to foster long term growth…and the bills will keep mounting.
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05/26/11
Our Government is on the verge of collapsing
BY: Armstrong Williams
The ensuing debate over spending, debt ceilings, and entitlement reforms holds far more than the process hostage. Our entire system of government hangs in a delicate balance.
Government does not create anything. It does not manufacture a good, or yield a product that’s traded on the open market. Instead, it confiscates our individual monies and redistributes those funds in a manner it deems best. So in that regard, money is the lifeblood of government; without which it essentially ceases to exist.
Hence the reason that this time, this current debate over repairing and repaying our national debt, is so critical. For if our government falls, the institutions that have come to rely on that “full faith and credit” guarantee are in turn, capable of collapsing as well.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/25/11
Big-Business Religion
BY: Armstrong Williams
Big-Business Religion
Corporations and parishioners are increasingly coming together to spread the word of God and make money. All across the country, churches — once intimate places of spiritual interconnectedness — have been replaced by stadiums of worship that utilize advanced technological innovations to awe, edify and rip off those in attendance.
The jig goes something like this: Corporations underwrite the construction of vast religious complexes that awe people into regular attendance. The preacher's image is projected onto a big screen. His calm baritone is beamed out by state-of-the-art speakers. From all sides, his voice fills the room. The seats shake as he gives expression to the word of God.
It's a rousing experience to be sure, and one that is increasingly paid for by corporations. In return for their funding, the churches circulate corporate promotional calendars and fliers and, if the corporation is really lucky, broadcast an endorsement straight from the pulpit. Trusting the pastor's judgment, the flock simply surrenders its money to whatever service the corporation is hawking. In such a manner, countless Christians are fleeced every year.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/24/11
Special election with devastating consequences
BY: Armstrong Williams
A special election with significant consequences
A special election is being held today in New York’s 26th Congressional District, a seat once held by Rep. Chris Lee (R). You’ll recall Lee was the member forced to resign after pictures of his shirtless frame appeared on the Internet while he was soliciting sex, yet still happily married.
There’s no question the vote will be a nail biter. The reliably Republican district is a nail biter as Democrat Kate Hochul has whipped her opponent, Jane Corwin, silly with relentless attacks over her party’s support for Medicare reforms. Corwin has fought the good fight, but the Ryan plan she backs is definitely weighing her down. It’s understandable. The Ryan plan for Medicare is a tough political pill. Voters are anxious. And they’re also naïve.
Recriminations are already flowing from Republican enclaves here in Washington, as political insiders are going on the record (now, of all times) saying “they told you so” that the Medicare reforms were a non-winner.
Let’s face it folks, Medicare is broke. The non-partisan actuaries dropped a few more years from its life just last week. And here we have (seniors first among them) a set of voters that continues to want something for nothing.
I said as much when the GOP re-took control of the House late last year – if they think they are entering a new era of a “permanent majority” then they’re smoking something funny.
These are difficult times that demand serious leadership. The country saw that Democrats under Barack Obama are incapable of said leadership, so they reverted back to a party that was sober enough to admit we’re in a fiscal hurt locker.
And now, when the tough decisions come due, and voters are faced with the choice, they’re not liking the options. Republicans should count on that, and yet, they SHOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD!
Now is not the time for those of weak constitutions. Republicans didn’t get elected to then turn around and get re-elected two years later. Someone please show them the door if they believed anything but…
They were elected in 2010 to change this town. And to stare down the largest of federal leviathans – entitlement spending – and do something about it.
Now is the time to fix Medicare, and Social Security. Damn the fallout, let’s do the right thing!
If Democrats showed any courage, it was certainly on health care. The polls said it was a political stinker, and still they voted in lock-step for the measure. Now they think that one day they may be vindicated. Even if they're wrong (which they are), you have to hand it to them -- they felt in their heart of hearts they were doing the right thing. Can someone show a Republican that playbook?
The same argument could be made for Republicans and Medicare; only with this issue, history will prove them right. Fate does not reward nor assign hero status to those who merely continue the status quo. There are no milestones that mark monotony.
An argument could be made in the special election that conservative views in the form of a 3rd party, Tea Party, candidate is what will ultimately cause Corwin to lose if she does in fact fall tonight.
It's difficult to say if this race is a harbinger of things to come if Republicans don’t abandon their bid to reform Medicare. Yet one thing is certain, there may not be a better time to mend a broken program. And if Republicans let political expediency govern their decisions this year, our grandchildren will see a different Medicare alright…one that no longer exists because it went insolvent in 2024.
www.rightsidewire.com
05/23/11
What's next for the California GOP?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What’s next for the California GOP?
The ignominious fall of former Governor and cheating husband Arnold Schwarzenegger is pretty pathetic in itself. As allegations of still more women who slept with the “governator” spring up (ahem), there’s one question that many political watchers should be asking – what’s next for the Republican Party in California?
I know what you’re thinking: “What does a Hollywood actor’s sexual peccadillos have to do with the state’s political party?” Nothing if you look at the question that way. But let’s be honest, until Arnold Schwarzenegger came along in that 70-something person gubernatorial race over seven years ago, the state’s Republicans were floundering.
Schwarzenegger did what no Republican has done since arguably Pete Wilson – unite the different factions of the party into one unified front. Even then, Schwarzenegger’s leadership in Sacramento was spotty at times. The state still faces billions in budget shortfalls and more runaway spending. And the GOP continues its infighting at the local levels.
The best, most recent indicators of that situation lie with the defeat of Republican challenger Meg Whitman by Jerry Brown for the right to succeed Schwarzenegger. One might say the state leans decidedly blue, but Jerry Brown? Wasn’t he governor back in the 80s?? C’mon folks. This guy gives new meaning to the term “also-ran”.
Taken a step further, Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein are probably at their weakest politically in years, and still no Republican challenger has given these two a run for their money.
A lot hinges on the national party paying attention to the largest state in the union. If left to those inside the state to continue handling how Republicans fare, it could pose serious problems come next November in the presidential election. Even if the electoral-rich state goes for President Obama, how the process of winning California unfolds could mean the difference between millions more invested there by Democrats. If the Obama camp faces any friction at all next year given the overall mood of Americans, they may be forced to spend tens of millions extra in a state that would otherwise go handily for the president.
And without a national, fairly popular Republican such as Schwarzenegger keeping Democrats honest, that could prove problematic for the national party.
Waiting until next fall to decide if the Republican nominee wants to contest Obama in California will be too late. Republicans should take the steps now to soften the ground politically for their nominee. That begins with elevating lesser-known but smart pols such as House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy into the media spotlight. These small but smart moves now will help come next year.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/20/11
Imperfect Experts
BY: Armstrong Williams
Imperfect Experts
It’s obvious by now that the latest collapse of the U.S. stock market and the ensuing recession was spearheaded by experts – those same people who received fancy degrees from Ivy League institutions. They sold the public on their complex mathematical models purporting to show huge profits – all the while masking the risk of a total blow up. In many respects, this is the societal effect of a miseducated population. It is the result of an over-reliance by many people on the advice of experts, and the reliance of those experts on theoretical constructs that have little bearing on the real world. It is a classic case of mistaking the map for the territory. Popular writer and educator Nassim Taleb, when describing the cause of the market collapse, was blunter. He aptly describes it as a case of “scholarship without erudition.”
Taleb’s argument is simple yet nuanced. By concentrating for a long time on complex problems, experts tend to become experts in solving known problems -- such as the probability of winning a casino game (where all of the possibilities are known). But this tunnel view prevents them from considering the broader factors that account for real world events in which there is no complete information – be it business performance, the stock market, or the riskiness of complex financial derivatives. In part, it is the level of education that deludes them into believing that they can manage the complexity of making large bets for small gains.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/19/11
Herman Cain moves up
BY: Armstrong Williams
Herman Cain moves up
What’s wrong with Newt Gingrich these days? Barely a week after kicking off his triumphant procession of intellectual conservatism in action, the former Speaker of the House gaffes on the one show he used to dust in his sleep – Meet the Press.
Medicare must be Gingrich’s Achilles heel. Even years following his “wither on the vine” line, he now calls the one reasonable plan to save Medicare “right-wing social engineering” as though he copied it off The New Republic’s website.
Then on Tuesday, he apparently hosts a conference call to say he didn’t mean it. Gingrich was just joshing. So can we please move on now with the business of picking a Republican who can beat Barack Obama?
I’m sorry, but you don’t get a free pass after that sort of week. This legislative brainiac has been on Meet the Press no fewer than 34 times through the years, and he follows his appearance by saying “it didn’t occur to me going in that you’d have a series of setups.”…?? Please.
Okay, I’ll let it go. But it is the missteps and just plain dumb moves like that which make the candidacy of a Herman Cain – the proclaimed winner of South Carolina’s GOP presidential debate – look increasingly appealing by the day.
Words like “articulate” “measured” and “sensible” have been used by my viewers and radio show listeners to describe Cain’s fledgling, almost Quixotic pursuit of the presidency.
It’s fair to say that candidates such as Cain have a tough race in front of them, but isn’t that what the race for the presidency should be about? The rise of the lesser-known because he wants to better this country? In some twisted way, wasn’t that the most appealing part of Donald Trump – he knew how to run a business and tell it like it is?
Is Herman Cain, a CEO of a major franchise, the Donald-lite of this 2012 election? Does he have all the attractive qualities of an M.B.A. type minus the ego (and the hair)?
The lesson of Newt Gingrich’s policy foibles this past weekend prove this Republican race is wide open. But one thing is clear – the party needs to quickly separate the wheat from the chaff, because Obama’s presidential campaign is having one good laugh right now at their expense.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/18/11
What is the future of American Prosperity?
BY: Armstrong Williams
What is the future of American Prosperity?
The US has too many lawyers, entertainers, would be sports players, writers, government workers, etc. We have a dearth of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, nurses, indigenous American MDs, skilled factory workers and engineers. Our educational system is not training our students for jobs in the 21st century. Our youth, our future, are unable to meet the demands of our market-based economy.
Too many of our youth get caught up in glitz glamour and shortcuts; the life of Aesop's Hare. Yet that is not the way that the United States achieved prosperity, the United States of America is the greatest country in the history of the world due to the hard work, moral striving, and and unprecedented diligence of its people; the life of Aesop's Tortoise. Many of our founding fathers were craftsmen themselves and they understood the value of being skilled at a trade. Working hard and toiling long hours until they achieved excellence at any given thing.
Contemporary United States culture is all about the easy dollar and simple life, it is the rare soul who wishes to let blood, sweat, and tears for the sake of achievement, and it is those rare few that are the success stories we take pride in who continues to build and strengthen our nation. The question is, if we take so much pride in the few of us that prove hard work and diligence pays time and time again then why are there so many of us that scoff at the notion of commitment to continued excellence and execution?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/16/11
What the Huckabee decision means
BY: Armstrong Williams
What the Huckabee decision means
The political world caught its breath over the weekend regarding Mike Huckabee’s decision not to seek the Republican nomination for the presidency. To many, it was a non-news event. They had predicted all along the former Arkansas governor was just too cozy in his popular TV environment to hit the hustings in what promises to be a smash-mouth affair.
Let’s acknowledge that point. Let’s also acknowledge that this GOP race is wide open. But we knew that before Huckabee made his announcement.
What we don’t know right now is who’s in the best position to capture a solid portion of the Republican base – the Southern states?
Mike Huckabee spoke to a large segment of that population, in addition to coming from the area, his folksy preaching style mesmerized many and connected with the Southern voter on multiple levels, not the least of which was a firm faith in God and an evangelical flair.
The only other Southern candidate in the race – Newt Gingrich from Georgia – lacks those key traits. Yes, it’s no secret Gingrich has been trying for years to restore the luster his very presence brought to the political realm. But this is one area where the former Speaker’s trysts rise up and haunt him.
Folks in the South have a real problem with that infidelity factor, and they don’t tend to dismiss hypocrisy so quickly.
Add to the calculus the fact that Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is no longer in the race, and the Southern vote seems ripe for the picking if the right candidate comes along to appeal to their issues.
All the candidates know this. The real trick is deciding what secures the largest segments of that voting bloc. Is it an appeal to the basics of the Founding Fathers, which was rooted in the Protestant work ethic and other biblical teachings? How about a more direct appeal to touchstone issues such as abortion and gun control?
As pressing as topics such as high gas prices, runaway government spending, and America’s questionable place in the world, one would think these “old-school” political bones have out-lived their appeal.
Yet it may serve a Mitt Romney well to re-tool some of his campaign speeches toward a spiritual message – something that, on the surface at least, hearkens back to his own Mormon religion and the deep theological premises both Mormonism and other Protestant-based religions stand upon.
Look, it’s too early to gauge just what will sway a Southern voter, let alone if it will have broad appeal. The South today looks far different than even the early 2000’s when George W. Bush beat back an aggressive challenge from Sen. John McCain. Don’t believe me? Just look at how North Carolina and Virginia voted in the last presidential…
But chance favors the best prepared. And the road to the GOP nomination may once again run straight through the Bible Belt.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/13/11
The week that was in Washington
BY: Armstrong Williams
The week that was in Washington
Today is Friday the 13th, but after the sort of events we’ve seen here in town and around the country, one would think the entire week was cursed with oddities and questionable decisions…at least for politics.
Perhaps the oddest move of the week rests again at the doorstep of the White House. This time, the Justice Department’s decision to allow family members to visit detainees at Guantanamo Bay. I can’t figure this one out, folks. Less than 10 days after destroying the world’s top terrorists, we give the guy a proper Muslim burial (because the radical Islamists will appreciate our gesture…not), and now we want to allow other would-be terrorists to spend time with family members? What kind of message does that send? Who is it meant to please? What’s next – conjugal visits with some of the virgins promised these murderers before the after-life? I don’t get it.
It’s almost as if the Obama Administration can’t let a good deed go without having to follow-up behind it with some bone-headed move meant to appease not Americans, but some other constituency that gave this president his Nobel peace prize. I’m not sure who’s whispering into the president’s ear, but I can’t believe they’re thinking these moves thorough in an election year.
If this week is an indication of what’s to come, you better strap yourselves in for a long and wild ride, folks.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/12/11
The Economics of Marriage
BY: Armstrong Williams
The Economics of Marriage
Currently, our culture is concerned with our three front wars, education, health care,
the assassination of Bin Laden, and the economy -- and rightfully so. All of these things are
critical to the success of our nation. That being true, preserving the
institution of marriage is the single most important issue facing our country
today, because it strengthens our social foundations. A strong marriage creates
a strong household; a strong household produces strong children; and strong
children produce a strong society. It's a cycle that has been forgotten or
ignored the past 50 years. But until our leaders start fighting for marriage in
Congress, our churches start focusing on marriage in their places of worship,
and each of us start working on our own marriages in our households, our country
will continue to fall short.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/11/11
Excuses Justify doing nothing
BY: Armstrong Williams
Excuses Justify doing nothing
You don't make money by making excuses for your or other people's poverty. You make money by finding market based solutions to the issues and causes of poverty. Excuses justify doing nothing. This implies that it's someone else's fault. It could very well be someone else's fault, but it won't solve the problem. People in poverty and people who want to help them need to find market based solutions which incentivizes responses to opportunities. There are many opportunities to make money in the world, from the young shoe shine boy with his kit looking for customers on main street, to the software engineer who writes a sensational program for social networking. Both are individuals responding to opportunities in the market. They are fulfilling a need and therefore deserve to be duly compensated.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius Power 128, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/10/11
Black Sabotage
BY: Armstrong Williams
Black Sabotage.
The civil rights movement was born out of an intense struggle to enjoy those basic human rights we associate with happiness. Early leaders of the movement settled on the theory that American society was primarily characterized by racism and that American institutions were grounded in the maintenance of racial privilege. Many of the black politicians who swept into office on the heels of the movement consciously embodied this organizing principle. Their legislative remedies were predicated on the belief that the problems of black people, whether its high crime rates, drug use, poor educational performance, were, primarily, if not entirely, the result of white racism. Their obligation was to promote and protect their constituents by offering remedies to specific aspects of racial discrimination (i.e., segregated schools, disparity in pay, public accommodations, etc.) In other words, they wed their legitimacy to the belief that all the problems confronting blacks were rooted in racism.
To this day, many black officeholders depend on the perception of on-going, widespread racism in order to remain competitive in the electoral process. They underplay the dramatic improvements in economic and social status experienced by blacks over the last 40 years. Large numbers of their constituents, particularly those who came to age during the overt racism of the past half century, continue to believe that the problems confronting the black lower class stem primarily from racism.
Herein lies the greatest missed opportunity of the civil rights movement. They never prepared for the day when America would find the moral compass to embrace minorities as their equals. Their entire public image, their very legitimacy as political and cultural spokespersons--was predicated on the rhetoric of a black versus white war. As Justice Clarence Thomas once observed, the [civil rights] revolution missed a larger point by merely changing the status [of minorities] from invisible to victimized.
Tragically, this point was also missed by the pop culture, which glorifies images of black misogyny, violence and victimization. We hold up gansta rappers as models of achievement. Hey, they’re just keeping it real we say. Meanwhile our children stare at these sociopaths with adoring eyes. They emulate their mean sense of entitlement, their broken English, and their violence, because this is what the popular culture tells us it means to be black. How tragic!!!
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/09/11
Poor form in Louisiana
BY: Armstrong Williams
Poor form in Louisiana
Back in April, two Louisiana state Republican legislators introduced a “birther” bill clearly to score some political points and try to make themselves relevant, I suppose. Specifically, the measure required that any presidential candidate seeking to be on the Louisiana ballot would need to swear out an affidavit that he was in fact a U.S. citizen, then offer a birth certificate to validate the claim.
Less than a week later, the office of Governor Bobby Jindal said he would sign the bill if it made it to his desk.
I have just one question surrounding this issue, “Are you serious?”
Why Louisiana? Other states are considering similar measures, so the foolishness of such a move is not lost solely down on the Bayou. But come on folks. Doesn’t the state’s lawmakers have enough to worry about with unemployment, high gas prices and other pressing domestic concerns to be moving legislation that will not improve one life inside its borders? Not to mention the ongoing clean-up from the BP oil spill that continues to haunt every major industry along the Gulf.
This is bad politics turned into bad policy. And it needs to stop.
But wait, it gets more laughable. Less than two weeks after President Obama succumbs to some invisible pressure to settle once and for all his own birth on American soil, Governor Jindal somehow feels compelled to do the same.
We all knew Jindal is of Indian origins, but that’s where it ended. No one ever questioned his citizenship. So why does he choose to release his own birth certificate over the weekend? His office was apparently responding to an editorial in a local New Orleans newspaper that said Jindal might face similar “birther” questions should he ever decide to run for president if a Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) bill ever became law.
But here, again, bad politics and bad policy meet. No one honestly believes Sen. Vitter’s bill will go anywhere in the U.S. Senate. In fact, there are some who would just as soon see Vitter himself leave the august body given his recent peccadillos.
And now the astute governor takes this weak bait and responds? What’s sad here is this latest move by Governor Jindal says more about his political rookie-ness than any desire to run for the highest office in the land.
I'm sure the voters want to see an Obama-Jindal debate where the two spend an hour talking about who's more "American" than the other...
Republicans need to think long and hard about what their agenda is going to be moving into this presidential election cycle. So far, I haven't heard much by way of substance, and heaven knows there's plenty of issues to talk about.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/08/11
Greatest wonder of them all, a Mother's Love
BY: Armstrong Williams
Greatest wonder of them all, A Mother's Love.
My Mother, now in her 80’s, is sweet and adorable and is in much more need of her children than ever before. Yes, she gives the impression that she’s still tough and independent, but the simple things remind me that she’s getting older and that I need to enjoy every waking moment with her.
Knowing that we all have an anointed time on this earth I make each day and moment count with my Mother and other mothers that have mentored me along the way. Every morning without interruption, at 5 AM I call my Mother and it’s as if she’s hearing from me for the first time. She’s having cataract surgery soon and I made it clear that I would be home to be by her side. Her response, “son, I sure appreciate it.”
The sadness of all of this is that so many sons and daughters these days go through life never understanding what it means to really have loved and been loved unconditionally by the progenitors of our society. The Bible’s definition of love could not have described a mother’s love for her children more poignantly.
My siblings and I never have to wonder where our blessing lies in life because just hearing her gentle voice or seeing her caring face is a reminder of all the love we’ve received. In my lifetime, I have seen five of the original seven wonders of the world: Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, the ruins of the Parthenon, the Great Wall of China, and what’s left of the hanging gardens of Babylon. Those are incredible and magnificent creations, but I’ve concluded that the greatest wonder of them all is a Mother’s love.
05/06/11
IRAQ---Should we Go or Stay
BY: Armstrong Williams
IRAQ --Should we Go or Stay?
The United States is clearly willing, but the Iraqi people and more problematically Iraq's Council of Representatives must take the steps necessary to allow some U.S. forces to remain. It is definitely in their interest and ours... A half century later we maintain thousands of troops in South Korea and one must question the logic of not maintaining a similiar partnership with Iraq --- especially in the next five years. With an ever expanding Iran and a seemingly endless number of nefarious extremist elements operating in the Middle East -- If we abruptly close up shop in Iraq how does this play out?
IRAQ Should we Go or Stay?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/05/11
Previewing tonight's GOP debates
BY: Armstrong Williams
Previewing tonight’s GOP debates
Say what you will about the debate tonight in my home state of South Carolina. Question the depth of the star power if you must. You may even wonder aloud if topics that matter most to the average American voter will come up (anyone for a few birther questions?). But one thing is certain – a winner will emerge.
And for one of the five in attendance, that could mean a nice shot in the arm. However, the boost will benefit and sustain some candidates more than others.
Put another way, there are essentially only two individuals tonight who need this win. Of the five, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty have the most to gain (and lose) tonight. On paper, they blow away the rest of the admittedly weak field. They have the background and time spent in the true public spotlight and legislative arenas to mount legitimate campaigns.
I’d wager that no one could even name the state Gary Johnson presided over, much less the public office he held (New Mexico’s governor). Former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza Herman Cain puts new meaning to the word “longshot.” And then there’s Texas congressman Ron Paul. What can you say about him. He can definitely mobilize a conservative voting bloc, but in terms of broad appeal and an agenda that would attract the much-needed vote of independents, he misses the mark.
Tonight is also a laboratory for myriad attack lines against President Obama. Rest assured the political wordsmiths will be rolling out new themes and messages to see which ones stick.
Will Mitt Romney and Donald Trump be watching? They’d be fools not to. It’s the beginning of the presidential selection process for the GOP. More importantly, FOX News will be covering it. That’s a direct line to millions of primary voters in key states.
So despite the impressiveness of the slate of contenders tonight, traction will be gained, messages will be tested, and one candidate may begin to see the stars aligning in his favor…
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/03/11
Quite a week for Western Civilization
BY: Armstrong Williams
Quite a week for Western Civilization
From my perspective, this has been a remarkable three days this weekend. Two central institutions of Western civilization were affirmed: the Roman Catholic Church (what remains of the Roman Empire); and the British monarchy (the symbol of the British Empire); and the slaying of Osama bin Laden (the leading western antagonist of the Islamic strain) with the implements of western technical prowess.
The Roman Empire and the British Empire were the incubator and primary global distributor, respectively, of the essentials of western civilization: Judeo-Christian ethics and Christianity, classical learning, technology, and, latterly, liberal democracy and market economics/free trade. T o watch a million people in London (outstripping even the attendance at the 1981 wedding of Charles-Diana), and an estimated two million in Rome for the beatification of Pope John Paul II was an indication that though both are under challenge, these central institutions of western-ism have a remarkable resilience and ability still to captivate.
The killing of bin Laden indicates that the US – today’s primary exemplar of ‘the West’ – still has the ability to stalk its enemies, and to liquidate them. That this took over a decade in the case of bin Laden is a tribute to the assiduousness of American administrations of both parties to accomplish this goal. While so many are pointing particularly to China (whose growth, though large, is, I believe, premised on a financial house of cards) and the passing of the West, these last three days show something remarkable: a West still intact, still predominant, and still the central actor on the world stage.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
05/02/11
The poster child of terror
BY: Armstrong Williams
R.I.D. – The poster child of terror
Dead at last. Dead at last. Thank God almighty.
The most wanted terrorist in the world is now rotting away in dust. Due to an American “military action” we got our man.
A special debt of gratitude goes out to the men and women in uniform for their tireless months and years of sacrifice – running this pestilence down and eradicating him. Predator drones finished what others started on 9/12. We didn’t wait. We couldn’t wait. Too many Americans lost their lives that fateful day. It may have taken years to bring this to pass, but it did occur. And now justice has been served.
Didn’t we know in our heart of hearts this would happen? That it was only a matter of time before good ol’ American ingenuity and know-how would wipe this menace from the earth?
Al Qaida operatives will spew their usual banter. That UBL was no longer responsible for the day-to-day operations of the terrorist organization. That business as usual will continue, and that the new center of the network will remain in Yemen, not Afghanistan or Pakistan where it was believed the rat was holed up.
But that doesn’t matter. The psychological impact of this event is enormous. It’s huge for the country, but it holds even larger accolades and praise for our military. Nearly 47,000 Americans were either killed or wounded in both Iraq and Afghanistan essentially fighting because of this man. The threat of terrorism will remain, make no mistake. But this man represented so much. He stood for fear and death, and as a symbol for striking at the most powerful nation on earth. He was the poster child of terror. To take him out in the way it happened will send a clear message to those contemplating similar actions.
Indeed, this is a turning point in the global war on terror. It sends a new message to the world that actions have consequences. That we will make you pay if you threaten and harm these United States.
We now need to exploit the global message that his death brings. We need to reach out to the moderate Muslims in the world and call on them to work with us to end the scourge of terrorism in the Middle East. The world doesn’t need any more Usama bin Ladens. Let’s turn the page of history and embark on a new era of peace.
Rest in despair, bin Laden. Not one soul in this country will mourn your loss.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/29/11
Terrorist Tweet
Subject: Terrorist Tweet
Armstrong Williams
Have you tweeted today? Or ever? I bet you have used Facebook today. As a country we fall in love with the unbridled technological progress that the great minds of our country afford us. It can do so much good for us, it connects us with long lost friends, family, and otherwise. It allows us to stay up to date, up to the minute in some instances of events around the corner and around the world. All of this is absolutely fantastic when it helps us out, but we are often remiss in our consideration of the negative ramifications of these very same advances.
Today's Washington Times has a cover-story entitled 'Terrorists discover uses for Twitter' that sheds light on the use of social media for the promulgation of terrorist propaganda. Twitter was created as a system for sending out group text messages but has evolved into a micro-blogging outlet where a celebrity like Charlie Sheen can have over one million followers, otherwise known as subscribers, that receive his messages the instant he presses 'Tweet' (you see where I'm going with this). Imagine, the spontaneous gathering of several thousand terrorists called to action with a death knell of 140 characters or less. This type of mass dissemination has governments on high alert, and for good reason.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/28/11
Obama's policies are Americans worst enemy
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's policies are Americans worst enemy.
President Obama's administration and his political team are becoming increasingly tone deaf. Everyday Americans aren’t visiting town halls of Republicans to complain about draconian cuts. They’re coming to gripe the majority party isn’t cutting enough. We've had many tax cuts over the past 20 years but no spending decreases. The lack of discipline created by a broken political system now has us on the verge of bankruptcy.
This is a seminal moment in our nation’s understanding of fiscal policy. The billions and trillions are starting to matter. They’re no longer “just on paper” and meaningless terms with no real impact on individual families and businesses. The fear is there and it’s palpable. And Americans are starting to sort out in their own minds what a bankrupt nation could mean to them and their futures.
When will this Administration grasp that? How many more houses must foreclose and businesses fail before someone on the president’s economic team realizes these policies are a joke??
So don’t worry when we’re 19 months out who will rise up among the GOP and assume his/her rightful place in the presidential pantheon. There’s plenty of time for that.
From my own perspective, I’m more interested in seeing how much farther down the road of disrepair the current administration will take us. Obama's continued policies are Americans worst enemy and nightmare right now. Republicans would do well to get out of his way.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/27/11
Rs v. Obama
BY: Armstrong Williams
Rs v. Obama
Mark my words, the sudden exit of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour from the Republican presidential nomination race will be followed by many more. The prospects will either bow out before they ever catch any fire (Rick Santorum) or they may never enter the race at all because of the writing on the wall (Michele Bachmann).
Put simply, these candidates lack the fire to stir men’s souls. They can’t mobilize the voter base across the wide swath they know they’ll need to win the White House. It’s more than just the entire Republican “base”, and more than even some disgruntled, out of work Independent voters. And it’s certainly more than the Tea Party faction.
The winning Republican candidate will need all of these blocs. But can it be done? Of course. Yet I don’t believe that candidate has emerged.
Even if the person who defeats President Obama is among the crowded field today in the form of a Romney or Daniels or even Pawlenty, the 2012 election won’t even be about them. I’m serious.
This race is all about Obama. He’s weak politically, and if current trends continue, his brand and stock will only fall. $4/gallon gas prices? A plummeting dollar? Borrowing 47 cents on every dollar we spend? That’s only the beginning folks, unless this White House can put some significant punch back into this economy.
I’m not saying it won’t be a fistfight. Obama’s campaign is gearing up for one helluva contest. Media buyers are already predicting this election cycle to tip the $2 billion scale in terms of ad buys and placements in the next 18 months. Yep, that’s “billion” with a “b”.
A GOP candidate will emerge, and he will be battle-hardened from a rigorous primary that will force him all over the Republican spectrum. You can bet on that. But the less this is about personalities and the more it’s about the direction of the country and the principles that the Obama White House has made clear it owns (larger government, paternalistic nannyism), then the voters will send a clear message.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/26/11
Will America be spared the same fate?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Will America be spared from the same fate?
In the midst of a season that has provided riveting political theatre – the budget extension impasse and the impending battle over raising the debt ceiling – a bright ideological line has emerged between the two major political parties. It is not about whether we must reduce our debt (both sides ostensibly agree that we must), but about where those cuts should come from. But let’s be clear; without a serious challenge by congressional Republicans, the seriousness of America’s debt situation would not occupy its’ rightful place the forefront of the political debate.
Let’s face it. The U.S. Government is bankrupt. Its liabilities exceed its revenues by over 200% by some estimates. If it were not for America’s status as a reserve currency – a status earned by the nation’s long history of political stability and economic growth -- we would find ourselves in the same position as Greece and Portugal. Those countries are not only unable to repay the principle amount they’ve borrowed, but also have trouble meeting the minimum debt service payments without additional borrowing. In what appears to be an inexorable death spiral – borrowing costs rising, while revenues are falling – it appears those countries are going into default.
While the European Central bank has tried to bolster Europe’s failing economies with lending of last resort, it has thus far failed to stem the tide of economic logic: At a certain level, when you owe more than you make, your creditors get skittish and demand higher interest rates to compensate for the risk of default. Creditors in Europe fought their version Fed, and, contrary to popular wisdom in the U.S., they appear to be winning, putting the people of those countries at their mercy. In sum, the people of Greece and Portugal have become serfs in their own country. The land they live on and the houses they live in do not belong to them anymore. Moreover, their political system is being increasingly controlled -- not by their elected leaders, but by unelected supers-sovereigns such as the IMF and ECB.
Will America be spared from the same fate?
04/25/11
Is Our Government the best Engine for Futue Growth?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Is our Government the best engine for future growth?
Major U.S. investors, including Pacific Investment Management Co. Manager Bill Gross, have exited the U.S. debt market, citing the increasing riskiness of the assets on its books relative to the interest rate it pays to bond holders. They are not likely to return until interest rates rise. And, with total federal debt having ballooned to an astronomical $14 trillion, a rise in borrowing costs would have catastrophic effects on the government´s ability to meet its debt service obligations.
But what seems to get lost in the ideological debate is the fundamental truth. A country with declining national growth should not attempt to fill the gap with a rash of borrowing. At some point, using additional long-term borrowing to support short-term consumption — whether its bank bailouts, stimulus spending or unemployment benefits — constrains future growth. The Obama administration has attempted to phrase the borrowing as an "investment" in future growth.
But there is a real question as to whether the government is the best engine for investing in the growth America needs to get out of debt. The ideological line starts here. Would we rather have government "invest" our money for us, or is private enterprise the more appropriate conduit for achieving long term growth?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/22/11
Easter Reflections
BY: Armstrong Williams
Easter Reflections
Many Christians around the world begin celebrating Easter with Lent, a 40-day period before Easter which begins on Ash Wednesday; Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, celebrates the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before him; Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross and then, Easter Sunday, Jesus' resurrection.
As I reflect back on my many journey's to Israel, the visit to the Mount of Olives where Jesus had his last supper is a reminder of what Easter really means. Many people think of Easter as the colored eggs, plenty of candy, and the Easter Bunny. But I am reminded of Christ's final journey-from the place where Pontius Pilate condemned him to die, to where he bore his own cross, to the site where he was hung, to the tomb where he rose from the dead. These steps leading to Christ's crucifixion leave me awakened to the truly beautiful possibilities of life because the very moment Jesus rose from the dead, was the very moment we would be given everlasting life. Christians would now receive new life after death.
As I passed through the garden of Gethsemane where Christ was delivered to the Romans and paraded through the streets of Jerusalem, before being nailed to a cross, in between two criminals, I recalled that, even as Christ hung on the cross, he saved the repentant soul of one of those criminals. Christ always reached out to those who were different than Himself.
As Christians, we feel comfortable with other Christians. We feel safety in worshipping together. We feel peace in socializing together. And we feel righteousness in standing against those who seek to bring moral and ethical decay to the culture of this nation. But is it enough to just stand together? Is it enough to just stand against? Should we not also, as Christ did, reach out to those who believe and behave differently from us? When was the last time you saw someone in desperation and extended your hand?
We should not make the mistake of thinking that those who believe and behave differently from us cannot be good people. It is too easy to say that those who believe as we do are good and those who believe otherwise are bad. That worldview, while convenient and expedient, is compassionless and ill conceived.
Christians must reach out to those who do not believe. We must provide an example that will inspire others to follow. We must see the good in others. We must condemn behavior and not people. We have nothing to fear in reaching out. Those who believe differently will not shake our beliefs. Those who act differently will not change our behavior. As long as we are grounded in faith, we can walk securely with anyone, anywhere.
04/21/11
We are Bankrupt
BY: Armstrong Williams
We are Bankrupt?
How can our U.S Government have a triple A rating credit when you borrow 47 cents of every dollar to meet your financial obligations. If GE borrowed 47 percent of all bills they must pay on a monthly basis, that's bankruptcy. There's not enough cash flow to continue your business. Do we have any standard of behavior? Our money is being spent to care for those who make little effort to care for themselves. Can you imagine that 47% of all people pay no taxes and they want to continue taxing us to make up for it. Isn't it time that we go to a consumption tax that is linear where everyone is treated the same.
Debt creates instability. Hillary Clinton commented how can we criticize China's economic policies when we're in debt to them . With shareholders you can only lose what you've invested, but debt leveraged allows you to make outside gains from various small movements in growth but also magnifies the losses from very small declines in growth. Ultimately the debt has to be repaid from tax revenue. The pie will not expand to justify taking on more debt.
Why trust the S&P for they are the same people that gave Lehman's brothers a triple A rating six months before they collapsed. These ratings agencies are politically motivated, if it were any country other than the US, the ratings would have already fallen.
Who can tell that we're bankrupt or not because we continue to print dollars and debt in form of bonds and notes.
04/20/11
Fear of Math and Science
BY: Armstrong Williams
Fear of Math and Science.
We can all agree that many children these days prefer not to study very much; I’m not sure if it’s because they are so busy with other things, or they just have been handed so much that the idea of hard work is foreign to them. But whatever the reason, it’s obvious to parents and teachers across America that kids aren’t putting in the effort to excel in math and science. One explanation may be because math and science generally demand specific solutions, meaning either a right or wrong answer. So for a lot of kids who are scared to fail, or sadly even scared to try, math and science are just pushed away at all costs. Instead, more kids focus on subjects like History and English which tend to be more philosophical and interpretive which allows for more wiggle room and less hurt feelings. Don't misinterpret my meaning, subjects like History and English are imperative to education and add great value to society, but they are not the only things our children should be learning. It is a fact that far more people study these subjects because they fear complete failure in math or science, where strict guidelines and exact answers are expected. Unfortunately, 20% off will not make a $40 shirt cost $20 no matter how much you 'feel' that it should; the shirt would still cost you $32. Also, science tells us that it is impossible to hear a bullet, because they travel faster than the speed of sound.
Do you really think that with the brain that either evolution handed down, or God bestowed upon us, we are incapable of learning science and math if we put our mind to it? Absolutely not! We can all learn everything taught in school, it merely requires effort, determination, and perseverance. And once learned it is empowering and enjoyable to utilize these new-learned skills. We must pass along this attitude to our children and demand that lawmakers, teachers, and administrators make math and science a priority in our schools again. Then we must put away our calculators, brush up on our arithmetic, and show our children that even old dogs can break out old tricks. We may not always need math and we may not always like science, but we must always learn and hone these valuable subjects and skills. Given today's financial crisis this nation faces, a better understanding of math could make the difference between foreclosure and having peace of mind with your home purchase.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/19/11
Can We Finally Admit That Racism is Dead?
Can We Finally Admit That Racism is Dead?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Liberals have their racist supporters, e.g. certain union members. Many liberals will advise that their Ivy League black friends, should not have gone to Wall Street to make a fortune and participate in the American dream. They strongly feel that they should go back to the ghetto and help their people. They do not tell that to the wasp, Jews, Poles, Italians, etc., only the blacks. That is truly racist and condescending. It is especially racist when black and white liberals , tell black conservatives that they are betraying their people because they want smaller government and individual freedom. Remember, government perpetuated slavery and racism in this country for nearly 200 years. Why should we trust it to keep it from returning as government policy? (Arguably, well intentioned affirmative action programs perpetuate racism.) Having said that, a movement with racist supporters does not mean that the movement is racist.
A person is not racist because he is against affirmative action. I am in favor of a color blind society. That means excluding race as a factor in school admissions, hiring and every other aspect of American society. America got into trouble with Jim Crow laws that perpetuated racism after emancipation. Affirmative action programs perpetuate racism after the repeal of the Jim Crow laws. Am I a racist because I am against affirmative action? Restrictions on immigration is not necessarily racist. There is a good argument to make that America restricts immigration to maintain the country’s culture and to facilitate assimilation. My personal belief is that we should have one American melting pot. I think the multiculturalism now in vogue in certain circles results in a Balkanized America. Racism is an emotionally charged word which liberals use to stop discussion of the substantive issues involved in the Tea Party movement. Please tell me the substantive Tea Party issues that you disagree with?
Even assuming that some Tea Party members are racist, that is not a reason not to form a coalition with them in areas where we agree there needs to be change, like huge government deficits and outrageous taxes. After all, America formed an alliance with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Even the American communists, socialists and liberals supported the monstrous Stalin in the 1930’s and 1940’s, because they thought it furthered the higher goal of worldwide socialism and communism.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/18/11
A Tax Season to Remember
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Tax Season to Remember
From whom much is given, more is expected. This is the agreement we all take when we decide to avail ourselves of the abundant wealth that this country can afford us. This tax season, many people will complain about their tax dollars going down the Government waste hole. We will rail against the politicians who either tax us too much, spend too largely, or tax someone else too little. And we'll complain about the bottomless pit of debt in which our nation has become almost inextricably enmeshed.
These are real problems to be sure, and they are pressing. But before we get too down in the dumps, it's time we thanked our stars that we actually live in a country in which it is possible to make enough wealth to have a high tax bill in the first place. A little faith would reveal that God knows exactly what he's doing. Politicians, government, and yes, that most hated of all obligation of citizenry -- taxes -- are all part of the system that in the end has enabled Americans to build incredible fortunes for themselves and their families. We should be mindful of their excess, and work together to minimize the waste, fraud and abuse that comes with a Government that has become too large. But what we should remind ourselves of most, is the continued resiliency of America, which is evidenced by our prosperity despite the encumbrances placed upon us by our governments.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/15/11
Serious about spending our money
BY: Armstrong Williams
Serious about spending our money
Our President Barack Obama seems to believe that a percentage of private income already belongs to the Government. He uses language that suggests tax cuts are theft of government owned properties. His language is most condescending in the sense that he's not asking us to contribute but rather forcing us to pay. Not only that, but he's forcing us to pay for priorities that are not chosen by those he proposes to hand the stiff bill to. Liberals assume that any money we earn belongs to the government and we should be happy that our government allows us to keep a portion of it. Will they not be satisfied until they take all of "their" money back?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/14/11
Obama's path of Economic Destruction: The Race Against the Clock
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama's Path of Economic Destruction: The Race Against the Clock
President Obama, in a moment of insanity, stated emphatically that wealthy people want to pay more taxes it's just that our government hasn't asked them to. He went on to say that rich people like himself don't need any more tax cuts. Many would agree with you Mr. President if all of their necessities were provided for by the tax payers. This man is so out of touch with reality, he has no concept of what life truly is for everyday people. To believe that someone who makes $200,000 annually is rich is preposterous. By the time uncle sam takes his share, at best you're left with $135,000.00. Also, what about your mortgage, kids, healthcare, food, and paying your bills. Many universities now consider annual family income of $200,000.00 eligible for financial aid. They recognize that this salary level doesn't provide a family with much discretionary income.
Is our President that naive or his he intentionally hell bent on destroying our nation? Anyone with a modicum of economic sense would know that with our extraordinarily fragile economy, raising taxes is a non starter. We know that when taxes are lower, income to the federal government increases. Now we have a situation where our deficit is so large that you can confiscate a 100% of what the rich have and it wouldn't put a dent in our debt crisis. Therefore Obama's proposals are idiotic and make no sense. Taxing can't and will not solve the problem and will only exacerbate the growing debt. Either our president is too naive to understand simple economics or he's smart enough to understand how to accomplish his goal of permanently damaging the American economy. Both scenarios spell doom for our once great economic engine.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/13/11
Understanding the Debt Ceiling
BY: Armstrong Williams
Understanding the Debt Ceiling
For many people the debt ceiling is an arcane concept. They have no of idea the impact it has or what impact it could have on America's economy. When the Federal Government has large deficits, it is spending more money than it is taking in, in taxes. This excess spending must be financed by debt. If the government is not allowed to issue more debt or borrow more money it has no way of funding the spending programs that it is legally required to fund. It has a very difficult path at that point.
First it must stop spending, on not just non-essential government programs but on all government programs. Its spending will be limited to the amount of tax revenue. Government spending cuts mean that large numbers of federal employees must be furloughed, transfer programs such as medicare and Medicaid will not be funded and other government spending with federal contractors such as highways, airports etc. will be curtailed. If we immediately stop these services and transfer payments it will have a negative impact on the economy, including the loss of jobs. The second major impact has to do with the supply of money. Federal debt forms the basis of capital used in our banking system. The third major impact has to do with the issuance of federal debt instruments. When federal debt matures which takes 30 to 60 days after the debt ceiling is not extended, the government will have no alternative to paying off maturing debt. This means the US government has the potential of defaulting on its legal obligations to bond holders throughout the world. A default on government debt will throw the international monetary system and the entire global economy into chaos.
Sixty five percent of Americans public support appears to be in favor of not extending the debt ceiling. The catastrophic impact of not extending the debt ceilings gives the Republican in congress much leverage. We the people implicitly understand that the Federal Government is out of control and that the national debt is too big and shouldn't be increased. What many don't understand is that the only way to accomplish this is to stop spending on items that affect all Americans, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, block grants to states, highways etc. The leverage this gives to congress is that the Democrats and the President recognize not extending the debt ceiling as catastrophic to the world economy.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/12/11
What The Discovery of a Record Haul In Libyan Assets
What The Discovery of a Record Haul In Libyan Assets Portends for The U.S.
By Armstrong Williams
There something distinctly fishy about the Treasury Department’s lightning fast and allegedly “surprise” discovery of over $30 billion in Libyan Government assets stored in U.S. banks. The Obama administration has lauded this as a major and unexpected victory in its effort to dislodge the Gaddafi regime. That may be so, but the implications of such a large deposit by Libya have deeper and far more disturbing implications. Could Libya have been in the process of purchasing a major stake in America’s critical infrastructure?
First, it is strange that Libya -- a Government that has traditionally been wary of storing its’ assets in a place where they could be confiscated by the U.S. government -- would keep almost half of its estimated $70 billion sovereign wealth fund (Libyan Investment Authority or ‘LIA’) in U.S. banks. After all, Libyan assets had been frozen before, most notably in 1986. In fact, most Arab nations, even those friendly to the U.S. had been reluctant to keep their assets within U.S. jurisdiction after the U.S. froze Iranian government assets in 1979. Admittedly, relations with Libya have warmed in recent years since it was removed from the U.S. list of official state sponsors of terrorism in 2005. Still, the old wounds run deep, and Qaddafi is, if nothing else, a shrewd operator. Clearly, if he were taking such a big risk he must have had assurances from on high.
The second strange aspect problem is the speed with which the Treasury department identified and froze the assets. According to the Washington Post, treasury officials expected to find somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million in Libyan assets, and were surprised when they pulled in a record haul for U.S. assets freezes. It’s strange, not just because the disparity between what was expected and what was eventually found – but because of information recently disclosed in the Wiki leaks cables. The cables revealed that Libyan officials revealed in a discussion with the U.S. Ambassador in January that LIA had roughly “$32 billion in liquidity, mostly in bank deposits that will give us good long-term returns.” A 2009 annual report suggested that the company held roughly 78% of its investments in “short term financial instruments abroad.”
So rather than feel particularly elated about finding $30 billion of Libyan Government funds conveniently parked in a U.S. bank, the news makes one wonder. Is America up for sale? Or worse yet, has it already been sold, and to whom?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
Portends for The U.S.
By Armstrong Williams
There something distinctly fishy about the Treasury Department’s lightning fast and allegedly “surprise” discovery of over $30 billion in Libyan Government assets stored in U.S. banks. The Obama administration has lauded this as a major and unexpected victory in its effort to dislodge the Gaddafi regime. That may be so, but the implications of such a large deposit by Libya have deeper and far more disturbing implications. Could Libya have been in the process of purchasing a major stake in America’s critical infrastructure?
First, it is strange that Libya -- a Government that has traditionally been wary of storing its’ assets in a place where they could be confiscated by the U.S. government -- would keep almost half of its estimated $70 billion sovereign wealth fund (Libyan Investment Authority or ‘LIA’) in U.S. banks. After all, Libyan assets had been frozen before, most notably in 1986. In fact, most Arab nations, even those friendly to the U.S. had been reluctant to keep their assets within U.S. jurisdiction after the U.S. froze Iranian government assets in 1979. Admittedly, relations with Libya have warmed in recent years since it was removed from the U.S. list of official state sponsors of terrorism in 2005. Still, the old wounds run deep, and Qaddafi is, if nothing else, a shrewd operator. Clearly, if he were taking such a big risk he must have had assurances from on high.
The second strange aspect problem is the speed with which the Treasury department identified and froze the assets. According to the Washington Post, treasury officials expected to find somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million in Libyan assets, and were surprised when they pulled in a record haul for U.S. assets freezes. It’s strange, not just because the disparity between what was expected and what was eventually found – but because of information recently disclosed in the Wiki leaks cables. The cables revealed that Libyan officials revealed in a discussion with the U.S. Ambassador in January that LIA had roughly “$32 billion in liquidity, mostly in bank deposits that will give us good long-term returns.” A 2009 annual report suggested that the company held roughly 78% of its investments in “short term financial instruments abroad.”
So rather than feel particularly elated about finding $30 billion of Libyan Government funds conveniently parked in a U.S. bank, the news makes one wonder. Is America up for sale? Or worse yet, has it already been sold, and to whom?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/11/11
"High saver" vs Average saver"
BY: Armstrong Williams
"High saver" vs "Average saver"
Let us examine what happens to the wealth and income of a “high saver” and an “average saver” with a middle class salary of $50,000 per year. Without getting into the appropriate portfolio strategy for this middle class investor, let us assume that our saver receives a 6% rate of return on his investments. This return is below the average return achieved by most private pension funds over the past 50 years and below the 8% assumed by most government pension funds.
If the middle class wage earner is “high saver” who saves 10% of his annual salary or $5,000 per year, his wealth will be $70,000 at the end of 10 years. His annual income from this wealth will be $4,800. If he does not get a raise in his salary, his total income will be $54,800 or 9.6% higher than if he had not saved. The really amazing result of being a high saver is that by the time he retires 45 years later, he is a millionaire worth over $1.1 million. This nest egg is generating an income of $68,000 per year. His total income from salary and investment is $118,000 per year, 136% higher than his salary alone. He will not only replace his salary when he retires, his retirement income will be 36% higher than his salary. This is not the man who hits the lottery or invents the better mouse trap. This is the “millionaire next door”!
Unfortunately, the average American saves only about 2% of his income. The “average saver,” making the same $50,000 salary as the “high saver”, puts 2% of his salary or $1,000 per year into his investment account. At the end of 10 years, his wealth is $14,000 and his income from investments is $840 per year. His total income, assuming no salary increases, is $50,840 or 1.6% higher than his salary. When he retires 45 years later, his nest egg is worth $225,000 and it earns $13,500 per year. Clearly, this is not enough to replace his salary when he retires.
At the end of their respective careers, the high saver is a millionaire and the average saver is considered a low income retiree. The high saver’s income the year before retirement is 1.9 times that of the low saver! Yet the high saver and the low saver started out with equal incomes and earned the same salary over their working careers. It is important to recall that the average saver spent $180,000 more over his 45 year working career than the high saver. The growing disparity in income over the 45 year period was solely due to the thrifty behavior of the high saver. Yet, Americans are asked to feel sorry for the improvident average saver, and view the income and wealth of the high saver millionaire as a source of taxes to subsidize the retirement of the average saver.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/08/11
Be Astonished
BY: Armstrong Williams
Be Astonished
There are a lot of Washingtonians who, try as they might, they have a hard time carrying what they heard in church on Sundays to the workplace on Mondays. I’m no different. But yesterday, I got to thinking about what a country preacher told me many moons ago regarding life in general.
He challenged the congregation to do three things: 1) Pay attention; 2) Be astonished; and 3) Tell others.
Think about that. If we all paid a bit more attention to the things around us, how much more aware would we be – of the difficulties others may be facing, the burdens they’re carrying? The same thought applies to life and living in this country. The events around the world should have us all as Americans paying attention to just how fortunate we are to know and practice freedom.
If we practice that first principle, the second one should come easy…be astonished. When consciously thinking of that yesterday, I was indeed amazed at all the things around me. The cherry blossoms blooming, the snow on the ground (in late March!), the sheer humanity of our fellow Americans and the billions in giving we’ve shared for say, our Japanese neighbors.
Finally, we need to tell others. Clearly the pastor had the gospel in mind when discussing these three, but apply that third principle to better living in our everyday lives. Let me give you an example.
I was emailing a colleague the other day on what I felt to be a simple subject. She emailed me back, not quite understanding my point, and asking three more questions in the process. I then prepared to fire off a response to her not only clarifying my original request, but then trying to fold in answers to her other questions and then thinking about how they all should apply to the original email. See my point??
I was better off picking up the phone and just speaking with her.
In today’s technologically-driven world, just because we CAN communicate in different, more impersonal ways, doesn’t mean we SHOULD. I think more of our coworkers, friends, acquaintances, and strangers would feel each other’s humanity a bit more deeply if we practiced paying attention, being astonished, and telling others.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/07/11
Cut it or Shut it
BY: Armstrong Williams
Cut it or shut it.
Cut it or shut it? Cut it or shut it was the mantra of the Tea Party Patriots recently on Capitol Hill. Senate Democrats don't get it. Schumer and Reid are in total denial that we are facing a serious economic crisis in our nation. They're similar to a credit card and check book holder who don't make the connection that the cookie jar is empty. We've had enough. People in general have lost faith in our government's ability to manage its way out of financial disaster. Un-policed politicians will never correct this bankruptcy path. There is so much spending going on that is not grounded in reality, that the new movement must take on drastic measures of cut it our shut it. The day of reckoning is here and the longer the Schumer and Reid's remain in denial the more it looks like a spending addict with a serious addiction. We must now demand, "Cut it or Shut it!"
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/06/11
One Burning Question
One Burning Question
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why the outrage in Afghanistan over one Florida pastor's burning of a copy of the Koran? Isn't it a form of idolatry in both Christian and Islamic faith to worship objects and symbols? What does it say about the state of faith when the medium corrupts the message? Radical Islamic groups seem especially prone to exalting symbolism over other moral strictures – such as protecting the innocent and acting justly. Perversely, they seem to find it highly immoral for women to be seen uncovered in public – but not immoral to ruthlessly kill innocent men, women, and children in brutal terror attacks.
What does it portend about America’s deepening commitments in the Middle East, when it must deal with both partners and adversaries for whom death is preferable to a perceived dishonor?
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/05/11
Is Government a Necessary Evil ?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Is Government a necessary Evil ?
Many believe that Government is a necessary evil in a society of free men. It is a device that must be used sparingly and eyed with suspicion, for it's tendency is to accumulate in the name of protection, what truly belongs to a just and good people.
Because the laws governing society have become so complex, ordinary people often feel helplessly lost and feel they have to rely on experts just to perform basic, ordinary functions as citizens. Laws governing the voting process require proof of identification that can be difficult to obtain. The system of taxation has become opaque, fuzzy and susceptible to all forms of trickery and abuse. Small business owners find themselves bound by a mind-numbing set of regulations that impede the basic economic engine of our country from growing, stifle innovation, and discourage the entrepreneurial spirit. And our members of Congress have succumbed to the self-serving and amoral dictum, when fighting to fund this or what worthless project, that it's going to be spent somewhere, so why not in my district? Is there any surprise that our national debt is soaring at 14 trillion dollars and steadily rising. We certainly have lowered the standard for what's right and wrong, haven't we? In no small part because the laws are so complex and self-contradictory that we've almost been left with no other way to look at moral matters.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/04/11
Obama and the Black Vote 2012
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama and the Black Vote 2012
President Obama has officially launched his reelection campaign for 2012. His strongest constituency remains American Blacks, while many others have wandered in the wilderness or have abandoned him for now.
In light of the statistics, with Blacks only comprising slightly more than 1/8th of the population, Obama would probably do well to steer clear of race in general during his upcoming reelection season. After all, he was elected as the president of the United States, which includes Blacks, but the other 87% of the country as well. Even if every single Black person in the United States (including those in prison) voted against him, there's still another nearly 7/8ths of the population to attempt to sway. If anything, this should be given more thought. The more likely scenario is that many Blacks will continue to harbor unrealistic expectations and it would be wiser to cater to the U.S populace in general. A disillusioned Black community is likely to do what it has always done: vote Democrat, typical and not very powerful, because there's no need to try to get their vote. Additionally,if they feel the way they've felt, they'll probably just not even bother voting.
Perhaps some may say it's actually problematic that Obama's skin happens to be dark, because that means he's expected to be a Black Superman. He is expected to do the "Black" thing in any situation where race is involved. What may not be so obvious is that the "Black" thing isn't agreed upon within the Black community, so the "Black" things could arguably be anything, would definitely be prejudiced, and coming from the president would actually be, dare I say it, racist! This obviously puts Obama in a difficult situation. It didn't help that he was given the Nobel Peace Prize as he was taking office (before he'd had a chance to do anything). The expectations upon his shoulders were so staggering, it's quite possible that they were impossible expectations. The midterm elections showed how the populace was unhappy with his performance under those extremely high demands. Stay tuned!
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
04/01/11
Talking to myself and becoming frustrated
BY: Armstrong Williams
TaIking to myself and becoming frustrated
My recent harshness about the president comes because this is a bit of an “own goal.” We did not have to get involved – an Arab dictator is oppressing his people…that is hardly news, or, unless our interests are directly involved, not our issue. Also, given the perlious state of our finances and our already full military plate, it is simply not prudent to indulge in superfluous actions. But, there I go again…once I get started on any logic train thinking about this I find myself banging the keyboard and crying out loud in frustration.
What is obvious is that he is making it up as he goes along. Having been talked into easing the consciences of Hillary and Susan Rice, he is now dealing with the fallout. Having made a rash proclamation that Gadhaffi must go, he is being pulled to inevitable conclusions: an American president always seems bound to back his statements; if he’s protecting the Libyan people from Gadhaffi, the only real solution is regime change; if the rebels can’t do it, then he’s got to do it. This ‘doubling down’ effect is obvious in the new debate about arming the rebels. Arming rebels we don’t know or understand, but who we know have an al Qaeda component is insane. But, this whole episode is borderline ludicrous. With the basics of the strategy so awful, I find it hard not to be very, very critical.
I don’t see how this was handled “well”. Nor do I see Egypt as being in the ‘well done’ category. The long-term implications of undermining an ally will not be lost on this region: not by the Arabs and not by the Israelis. He now has an established track record as an unreliable partner. It’s already bit us in Bahrain . And, if we’re looking for places ancillary to our interests to ‘do good’, how about Ivory Coast, where a brutal dictator is currently engaged in killing his people. I am also increasingly angry about the sheer mendacity on display: “kinetic military action”; “we won’t be involved on the ground” (when we have CIA operatives there now); “humanitarian mission” when we’ve moved in A-10s and AC-130s to fly close support for the rebels. And, please, please don’t forget the abuse of the War Powers Act (to say nothing of Congress’ sole discretion to authorize military action) as we were not threatened with imminent attack, and his ‘notification’ efforts were perfunctory in the extreme. Waste, and sheer, utter, unmitigated incompetence always disappoint me. When it involves the treasure of the nation, and potentially the lives of our servicemen, it is unconscionable. Sorry, but this just boils my blood.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/30/11
Acting like Gaddafi, you win.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Acting like Gaddafi, you win.
As Rebel fighters are fleeing under fire from a key town in eastern Libya, it’s now apparent that the Obama administration will not forcefully remove Gaddafi from power. Whew. Guess who’s resting easy in Tripoli! Sure, the Obama Administration wants the tyrant tossed. Why else would U.S. warplanes be pounding his military? But dropping a hint and showing him the door are two different things. While allied forces convening in London today insist Gaddafi must go, they are clueless as to how they can achieve this end goal.
Hello out there?
It is clear that President Obama has begun an illegal war - and if not illegal, then an unwise and unauthorized one - war on the cheap is not new, and has predictable outcomes. I'm intrigued by how some reporters have actually said counterfactual things like, "allied air power prevented a blood bath." It isn't possible to know what allied air power prevented, we can only observe what it did, how many civilians have died from our trying to protect them? Air power's utility shrinks when the fighting goes urban and none of us can possibly know what's going on there. The air strikes have been limited to the eastern part of Libya, shielding and creating a rebel redoubt without imperiling Gaddafi's power base in western Libya.
Further, I’m baffled why this President is still hung up on “humanitarian” relief and that being part of the reason behind the mission. Did someone from the Nobel Committee phone the Oval Office in recent weeks and remind the president there is a return policy on his Peace Prize if he gets too far out there? Come on. The American people know what’s going on here. Gaddafi is running roughshod over the rebels, the United States needed to help. That meant killing as many pro-Gaddafi forces as we could find. To do anything else would send a message to other parts of the world that if you act like Mubarak in Egypt, you lose. If you act like Gaddafi, torturing and killing your own, you win.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/29/11
Paradox of Social Network vs Wealth and Equality
BY: Armstrong Williams
Paradox of Social Network vs Wealth and Equality
When the government provides you with a safety net that provides a comfortable living in the event of misfortune, you are less likely to save money. Before Social Security if you wanted a comfortable retirement you had to save. Before unemployment insurance if you lost your job you had to save. If you had a health issue you hoped you had saved enough
These circumstances force people to save money as a personal insurance policy. But now that we have social safety nets Americans are not required to save in order to maintain their economic status in the event of a change in life circumstances. Therefore government safety net programs, such as Social Security, unemployment benefits and national healthcare result in a much lower savings rate among working Americans. It is not surprising that as the American welfare state increases its reach, the wealthy become relatively more wealthy. The increased reach of welfare programs is bad, it is an indicator that working Americans are saving less and are unable to reap the benefits of having savings working for them in the form of investments.
If America wants to reduce its income and wealth disparity it needs to shrink the social safety network by enabling Americans to wean themselves off the welfare system through intelligent saving and educated investment.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/28/11
Why Donald Trump won't be president
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why Donald Trump won’t be president
I was a big fan of Donald Trump’s exploratory moves for the presidency. I saw those interviews the money mogul did on Fox News recently. I have to admit, I was impressed. He was poised, and told host Neil Cavuto he was “embarrassed” for this country. Ashamed that the world viewed us so poorly, and he was just the fella to try and right the ship of state. Aside from his usual ramblings about his money (I can’t see a blue collar worker subscribing to that), the Donald made a lot of sense.
Take note: I was a big fan…
I wish the comment wasn’t in the past tense. But then I watched Trump appear on a dayside show called The View on Wednesday, and he single-handedly tanked his entire campaign.
It was on that show that Donald tussled with Whoopi Goldberg. But the exchange was not over serious issues of how this country is in total debt; or why this president should have a better story to tell regarding Libya, Afghanistan…you name it. No, Donald Trump pulled a rookie move – he took the bait of a host who knows nothing about politics. He thought he was smarter than she was.
Donald engaged in an argument with Goldberg that no one – whether in Washington or elsewhere - believes is a serious policy concern, let alone a personal one. We’re talking about why or why not President Obama won’t show his birth certificate. Yep, the Donald is a “birther.” Give me a break, folks.
I know many Hill readers question why and where this president refuses to reveal his birth certificate, but every time anyone brings the topic up, they are immediately relegated to the “not serious” pile.
I’m sorry, it’s true. With all the issues facing this nation, and a wannabe leader of the free world chooses to have a deep conversation about whether Obama was born in this country? Please.
All Whoopi had to do was pull the race card, which she did, and Trump was in over his head. Oh, he won’t think so, but he was. It wasn’t even a serious forum. The View? That’s a venue where you wax nostalgic about your first kiss, or where you were when you watched your first Harry Potter movie with the kids. You don’t talk about political conspiracy theories. And you certainly don’t do it on a show where Whoopi’s producers have access to an APPLAUSE button for the audience to make her look good and you look like an imbecile.
I know Donald Trump is smart. But that might be part of his problem. He’s too smart for his own good. And the moment you start believing that you’re going to set a liberal host like Whoopi Goldberg or Barbara Walters straight, you lose.
That play might have worked on Rosie, but not here. If Donald Trump keeps pulling such amateur moves, he won’t be around long enough to get his exploratory committee off the ground.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/22/11
Six Billion Dollar Joke
BY: Armstrong Williams
Six Billion Dollar Joke?
During the Bush era I thoughts his budget deficit of several hundred billions dollars was irresponsible, until this new crop of leaders found there way into congress and gave new meaning to the word, irresponsible. They incurred budget deficits of 1.5 trillion dollars. The Democrats proposal to eliminate a mere SIX BILLION DOLLARS to close the deficit is a joke and we all should be insulted by this gesture. It's like sending one slice of bread to feed Haitian refugees after the earth quake in Port Au Prince.
6 billion dollars towards our deficit is less than 2/10 of 1% (.2) of the total budget. It's equivalent to somebody with a $45,000 yearly income who spends $65,000 a year trying to reduce their $20,000 overspending by $80.00 a year or someone with a $10,000 credit card bill making payments of $20 a year. It will take 500 years to pay off the credit card bill at 0% interest.
Congress needs to make a credible effort to trim spending, before our nation becomes another bankrupt state like Argentina.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/22/11
Time to define the Obama Doctrine
BY: Armstrong Williams
Time to define the Obama Doctrine
The current tenuous situation in Libya poses a big dilemma for this Administration. What baffles me is that it doesn’t have to be this way.
As the bombs fall and the missiles fly, it’s clear the world wants Gaddafi gone. Even the Arab League acknowledges that point. So for President Obama to state a similar line, there’s not much foreign policy wisdom flowing forth. Yet as Congressional voices grow louder for clarity on “the mission”, this White House has turned to some pretty lame reasons for the U.S.’s presence over Libya.
“Humanitarian actions” to protect the citizens of Libya…Is that the best they can do? When the President states he wants Gaddafi deposed, that should be enough. And yet we have an administration that is stepping on its message by releasing statements in the name of protecting the people of Libya. A noble cause, yes, but to carry that logic through, then shouldn’t this country have acted sooner and not waited until the tyrant’s forces were about to deliver the deathblow to the opposition?
Why now?
By the same token, Congressional Republicans should give the President some time to work both diplomatically and militarily to secure the country and establish necessary ties with UN allies. Hurling hollow questions of “what’s next??” doesn’t really advance any substantive debate. Not now. Further, the only thing we should be concerned with is finishing the job (and we know what that job is) and making sure our soldiers come home.
So now is the time for Obama to set his doctrine. Appearing in a joint media availability with the president of Chile won’t cut it (bad PR move, Mr. Carney). No, we need a major presidential address. Such an act would also set the stage for American foreign policy moves toward other totalitarian regimes who might be reconsidering their actions given the latest events.
The world is watching the United States. That’s a good place for us to be right now. It’s where we as a country thrive. Obama should embrace this moment; not dally with what to call a military offensive against a crazed tyrant.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/21/11
American Ingenuity
BY: Armstrong Williams
American Ingenuity
The Internet as we know it today started as a small Department of Defense project as early as 1969. Back then, the Pentagon was looking for an alternate way of communicating beyond the telephone system during wartime threats. The best plan was to communicate across a “web” of networked computers – a program that was to be run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Created just after the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1959 and long heralded as the wiz-bang arm of the Pentagon, DARPA quickly stepped into action and perfected the ARPANET as it was first called, by 1983.
Just think, American ingenuity has done what hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, thousands of soldiers’ lives, and all the might of the U.S. military war machine could not – spread democracy like a prairie fire.
Maybe that’s the lesson we as Americans can take from the volatile yet history-setting events unfolding half a world away. The desire for self-rule and independence is insatiable. No matter how big a stick we may carry, sometimes even the softest of words can wield the greatest influences.
Thought can in fact produce action, and spark a sense of community and solidarity, even when those passions are less than 140 characters. Didn’t we as a young people recognize this truism some 250 years ago? Only then, our rallying cries came in the form of Federalist Papers and words such as “Don’t Tread on Me.”
We are embarking on a new Age of Freedom. The world’s youth know this. To them, freedom rests in the palm of their hands. We as a beacon of that hope and representative government would serve ourselves well to keep looking for ways to share technology with them.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/18/11
Repatriating Offshore Profits
BY: Armstrong Williams
Repatriating Offshore Profits
One of the reasons that banks are less aggressive in lending to the private sector in a recession is that government regulators are more likely to “criticize” risky loans to the private sector. Banks with criticized loans are forced to write-down these loans and consequently have less money available to lend. There are more criticized loans in a recession, so banks have to rebuild their capital by reducing lending and lending only to the safest borrowers. Therefore in a recession, government bank regulators force banks to be more conservative in their lending to the private sector which leads the banks to buy more government bonds. In my more cynical moments, I wonder if the economic geniuses in the Treasury Department, Bank Regulatory Agencies and the Federal Reserve understand that they can force the banks to fund a larger portion of the huge federal deficit with cheap money by criticizing more bank loans to the private sector and crowding out private lending.
The analysis above assumes that all corporate excess money was kept in the US. As a practical matter much of the unused corporate money is in off shore accounts being invested in foreign government bonds and private foreign loans. It is not being spent in the US because US tax policy severely penalizes US companies that repatriate offshore profits. The US corporate tax rate is 35%, the highest in the developed world. The tax rates in Europe and Asia range from 10-25%. If US companies repatriate that money back to the US, they will have to pay an additional tax of 10-25% (the difference between the US corporate tax rate and the foreign tax rate.) For example, if Microsoft has $1 billion from profits in its Hong Kong account, it would have to pay a repatriation tax of 15%, $150 million, to the US government to repatriate the money back to the US. Are you surprised that they leave the money in Hong Kong? No other country materially taxes repatriated earnings made foreign countries. This means that they cannot spend, invest or distribute to shareholders the money from these offshore accounts in the US without a severe tax penalty!
The bottom line is that government tax and bank regulatory policy is responsible for much of the idle cash in corporate tills sitting on the side lines during this recession.
Read Armstrong Williams content on RightSideWire.com and listen daily on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/17/11
Leadership
Leadership
By Armstrong Williams -
The chickens have finally come home to roost.
We're at the 3 a.m. call that candidate Hillary Clinton foreshadowed during her 2008 presidential campaign. She warned that electing a president with little or no experience would place our nation in danger by not knowing what to do in times of crisis.
President Obama probably has good intentions, yet he continues to tread lightly on the world stage. At this very moment there is a clarion call for strong leadership from the United States as the lone superpower on earth. Many crises are constantly erupting around the globe and the world is screaming for leadership with backbone and clarity.
As much as some may believe in non-exceptionalism, we are exceptional and must provide guidance and vision through these turbulent times we find ourselves in. We are by default world leaders and must remove our heads from the sand and take up the task.
Leadership requires taking risks. Obama is risk-averse. To put it simply, a leader must lead, and not perpetually ruminate.
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Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/16/11
American benevolence in the wake of tragedy
BY: Armstrong Williams
American benevolence in the wake of tragedy
What happened in Japan is truly awful. In the wake of a devastating earthquake that shook the island nation to its very core lies destruction, loss of life, and a solemn emptiness that will be felt for generations. That’s the soul of the Japanese – they care for their own in unimaginable ways. From the manner in which they treat their country’s elderly (many remain with their families to their last days, not in institutions), to their disciplined work ethic, there is much to be admired. Just look at the story of those fearless 50 who, as I write this, are dug in deep of a nuclear reactor core trying to defuse that situation.
But another soul was laid bare this week in response to the tragedy – the benevolent, giving spirit of the American people. From our government to individuals such as The Hill readers, each gives of their time, talents and fortunes to help a people half a world away. Even $10 at a time makes a world of difference.
For example, hours after the quake struck, American churches were mobilizing. The Church of 7th Day Adventists set up relief stations for Japanese commuters who were trapped in subway cars due to loss of electrical power.
That’s what makes me proud to be an American. We don’t think to step up and step into the middle of the devastation. Our emergency response crews are on the next planes out of the country. The teams from Fairfax, Va… I swear they must live on planes and in vehicles – driving from one disaster area to the next.
We saw it in Haiti, New Zealand, and now in Japan. The American sense of giving is seemingly bottomless.
And that’s what the world needs right now. I’m not talking about a renewed sense of American exceptionalism. Forget that clap-trap for now. I’m talking about a plain, God-fearing sense of giving. Of love for a brother. No love is greater.
So let’s celebrate that today, even as we mourn for a nation in the throes of despair.
03/14/11
When’s crossing street safer than standing on curb?
Learning to cross the street safely is one of the first things a child is taught after he or she learns to walk. The first lesson: Cross at the crosswalk. Second, only cross when the pedestrian light is on. And, the cardinal rule: Always look both ways before crossing.
The financial markets made folly of these rules of thumb over the past three years, transforming once-seasoned street-crossers into mere toddlers overnight. People withdrew their investments from the roiling equity markets and sought safe havens in cash. Mattresses replaced major financial institutions as the most trusted stewards of national wealth.
Pedestrian investors came to no longer believe in the safety signals. After all, they had lost money on home mortgages that, up until 2008, were considered among the world's safest investments. Almost all the economic models showed that housing values would never decline. But decline they did. For those who lost their investments, it was like getting hit when the light was green. A few of the more cautious investors even looked both ways and foresaw the bursting mortgage bubble. They wisely moved into other investments, thinking that the crisis would be contained within the housing industry. They were wrong. The mess spilled into the overall economy, causing a global financial meltdown. The goody-two shoes got hit, too.
Those who managed to survive limped to the curb, where they stayed put for two years. The merest movement startled them. With a look of betrayal in their eyes, they looked up at their parents — the media pundits and the federal government — for answers. They instinctively reached for a comforting hand, placing their precious eggs in the federal government's nest. The year 2008 witnessed record purchases of U.S. treasuries by foreign and domestic investors looking for a safe place to ride out the storm.
The rush to safe haven started out as a reflexive, instinct-driven stampede, but quickly turned existential. Fear became the new normal. The question turned from "When is it really safe to cross the road?" to "Why would a chicken ever cross the road in the first place?" People were so concerned about preserving what little capital they had left that they lost all concern for how to grow their wealth. Not losing became the new winning.
But the hole was so deep that the government feared a downward economic spiral if it did not enable the worst drivers — those that in fact caused the crash — the nation's financial institutions. The mantra "too big to fail" echoed with mind-numbing repetition throughout the halls of government. Ultimately, the politicians heeded the call, propping up the banks with the largest bailouts in history. The government took most of the bad assets off the private firms' books and converted them into a public debt. After the bailouts, it was expected that the private financial institutions would be freed up to lend money to distressed individuals and businesses and get the economy rolling again.
But that didn't happen. As time has revealed, instead of using government largess to help troubled consumers and small businesses, the banks hoarded the cash, and compensated themselves handsomely. In fact, in 2009, less than a year after the government bailed them out, Wall Street rewarded itself with almost $144 billion, the largest compensation package in its history.
Moreover, the firms still held plenty of toxic mortgages on their books. And to add insult to injury: They lied about just needing to bail out their clients. After the dust settled, it came to light that Goldman Sachs, one of the supposedly least affected banks and one of the most arrogantly opposed to government regulation — received almost $3 billion in government funds to bail out its own losing trades.
Needless to say, investors were not impressed. They clung to the sidelines. There were, to borrow a term from the estimable Donald H. Rumsfeld, there were too many "unknown unknowns" out in the street. Meanwhile, the government's borrowing spree diluted the value of the dollar so much that yields on short-term treasuries trailed nominal inflation. Even while hugging the curb, investors were getting sideswiped. The second round of government debt issuance, QE 2, lowered returns on "safe money" further and forced shellshocked investors back into the street. As a result, the stock market rallied in the last months of 2010 and early 2011.
Many pundits celebrated the stock market rally as a sign of the return of consumer confidence. This was far from the case. The big, "dumb" money (as many Wall Street traders glibly refer to it) — institutional investors such as state pension funds and private insurance pools — could not survive on the near-zero interest rates they earned on public debt and were forced back into the street.
Their actuarial models, the means by which they paid claims, assumed risk-adjusted returns averaging between 5 percent and 8 percent. They were now earning less than 2 percent. Not only had they lost upwards of 40 percent of their capital in the downturn, but the anemic, jobless recovery combined with the retiring baby-boom population, placed serious strains on their resources. The risk of not crossing the street spelled certain failure, even as the unknown risks of crossing loomed.
The situation in the street is not much better (and maybe worse) than it was in 2008. The same large firms control the majority of the nation's financial assets. Only now, thanks to mergers and government bailouts, they're even bigger. Individuals at the helm of these firms largely escaped scrutiny, not to mention punishment, because the problem was chalked up to "systemic risk." Therefore, the same incentives that drove these firms to ignore the stop signs and run over pedestrians persist today. And one more thing: The U.S. government, supposedly the grown-up in the game, became the most risky institution in America.
When is crossing the street safer than standing on the curb? When there is no curb.
• "The Armstrong Williams Show" is broadcast on Sirius/XM Satellite's Power 169 channel from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter aat www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/12/11
Abortion and the 2012 Elections
BY: Armstrong Williams
Abortion and the 2012 Elections
Just when you thought the 2012 election cycle would be all about economic and domestic policies, the third rail of social politics - abortion – rears its head.
The latest chapter in our nation’s struggles over what to do about the topic unfolds out of Texas. The Lone Star State’s General Assembly has approved separate bills in both the House and Senate forcing women seeking abortions to also get a sonogram 24 hours prior to the procedure.
Women’s rights groups howled. Democratic lawmakers in the Texas legislature cried foul.
But what were the complaints? Republicans pushing the bill said it only seems fair and right to ask a woman who was about to make one of the most difficult decisions of her life to a) think about it an extra day; and b) to at least understand that the fetus she was about to abort was in fact a living entity with a heartbeat. Is that so wrong?
Opponents didn’t challenge those fundamental questions. Instead, they chose to trot out traditional lofty statements such as “the reproductive rights of women will be set back generations…” and “this interferes with the doctor-patient relationship…” yadda yadda yadda.
"It is not the jelly on the belly that most of you think. This is government intrusion at its best," said Texas state Rep. Carol Alvarado during a debate on the House floor last week. That’s correct, this procedure would involve an ultrasound scan in the woman’s uterus. No question, that is invasive. But isn’t, too, an abortion? Isn’t that invasive?
If abortions should in fact be “legal yet rare” in this country, then doesn’t everyone contemplating such a move owe it to themselves and the unborn to at least THINK about it first?
That’s what bothers me most about the pro-abortion movement, especially as these arguments evolve through the decades. At first, it was “life of the mother.” Then it was “health” which opened to mental health, and that was loosely translated to mean, “Well, if she’s going to be depressed by the thought of having a kid, then let’s go ahead and offer abortions there, too.”
I’m sorry, this is a difficult decision. And I think women (and the fathers of these children) to not have to avoid the very real thoughts and anguish that go into the action of terminating a heartbeat shouldn't be allowed to proceed with an abortion. Unfortunately in life, one must pay a high price to learn a valuable lesson. And the price of abortion should come with such a lesson.
Since when do we in this country owe it to any citizen – man or woman – that they don’t have to think about the consequences of their actions? After all, isn’t that all the Texas bill is asking – that potential mothers and fathers consider what the outcomes of their decisions may be?
If abortion is to return to the stage of national politics on this particular question, then let it be so. For such is a debate that perhaps we should have, and on many levels. Whether in how we spend taxpayer dollars, ration health care, or fund priorities, we as a society cannot continue to believe that the decisions each of us makes have no bearing, impact, or weight on who we are as human beings. To protect life is to be human.
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03/11/11
Michael Moore's Hypocrisy
BY: Armstrong Williams
Subject: Michael Moore's Hypocrisy
Michael Moore says the top 400 richest Americans' wealth now exceeds the cumulative affluence of bottom 50% of American population, 155 million people. For all of Michael Moore's faults, this statement is true. However, the message he attempts to make is impotent due to his own hypocrisy and his shallow understanding of why the wealthy are prosperous.
What’s strikes about Michael Moore is that he is a man that rails against capitalism and recently said, “…(rich people’s money) is not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this -- we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it." For those that don’t know, Michael Moore is worth over $50 million. He made that fortune in our capitalist system by being a capitalist himself. I don’t see Mr. Moore rushing to give away his millions to the bottom 50% of income earners, nor have I heard that he voluntarily donated millions to the federal government.
So the hypocrite, Michael Moore, also commented on the poor state of affluence in the African American community, basically laying the blame for their economic plight at eh feet of the wealthy. What he fails to do is look at the root causes of the African American poverty, causes that are true of the impoverished of every demographic.
The first reason is the decline of the African America family reflected by low rates of marriage and high rate of out of wedlock births approaching 80%. Next is the lack of business and entrepreneurial culture that encourages savings and creates wealth. There is also an over dependence on government programs which discourage savings because the government will bail you out. Finally is the prevalence of the “victim mentality” which says it is not worth pursuing the American dream because of racism.
If Michael Moore is correct, then it’s a reasonable guesstimate that the top 20 wealthiest Americans’ wealth exceeds the combined wealth of the entire African American population. This assumes cumulative wealth of the top 20 of only $400 billion (Gates and Buffett are $100 billion combined) and it assumes average wealth among 40 million African Americans of $10,000 per capita, which is very high.
It's not a surprise that the top 400 wealthiest Americans owns more than the bottom 50% combined. These individuals continue to exemplify superior financial stewardship, which embodies the wise us of the resources they continue to multiply.
This is a result of values that include a clear culture of entrepreneurship. Remember, 75% of the people in the Forbes 400 were not on this list 25 years ago. This reminds us that the top 80% of the wealth earners are self-made… just like Michael Moore.
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03/10/11
Time for the U.S. to step in on Libyan civil war
BY: Armstrong Williams
Time for the U.S. to step in on Libyan civil war
A lot has been written and said recently over the United States’ position with respect to the Libyan government’s conflict with its people. The situation on the ground is near levels of full scale civil war. And after this weekend, it appears Col. Gaddafi seems to be taking back what many rebels captured in the initial throes of this campaign.
That’s unfortunate, and I would argue certainly not in the best interests of the U.S. nor for stability in the region. Concepts of “the devil I know…” are continuously brought up when comparing the tyrant to what could replace him in that leadership vacuum.
But the potential for terror far outweighs any downsides of a leaderless Libya, at least in my mind. And for these reasons, the United States should begin to get more engaged in the region. A few reasons:
First, the “leaderless” part of Libya’s new storyline following the fall of Gaddafi won’t last long. Just as in years past, someone from inside the country will step forward, and the U.S. and our allies will ease in that transition, if only with human aid and funds alone. That form of diplomacy we’re pretty good at.
Second, as former ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton recently stated, the window for the U.S. to actually make a difference and impact the outcome of this conflict is rapidly closing. Gaddafi’s henchmen are suppressing the opposition. If we wait too long, there may be no one left to help. At least not in any organized, systematic way.
Sen. John McCain agrees. That’s why he’s called for some sort of enforcement of a no-fly zone and an enhanced American presence in the country.
No one is talking about troops. Even if they were, the public’s appetite just isn’t there. But the president is missing an opportunity here to exert some foreign affairs leadership. Gaddafi is certifiable. No one disputes that.
Now is not the time to be timid. By the same token, we don’t need another Iraq or Afghanistan. Yet we shouldn’t let our apprehensions over those two conflicts cloud the good judgment that Libya is a country where the U.S. can step in and end this charade Gaddafi has perpetuated for too long.
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03/08/11
A new playing field in the Senate
BY: Armstrong Williams
A new playing field in the Senate
Tuesday, March 8 Blog
GOP fundraising firms and political operatives are smacking their chops lately over the playing field that is shaping up in the U.S. Senate come 2012. For many, the reality that five Democratic Senators would already hang up their spurs and ride off in the sunset never really crossed their minds.
Yet that is what’s happened in recent months. From Joe Lieberman (I-CT), a recovering Democrat who ran as an independent to Sens. Kent Conrad (ND), Daniel Akaka (HI), Jim Webb (VA) and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, many stalwarts of the chamber are packing it in.
A recent story inside the Beltway pegged the Senators as tired of “the grind” of every cycle, having to raise money and grip and grin through the election season. But I sense it’s more than that. After all, these folks belong to the most exclusive club in the world. Being in the Senate isn’t exactly retail politics, especially when you only have to run every six years, and fundraising is made all the more easy since every Senator chairs at least one committee or subcommittee. The constituencies are there to generate the cash.
No, this is much bigger, and much worse for the Democratic Party. They’re tired of defending the liberal agenda of President Obama. And the deck is stacked against them for the next 18 months.
For states such as Virginia, North Dakota and even now in Hawaii, it’s not so easy to kow-tow to an agenda as far left as Obama’s. They saw the writing on the wall, and I can’t say that I blame them for throwing in the towel so early when this president has seemingly doubled down on his blueprint.
At least two more are quietly mulling their future. Nebraska’s Ben Nelson and Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl have been rumored as pondering exits of their own. Nelson would certainly feel the heat in his home state, and not just from the Tea Party. Independents are scratching their hands over his votes in recent years, and what exactly this “free-thinker” was thinking when he cast AYE for so many of Obama’s plans.
A path is now open to that magical number of 51 in the Senate for Mitch McConnell. The stakes are much higher, on both sides. Majority Leader Reid can’t count on his party faithful to toe the line as regularly as before. This also means Sen. McConnell needs to pay more attention to how his House counterparts are faring on key items such as spending reductions. For soon, he could have the opportunity to move their actions forward in a body that now has no appetite for these conservative actions.
These next few months will spin an interesting tale of politics and policy. I’d watch for several more “mavericks” step out, and several new faces emerge to take leadership roles on both sides of the aisle.
www.rightsidewire.com
03/07/11
Unintended consequences
Unfortunately, President Obama does not understand the basic laws of physics. Isaac Newton's third law of motion states that for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. Nor does Mr. Obama understand the basic principles of economics, including the law of unintended consequences and creating a "moral hazard." A moral hazard is created when a person behaves differently from how he would have if he had to bear the risks of his behavior.
Every time Mr. Obama attempts to repair a problem by government intervention, he creates a more serious problem. An example of the law of unintended consequences is the president's attempt to solve the financial crises by increasing the regulation of the American financial system.
These attempts over time "to fix and regulate" the financial markets have resulted in the loss of U.S. dominance in the financial sector. The most recent egregious example of this loss is the potential German acquisition of the iconic New York Stock Exchange.
Another example of the law of unintended consequences includes the stimulus spending programs that fail to create jobs but result in the ballooning of our national debt. The stimulus spending took money from the efficiently run private sector in the form of higher taxes and reduced availability of debt and spent it in the inefficient public sector. Jobs created by public-sector spending merely displaced jobs lost by forgone private-sector spending. There are too many moving parts to the American economy for one individual, even a very smart one, to consistently predict the outcome of government intervention in the economy.
The president has created a number of moral hazards by trying to bail out Americans whose risky behavior got them into trouble. An example of the moral hazard being created in Washington is the attempt to relieve monthly payments of families in economic distress whose mortgages are under water. As a result of this program, taxpayers who lived modestly, saved and did not overextend themselves with mortgage debt are being asked to subsidize their profligate neighbors who bought bigger houses than they could afford.
No discussion about unintended consequences can fail to mention the health care bill. The president and congressional Democrats insisted that the bill, which they acknowledged not actually reading, decreases health insurance rates, providing affordable (or even "free") care for everyone. When the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the initiative would make health care more expensive, the Democrats told the American people that the CBO was wrong and then insisted it check again. As if by magic, the CBO took another look and declared it was wrong and that the federal government would make money if it suddenly took over a third of the economy.
After the bill was enacted, major corporations suddenly started saying they would have to drop their health care benefits unless the government gave them a waiver. Health insurance companies announced that rates would be skyrocketing because of mandates in the law. And the CBO came back and stated that the revised findings were wrong and that Obamacare would cost $1 trillion over the next decade. Does that sound like a fiscally responsible bill when our country is $14 trillion in debt?
The most egregious moral hazard has been created in the financial and business sector where companies and banks that are "too big to fail" have been bailed out with taxpayer money. These institutions include General Motors, Chrysler, Citibank, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Institutions that paid fat bonuses to executives and outrageous benefits to union workers were rescued by taxpayer money when they should have gone bankrupt. With an institution that is "too big to fail," it is "heads, I win" with risky behavior, and "tails," the taxpayer loses when risky behavior results in financial losses.
Of course, the president isn't the first to be struck with this malady, but it seems to affect politicians more than any other group. Part of the reason is that they are always beholden to their base and the interest groups that financially support them. This causes them to constantly overlook the ways policy harms the whole of society in favor of helping the small group. Then there is the fact that politicians regularly get upset when the CBO and independent commissions call them on the detrimental consequences of the latest policy. The politicians then respond in one of two ways: They either tell the CBO/commissions that the findings are wrong and to come back with another answer more suited to that politician's sensibilities, or they commit fraud and send inaccurate numbers (while hiding additional funding in other bills) in order to produce a more "pleasing" conclusion.
Is it too much to ask our president to consider all the ramifications before shoving another ill-advised policy down the throats of the American people? We've seen time and time again that Mr. Obama is slow to come to any conclusion or policy decision like in the Afghanistan surge and addressing the crises in Egypt and Libya. So why not take the time to examine all the outcomes first? Then have an honest discussion with the American public about the pros and the cons of a decision. Not only will it force the president to deal with unintended consequences, but it also would elevate the public discourse by creating a more informed electorate.
• Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/07/11
Creating Moral Hazards
BY: Armstrong Williams
Creating Moral Hazards
President Obama has created a number of moral hazards by trying to bail out Americans whose risky behavior got them into trouble. An example of the moral hazard being created in Washington is the attempt to relieve monthly mortgage payments of families in economic distress whose mortgages are under water. As a result of this program, taxpayers who lived modestly, saved and did not over-extend themselves with excessive mortgage debt are being asked to subsidize their profligate neighbors who bought bigger houses than they could afford.
The most egregious moral hazard has been created in the financial and business sector where companies and banks that are “too big to fail” have been bailed out with taxpayer money. These institutions include GM, Chrysler, Citibank, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Institutions that paid fat bonuses to executives and outrageous benefits to union workers were rescued by taxpayer money when they should have gone bankrupt. With an institution that is “too big to fail”, it is “heads, I win” with risky behavior; and “tails”, the taxpayer looses when risky behavior results in financial losses.
www.rightsidewire.com
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/04/11
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
BY: Armstrong Williams
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves"
The popular uprisings of recent weeks are home-grown reactions to the oppression everyday people have suffered from successive governments going all the way back to the Ottoman Empire. They are an indication that theocracies as a form of government do not measure up to the realities of today’s world. The demonstrations thus viewed, denote the growing political maturity in the Arab world. With a relatively young population, they have access to the West through the television and the social media. They are eager to join the rest of the world and they admire American prosperity. The reigning regimes in much of the Arab world are holdovers from a bygone era. They came to power at a time in which the West was concerned about Soviet expansionism and Israel was concerned about Islamic extremism.
It is inconsistent with Christian ideals and values for America to cynically bolster political regimes in the Arab world that deny their people the basic freedoms that we almost take for granted in the West. One of our greatest leaders, Abraham Lincoln, famously said that "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, cannot long retain it." Our continued freedom is dependent upon fulfilling our moral duty to fight for the freedom of people in the Arab world. There are risks to taking a principled stand. As we know from our own revolutionary war, many people were afraid that radical elements within the American society would upset the order that had been established by the British. Not all colonial citizens supported the acts of the Constitutional Convention; and certainly the American nation that emerged was not without its flaws. There was and remains a crack in the liberty bell.
Unlike Egypt, however, America was blessed with the opportunity to grow and mature in ‘splendid isolation.’ We enjoyed an abundant land and a wide sea separating us from the political intrigue and factiousness of Europe and Asia. We had time to develop our nation – time Egypt and the Arab world unfortunately, may not have. The world is so interconnected that nascent democracies will be instantly burdened with the demands placed on mature nations. This is not yesterday’s American Revolution.
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Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/03/11
Why we might need a government shutdown
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why we might need a government shutdown
The cable daysides are chock full of stories lately over what Federal offices and monuments would close and what would remain open in the event of a government shutdown resulting from the budget showdown.
The usual cries abound over Social Security checks halting (not likely) and post offices closing (who cares).
But a closing of Federal doors for a few days, weeks, or even months – while it would have short-term consequences – might not be a bad thing in the long run.
Think about it, we are on a collision course with bankruptcy now. By that I mean we have more outstanding debts against us than we do money to pay for it. The Treasury might be able to move billions around to stave off the crisis for years at a time, but sooner or later, someone needs to get paid. It’s that real, and that serious.
Add to the equation that, all things being equal, this problem only exacerbates by the days and years. We’re not getting better, despite House Republicans’ best efforts. We’re getting worse – deeper into debt.
So the reality is, at some point, maybe not in our lifetimes, the government could easily shut down. Not because of partisan wrangling and weak threats of politicians walking away, but due to the simple fact that our creditors around the world come calling. It could happen sooner if they all decided to do it at once, but our diplomatic prowess would prevent such an effort.
So if the government shut down now, we as a nation would certainly feel its effects. It would be devastating. But what if a shutdown today meant that our leaders would get their butts into gear to prevent total collapse of the economy as we know it in say, 20 years? Because NO American, Democrat or Republican, would ever let the effects of a shutdown happen again. They would march on Washington by the hundreds of thousands.
It would be the financial equivalent of 3-mile Island – when the threat of a meltdown set the nuclear power race back by decades. It would crystalize in the minds of every American just how horrific and unnecessary such a crisis would be.
In other words, friends, we as a nation may need to SEE a shutdown to prevent the real, much worse, version from ever occurring in our country.
It’s sad that our nation’s leaders play a glorified game of chicken today surrounding such a serious issue, and yet they still don’t appreciate it enough to do anything about it.
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Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
03/02/11
Misguided Celebration
Many pundits celebrated the stock market rally as a sign of the return of consumer confidence. This was far from the case. The big ‘dumb’ money (as many Wall Street traders glibly refer to it) – institutional investors such as state pension funds and private insurance pools – could not survive on the near zero interest rates they earned on public debt, and were forced back into the street. Their actuarial models, the means by which they paid claims, assumed risk-adjusted returns averaging between 5-8%. They were now earning less than 2%. Not only had they lost upwards of 40% of their capital in the downturn, but the anemic, jobless recovery combined with the retiring baby boom population, placed serious strains on their resources. The risk of not crossing the street spelled certain failure, even as the unknown risks of crossing loomed.
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03/01/11
Obama in search of a more pleasing conclusion
BY: Armstrong Williams
Obama in search of a more pleasing conclusion.
President Barack Obama isn’t the first to be struck with the malady that he finds himself in, but it seems to affect politicians more than any other group. Part of the reason is that they are always beholden to their base and the interest groups that financially support them. This causes them to constantly overlook the ways policy harms the whole of society in favor of helping the small group. Then there is the fact that politicians regularly get upset when the Congressional Budget Office and independent commissions call them on the detrimental consequences of the latest policy. The politicians then respond in one of two ways- they either tell the CBO/commissions that the findings are wrong and to come back with another answer more suited to that politician’s sensibilities, or they commit fraud and send inaccurate numbers (while hiding additional funding in other bills) in order to produce a more… “pleasing” conclusion.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/28/11
Principle Over Political Expediency
Some startling revelations have come out of the fracas going on in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature facing off against public-sector unions, namely the teachers union.
From 2001 to 2010, Wisconsin taxpayers paid more than $8 billion for state employee health care coverage, while state employees contributed $398 million, less than 5 percent of the total costs. From 2000 to 2009, taxpayers paid $12.6 billion for public employee pensions, while the employees contributed $55.4 million, less than 0.5 percent of the total cost.
Public employees are guaranteed final salaries for life. Not only that, you get to add on other positions for mega pensions. So if you were a firefighter and a teacher, you get two pensions at your last salary in both jobs. Retired public employees regularly receive pension in excess of $100,000, again — guaranteed for life. And who pays for these folks not to work? You and I, the taxpayers. We are their meal tickets for their entire lives, yet when times are tough and we ask them to share the burden, they yell and scream that they are entitled to every penny they never had to contribute.
And many will claim the disparity between private- and public-sector pay as a reason that public employees should receive such largesse.
However, study after study is showing that government employees are making more than their private-sector contemporaries, especially on the lower/middle part of the economic scale. So not only do they get paid better, they get annual cost-of-living increases, locality adjustments, inflation adjustments, full medical and, of course, the obscenely great pension.
Most people should be horrified and shocked by this terrible imbalance. Unions need to be cut down to some level of normalcy and reality. It's not that we're anti-union and they're bad people, it's just that taxpayers can ill afford to foot this bill.
The protests also have helped to shine a light on the inherent problems when public-sector unions negotiate with government. Public-sector unions give major contributions to elected officials with whom they negotiate. This is the same as if the Teamsters bribed and helped appoint the CEO of Southwest Airlines in order to then negotiate a better deal that would actually harm Southwest.
The other major difference is that if the hypothetical Teamster CEO gives into the union to the detriment of the company, the company goes bankrupt and everyone loses their job. The private-sector unions have incentives to compromise in order to guarantee the health of the company (GM, their union and government bailouts being the exception).
Politicians have no such incentive to generally oppose public union demands — they get re-election support and boot the real financial problems of such lousy contracts down the line to their eventual successors. That way they can lie and promise the world because they are never going to be truly held accountable when the whole Ponzi scheme falls apart. This is no different from what Bernie Madoff did, yet the public, and especially the progressives, liberals and union lackeys, lap it up and sanctimoniously justify it.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said it best the other day while addressing the New Jersey state firefighters convention. "Here's the deal: I understand you're angry, and I understand you're frustrated, and I understand you feel deceived and betrayed." He continued, "For 20 years, governors have come into this room and lied to you, promised you benefits that they had no way of paying for, making promises they knew they couldn't keep, and just hoping that they wouldn't be the man or woman left holding the bag. I understand why you feel angry and betrayed and deceived by those people. Here's what I don't understand. Why are you booing the first guy who came in here and told you the truth?
"The way we used to think about politics and, unfortunately, the way I fear they're thinking about politics still in Washington" incorporates "the old playbook, [which] says, 'Lie, deceive, obfuscate and make it to the next election.'"
After seeing a report noting that New Jerseys pensions will be insolvent by 2020, he was told not to worry about it because he wont be governor anymore. "That's the way politics has been practiced in our country for too long. … So I said to those firefighters, 'You may hate me now, but 15 years from now, when you have a pension to collect because of what I did, you'll be looking for my address on the Internet so you can send me a thank-you note."
It puzzles me to no end that the left (and, unfortunately, several on the right) cannot recognize that their agendas and ideas for foolishly spending taxpayers money is jeopardizing this country's future, plunging us into debt and attaching the strings that make us puppets to foreign masters. Public employee unions and their lavish guaranteed benefits are major causes of the coming collapse, yet too many would rather focus on what they perceive as their due today rather than assure they and their fellow Americans have something to share tomorrow.
• Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7 to 8 p.m. and 4 to 5 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/25/11
Individuals assuming responsibility
BY: Armstrong Williams
Individual assuming responsibility.
Many Americans believe that the government can solve people's financial problems created by the Great Recession. The siren calls of President Obama and the liberal congressional democrats promise to ease their economic pains by having the government provide a blanket safety net insurance policy for all that may go wrong. Like any insurance policy, this safety net insurance policy comes at enormous costs. The upfront economic costs include higher taxes to fund larger government and the redistribution of income. The long term costs include economic stagnation and the loss of individual freedom. With the power of the purse, the politicians and government bureaucrats impose economic serfdom on Americans by deciding what is good and what is not good for the individual Americans.
The system works because individuals assume responsibility for themselves. If there is no incentive to benefit from the fruits of your labor or disincentive to suffer from indolence or risky behavior, why bother working at all? So that others may benefit? Most people are not built that way.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/24/11
District needs its own Tea Party
District needs its own Tea Party
by Armstrong Williams
If you’ve been following the latest shenanigans of elected officials running the District of Columbia, it’s easy to understand why the city is so messed up. I’m referring, of course, to Lincoln-gate where DC City Council Chairman Kwame Brown ordered not one, but two 2011 Lincoln Navigator SUVs for his official use. Why two? Why not? Well, he didn’t like the color of the interior on the first one the city ordered at nearly $2,000 per month in leases.
It appears Mr. Brown wanted a “black on black” SUV and no other color combination would work. The reason he gave is that model “holds its value” longer than any other. So now the Chairman is cost-conscious? How pathetic. What Mr. Brown hopes readers don’t remember is his insistence that the SUV be “fully loaded”, including a DVD player in the back seat. I don’t even want to know the reason behind that request.
Late last week, the chairman saw the error of his ways and is now returning the vehicles. The sad irony here is we may never have learned of any of this – including Brown’s personal insistence on such minor (and meaningless) details – if not for a Freedom of Information Act request by area reporters.
Worse still, why do these politicians feel they can flaunt and fiddle with the trappings of office and use their public positions for personal gain? Is this town stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to transparency and stewardship of the public coffers?
It’s time for a Tea Party movement to form in the District, and I’m not referring to the kind that leans right and votes conservative. We’ll never see that in my lifetime. No, we need a movement that is willing to stand up and wag a finger in the faces of the Kwame Browns who claim to “take full responsibility” and then walk away without justifying such a statement. One which asks why a city that’s $400 million in debt should even THINK about paying for a lease that’s over $1,900 a month when its residents struggle to make that in two months. One that’s tailor-made for this type of political corruption.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/23/11
Choice isn't left or right.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Choice isn't left or right.
The biggest mistake Gov. Walker and the Wisconsin Republicans are making is that they are only taking on Democrat friendly public employee unions (namely the teachers’ union) while laying off typical GOP supported unions like the firefighters and police. He is also not cutting the pensions of elected officials. Thus, making the current budget/union fight look more like a GOP powerplay than a legitimate attempt to solve a budget problem.
If Gov. Walker had started by cutting elected and appointed government officials’ benefits first and foremost, he would have shown the mark a truly leader by sharing in the sacrifice. Then, he needed to include all other public employee union- police, firefighters, teachers, etc- in order to demonstrate this was an issue that went beyond politics. With the added legitimacy of his own sacrifice established, he could have truly made the case that “we are all in it together.”
The choice right now isn’t left or right, it’s whether we come together and overcome our budget plight or fight against each other while America falls.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/22/11
Symbolic death of American finance
BY: Armstrong Williams
Symbolic death of American finance.
The Liberals should now be very happy. They have finally chased the symbol of American capitalism out of the United States. Over the past few days the New York Stock exchange has been negotiating to sell itself to Deutsche Borse, a German company. Over the past decade the number of international IPO's have significantly declined. The number of foreign company's choosing to list their shares on American exchanges significantly declined. This is a direct result of four major trends in our country.
1. Excessive taxes. The US corporate tax is th highest in the world.
2. Excessive regulation. Sarbanes/Oxley put the final shackles on the security industry, making it much more expensive to be a public company in the USA.
3. Excessive litigation. America derivative action lawsuits enabled shyster lawyers to continually harass public companies in an attempt to extort money for minor infractions.
The Financial community symbolizes by the NYSE was the driving force of a successful American capitalistic economy for over 200 years. It was the driving force of New York's economy. It provided financing for numerous American companies seeking capital. Thanks to the Liberal impulse to over tax, over regulate, and over litigage American business will be force to go off shore in seeking capital.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/22/11
The question about Wisconsin
Two points jump out at me as I watch the union protests in Wisconsin.
First, the "new era of civility" is over, and second, union myrmidons continue to put their self-interests above the rest of the taxpayers and the nation.
If you recall after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona Democrat, was shot Jan. 8, the left was quick to vilify the right for so-called vitriol and hostile rhetoric. They claimed suspected gunman Jared Loughner to be the poster child for what happens to normal folks who listen too much to conservative radio or television hosts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Except, we found out that was all a red herring; Mr. Loughner turned out to be a fairly apolitical nut job. Still, CNN, President Obama and others demanded that we "tone down the rhetoric."
Yet now I see Mr. Obama accuse Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, of an "assault on unions." Sounds like violent rhetoric to me. I also see that the union protesters are carrying signs comparing Mr. Walker and other Republicans to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Nazis, as well as several with Mr. Walker in target cross hairs.
Well, I guess it was a nice, "civil" three weeks. Civility is not the main concern that the protests reveal, but I do find it amusing and disappointing at the same time.
The most glaring issue that these protests demonstrate is a classic case of "good enough for thee but not for me." Union members and their leaders don't care if folks in the private sector are suffering from the bad economy. They don't care if state and federal budgets are running major deficits and are at the tipping point of collapse. Nope, they just want the pensions and benefits to which they believe they are "entitled."
No matter that their insanely great benefits will be downgraded to insanely good (still light-years better than you'll find in the private sector). They claim they are shutting down schools to help the children, yet are totally ignoring the fact that they are saddling these children with unmanageable debt as well as not performing their job to educate kids and wasting tax dollars. Yep, you sure are caring and unselfish when you think paying in 12 percent into your retirement plan is a grossly unfair burden, but forcing your kids to pay higher taxes, receive less services and have a generally lower quality of life because you helped bankrupt America is perfectly kosher.
What happens if the rest of Americans, those not on the public pension dole, get sick of the unions' whining and start counterprotesting. In hard times, don't the progressives preach that we need to share the burden, "from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs"? I guess such lofty sentiments apply only as long as you aren't the one having to give up something for the good of society.
Some are calling the Wisconsin Democrats patriots for fleeing the state rather than attempting to debate or negotiate the bill. Imagine the screams of such a cowardly and childish act if the Republicans left Washington to prevent passage of Obamacare? I guess this is what Mr. Obama meant when he said those not on board with his agenda should "take their ball and go home," except it's his supporters who must employ such tactics rather than man their posts and attempt to sway Republicans that this bill might not be the best way to help the budget and their constituents.
While the left is busy heralding the protesters, I want to sing the praises of the few politicians who are actually trying to practice fiscal responsibility rather than give it the usual lip service. Mr. Obama and the Republican legislators could learn something from Mr. Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, California Gov. Jerry Brown, etc. — we are living in a time of tough choices, and we cannot sustain the entitlement spending. Of the cuts the administration and Republicans are endorsing for the federal budget, zero is cut from Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, etc. Instead, they keep shaving from discretionary spending.
Do you realize that they could cut 100 percent of discretionary spending and we would still have a deficit? Did you know that if they cut not only all discretionary spending but also 100 percent of the defense budget we would still run only a minuscule surplus? That's how much the government is paying in entitlements and debt — nearly 100 percent of its income. It's like giving a cow a haircut and expecting to get a fat-free steak as a result.
Fiscal responsibility has to come from somewhere. It sure isn't coming from Washington, despite the November elections and the unmistakable demand for financial accountability. That's why any governor who is willing to publicize the burden that unions and entitlements are placing on the states and countries needs to be commended rather than scorned.
Maybe the unions should put down their "GOP=Nazi" placards and spend more time actually working with the government and Republicans to hammer out a compromise that puts America first instead of demanding that things stay the same while whining and protesting about their own selfish needs and entitlements.
• Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Become a fan on Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/21/11
Peculiar politics in Minnesota
BY: Armstrong Williams
Peculiar politics in Minnesota
Reeling from deficits and future shortfalls, Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota has proposed a bold (or downright stupid) plan that would tax his state’s wealthiest denizens more punitively than many others across the country, and certainly more than his neighbors.
The Democrat governor’s plan would impose nearly an 11% income tax rate, along with a 3% income surtax on those with incomes over $500,000, followed by even higher property taxes on their homes. In his infinite wisdom, the governor is taking a page out of Obamanomics where he believes the wealthy contain all the solutions to what ails the Democrats’ spending problems – or at least their money does.
Apparently, Gov. Dayton believes in the old saw, “give til it hurts.” To hear his office respond, the governor is simply trying to balance the budget. So does he succeed with such a confiscatory scheme? Uh, no. You heard right, folks. Even with the punitive taxes, and the near certain reality that many of these folks will simply slip across the borders should such a plan go through, Gov. Dayton’s plan would only trim his state’s deficit by half. Half. Jacking taxes to the levels only seen in France and Germany, and this so-called budget can’t even eliminate his own state’s deficit? C’mon.
But think about it: even then, this shortfall gap he’s trying to close is only for one year! There may be spending cuts, but the tax hikes will remain. What does the governor propose for future years?
The point here is, once again, Democrats only want to treat the symptoms, never the problems of their spending disease. More taxes aren’t the answer; not at those levels, and not singling out specific elements of society. It only stokes the flames of class warfare that will take years to douse. It’s no wonder the House Republican Speaker called the plan “pathetic.” One would think the governor would approach such a serious problem with more serious ideas and workable solutions.
His plan is naive and counterproductive . Most wealthy people create their wealth not through jobs located at a particular location, but by creating value added to the economy. This is in the form of entrepreneurial activity, creativity, hardwork, and constant motivation. These attributes are easily transportable out of state to the detriment of the remainding state citizens who are deficient in these skills. Consequently with the movement of these wealthy people, they not only take the income, but also the jobs they create and the support of the civic activities. I am certain the governor's of Florida, TX, and Tennessee who have no income taxes, would welcome the wealthy tax refugees from Minnesota.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/18/11
America to Wisconsin: President & Democrats declares war against fiscal responsibility
BY: Armstrong Williams
America to Wisconsin: President & Democrats declares war against fiscal responsibility
Some are calling the Wisconsin democrats patriots for fleeing the
state rather than attempting to debate or negotiate the bill. Imagine
the screams of such a cowardly and childish act if the Republicans had
left DC to prevent passage of ObamaCare? I guess this is what Obama
meant when he said those not on board with his agenda should “take
their ball and go home,” except its his supporters that must employ
such tactics rather than man their posts and attempt to sway
Republicans that this bill might not be the best way to help the
budget and their constituents.
While the left is busy heralding the protesters, I want to sing the
praises of the few politicians that are actually trying to practice
fiscal responsibility rather than give it the usual lip service.
President Obama and the Republican legislators could learn something
from Gov. Walker, Gov. Christie, Gov. Jerry Brown, etc.- we are living
in a time of tough choices, we cannot sustain the entitlement
spending.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/18/11
The purpose of mass education
BY: Armstrong Williams
The purpose of Mass Education
Mass education has two components. The first is to impart knowledge to children that they need to effectively function as a member of society. This includes literacy, basic arithmetic, and a basic understanding of civics in order to participate in our republic. At a higher level this imparts technical knowledge to various professionals, technicians, and artisans.
The second function is a sifting process, designed to separate the wheat from the shaft. It recognizes that not everyone can become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. It gives employers a basis for choosing the most appropriate employees for various jobs.
Generally speaking no matter how much you educate the population, human intelligence and skills are distributed along a bell curve. The talented ten will tend to land the best jobs while the least talented at the other end of the curve will get the least desirable jobs
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/13/11
National anthem is more than a song
I've read (and maybe even said) some incendiary things through the years that were designed to elicit a response or stoke the ire of readers in order to initiate a frank conversation. But a recent piece by national columnist Kevin Blackistone makes even the seasoned political watcher cringe.
In his recent missive titled "Time to Turn Off National Anthem Before Sports Events," Mr. Blackistone argues that the singing of the national anthem at sporting events has outlived its purpose. He submits that very few Americans even know the song and suggests that still fewer can recall why the words were written in the first place. There's nothing about playing T-ball that should hearken memories of a lopsided British attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
"Sports," Mr. Blackistone writes, "have and continue to ritualize [the anthem] with barely a shred of relevance."
Singing a song about soldiers raising a flag following hours of cannon bombardment may have little to do with the indoor soccer game parents are watching, but that same song does remind everyone at that game that they stand there because of American sacrifice.
Blood was shed so that we might be free. When we say that soldiers "will never be forgotten," shouldn't we mean it? We honor and commemorate their lives and the sacrifices they made for us by remembering them. That's why we sing the national anthem at sporting events. We don't do it because there's some underlying connection between the American Revolution and sports, but because sports bring us together to enjoy something as a group. It unites us beyond our cultural and political differences. The stockbroker sits next to the dockworker, and both are united by their devotion to the local team. Isn't that the perfect time to celebrate the nation that embodies that very idea?
Yes, pop icon Christina Aguilera flubbed the anthem on America's grandest sports stage, but to use that episode to argue that the lyrics and meaning of the song have gone the way of 8-track tapes is ludicrous.
Many can't recite even the preamble to the Constitution. Still fewer can tell you on what day the Declaration of Independence was signed, let alone who actually declared independence and from what oppressive land. Would Mr. Blackistone suggest we toss such documents into the trash? Or not have them hanging in our institutions of government simply because the magistrate can't recall their every word?
I suspect the author has a hidden agenda - a beef with war in general. He almost betrays his true feelings when he writes, "Sports framed by the politics of militarism has nothing to do with football, baseball or a NASCAR race." The politics of militarism? What happened to his original, simpler point that we should abandon the song because a cute pop icon didn't know the words?
Now the national anthem is offensive because it smacks of militarism, whatever that means? There's an immense difference between singing a song that recalls the unlikely victory of our upstart nation against a powerful oppressor and promoting "militarism." It's the same difference between a man who enjoys a romantic wedding anniversary with his beloved spouse and another man who heads to a bar to "romance" the women he finds there. Can't Mr. Blackistone see the distinction?
Our national anthem is sung and remembered at most major events because it is the pre-eminent song of our country. Just as we have a national bird, a national banner (Old Glory), a national tree and other reminders of what makes us distinctly American.
When you begin to tear down one of these symbols, in the name of practicality, you devalue the thing it represents: freedom. Sure, we can shave three extra minutes off of the World Series and get to the action, but at what cost? Why would you rob a father of the moment when his son asks why Dad took off his hat "during that song?"
These are the teachable moments of life - the living history of our nation as we hand down tradition not through an iPod, but person to person, to be set in stone through repetition and example. Why cheat us of that, simply because someone thinks it's political militarism. We're a nation with a proud story of overcoming great odds to win our own freedom. Shouldn't we celebrate that in some way when we gather together?
All gave some. Some gave all. We honor those soldiers, sailors and airmen who sacrificed what they had in the name of freedom. Because they fought and died for liberty, we don't have to. Instead, we get to enjoy a Sunday afternoon game, watching the boys of fall on the gridiron. I think I can hum a few bars and think of Old Glory in exchange for such a privilege.
- Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Become a fan on Facebook-www.facebook.com/arightside and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/10/11
A Housing Crisis Germinating for decades
BY: Armstrong Williams
A Housing Crisis Germinating for decades
When will Bernanke and Congress admit that the housing crisis will continue in the foreseeable future?
Why? American consumers were encouraged to buy homes whether they could afford them or not. Homeowners were also lulled into believing that home ownership was an investment and not a housing expense. The annual costs of home ownership with mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance can be more than 10 percent of the value of a home. That means a home has to appreciate more than 10 percent annually in order for a home to be a good investment. These housing policies significantly contributed to driving up the prices of residential real estate over the past 20 years. They also contributed to over leveraged homeowners and more risky mortgage loans held by banks and investors.
This reduction in capital causes banks to make fewer loans. Fewer loans mean potential homeowners cannot buy or refinance homes.
Under the economic laws of supply and demand, the reduced purchasing power of home buyers means home prices drop to clear the market. When home prices drop, the collateral supporting loans drops and banks are required to write down additional loans and further reduce their capital. Reduced capital results in even fewer loans. The vicious cycle then gets worse for homeowners and the financial community by further reducing real-estate prices and liquidity. When liquidity becomes a problem for financial institutions, the run on the bank begins and a financial meltdown occurs.
This is how a financial meltdown became the unintended consequence of laudable housing and financial policies. The fault belongs to Republican and Democratic politicians, financial regulators, Wall Street and, yes, overextended homeowners. The seeds of this financial crisis have been germinating for decades.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/07/11
What would Reagan do?
By: Armstrong Williams
What would Reagan do?
For countless times in the past 15, even 20 years, policymakers on the right would pause and ask an almost spiritual question: What would Reagan do?
There’s nothing more special about today and the troubles we face as a country in this tumultuous world, and yet the question seems more in need than ever before. It certainly is appropriate as America remembers the 100th birthday of one of the greatest presidents of all time.
Much has been written about Reagan’s uncanny sense of leadership, his giant-sized sense of humor, and his eternal faith that the U.S. was predestinated for greatness, and to inspire greatness in all who came in contact with her.
But let’s return to this question of “What would Reagan do?” in 2011. More specifically , let’s apply that standard to entitlement spending. For it is evident as the years go by, and our nation’s deficits and debt grow, and policymakers seemingly turn into ostriches, that entitlement spending will be the death of us financially if we’re not careful. Yes, folks, we need a Reagan-type leader to stand up and take this problem by the horns.
I don’t need to run through the insurmountable calculations and the glorified Ponzi schemes we’ve backed ourselves into to avoid tough decisions. That’s behind us.
But we do need to get serious about our future. Think about it, not since Ronald Reagan formed the Greenspan Commission in 1981 and then forced the Congress, both Republican and Democrat, to step up and address a Social Security program that was tipping into bankruptcy, have we had a serious attempt to fix these runaway programs.
1983. That was the last time both parties put their respective necks on the line – and their political futures – and tackled the toughest of issues. Ronald Reagan inspired that movement. And maybe, just maybe, on that legend’s 100th birthday, we can have similar bipartisanship and courageousness.
I’m not optimistic, but I do know this: the answer to the question we started this column with is clear. Ronald Reagan would address Social Security. He was that large of a man. We would do well to emulate such leadership in this town.
02/03/11
China's Economic forward thinking
BY: Armstrong Williams
China's Economic forward thinking
A closer look at China in the post-cold war years reveals a much different picture: it reveals a country facing inward to develop the brains, heart and courage to make the most of the modern world.
While China’s inexorable economic advance over the past two decades has made it now a force to be reckoned with, doubts about its true strength have remained prevalent. Despite evidence to the contrary, Westerner’s assumed that China’s economy would not really thrive unless it began to adopt Western-style democracy, observe international human rights conventions, and develop the technological proficiency to begin producing specialized, non-commodity goods.
All of this has proven to be false. Not only has China built a world-leading economy on the back of steel, paper, textiles and lumber, it has been able to effectively manage an empire that contains almost a fifth of the entire world’s population. This feat has been largely underappreciated in the West; but its centralized government, draconian regulations on population growth, and state-managed economy were able to impose some degree of order and standardization in a relatively short period of time, on an absolutely astounding scale. It has now become clear that the Chinese communist party, despite its many weaknesses, is far from naïve. Its decision to crack down on cultural expression, religion and human rights was tactical rather than ideological.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/02/11
Careful what you wish for
BY: Armstrong Williams
Careful what you wish for
Egyptian President Mubarak took to the airwaves today to publicly state he will not seek the office of the presidency any more, thus ending over three decades of rule. There is a reason Mubarak enjoyed such a lengthy tenure, and he has the United States to thank in some small measure.
Let’s not kid ourselves. It was in our national interests to have Mubarak in power. His government, no matter how flawed and sometimes oppressive, was predictable, which is a rare commodity in the Middle East. In many respects, Egypt was an oasis of calm in an otherwise tumultuous part of the world. And we have Mubarak to thank in part for that relative peace.
Now a greater force is calling – one of democracy. And the president and parties on both sides are applauding these protests.
But who exactly will fill this political vacuum created by Mubarak’s departure? Are we so sure? Does the State Department know who can and will capably step in and restore some semblance of order? More importantly, will the people of Egypt recognize this new leader, or will we be back to square one with more riots in the streets and more unrest?
The answers to these questions are less clear. But one thing is certain, the world must be wary of the Muslim Brotherhood. This faction is a radical, extremist group that is both well-organized in the country and has many followers. No one is alleging they have terrorist tendencies...yet. But should they somehow ascend one of their own to power, we could be facing a “democratic solution” with dire consequences.
Now the Obama Administration’s job becomes even tougher. They must in some small way engage in a little bit of nation-building to ensure peace is restored in Alexandria. This president has done a nice job of walking the line of diplomacy in this complicated part of the world. And he has done so with grace – American style.
It’s reassuring that some parts of the world still look to the U.S. as a voice of reason. We should leverage that respect and use it as an opportunity to sow even stronger ties within the region.
But first things first – make sure the Muslim Brotherhood is not the head of this new government.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
02/01/11
Our nation's Future?
BY: Armstrong Williams
Our nation's future.
Isn't it ironic that healthcare reform and the validity of the U.S Constitution now stand conversely in the debate over our nation's future. The central issue is the scope to which government has the right to control and manipulate our lives. One of the ingenious aspects of the Constitution involves the fact that our founding father's knew that there would be a growing tendency for government to expand in size and in power. They also knew that the expansion of power can be very corrupting; therefore, they placed safe guards in the document, which are now being challenged. Over time, the power of the government to influence our lives has crept unabated; however, this time the politicians have gone too far and the Constitution is our last refuge. If our government can mandate that we the people buy any product or service, such as healthcare, then what else will they mandate in the future? This is not a slippery slope, it is an avalanche; people must waken from their stupor before it's too late.
It is necessary for us to consider, as individuals, what we want in our lives vs. what the government can and should provide for us. One of the burdens of freedom is that you must make decisions on how to run your own life. If you're willing to concede the decision making ability to the federal government or anyone else, then you are embracing behavior contrary to the original intent of this nation.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/31/11
Playing Chicken with the Debt Ceiling
While Congress prepares its budget for this year, threatening deep cuts to a $14 trillion debt, the first real test of the GOP's fiscal constitution is shaping up to come in the form of whether to raise the debt ceiling.
Years ago, no one wanted to talk about expanding the credit line of the U.S. government. It was such a stark reminder of how bad a hole we were in that both parties built the significant vote as a procedural move with other votes. In other words, they tried to bury the thing in hopes members would not have to rise in defense of an ever-growing nightmare.
What profiles in courage — both parties were part of the Ostrich Caucus — sticking their collective heads in the sand on some of the most important issues of the day.
And now here we are again: Republicans are at the helm, and Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and his minions are screaming like Chicken Little that if their opponents don't "do the right thing," then the U.S. will default on its debt obligations.
Keep in mind that this story barely made a ripple back in February 2010 — the last time the nation's debt ceiling was to be raised. President Obama couldn't be bothered with such distractions, and the White House was all too eager to revert to rule No. 1 of its administration: Blame George W. Bush.
Now that Republicans control the House, Democrats are eager to see what degree of hypocrisy they'll commit on raising the debt ceiling.
It just kills me that the party not in power is so eager to hug the bible of fiscal discipline. Take Mr. Geithner's comments this month: "Default would effectively impose a significant and long-lasting tax on all Americans and all American businesses and could lead to the loss of millions of American jobs."
Pretty scary, huh? The funny thing is this line could have been written decades ago when Democrats took us down this path, or even more recently when Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama piled on to the deficits.
There's no sense in assigning blame because each side will wag its finger at the other for eternity. The question now for House Republicans is: Will you blink first?
Will House Speaker John A. Boehner and the scores of members who were voted in on the fiscal discipline mantle allow this golden opportunity to slip them by?
I agree: No one wants to default on our debts. But folks, we're in default now. Simply raising the credit limit on your Visa credit card doesn't keep you solvent. It just means you'll have a more difficult time repaying such debts.
The consensus coming out of the GOP is that it will have to agree to raise the debt ceiling, but only by a smaller increment and accompanied by the Democrats and administration of corresponding spending cuts. In other words, use the vote as leverage to pass cuts such as the $2.5 trillion the GOP proposed the other week.
Others, like Rep. Michele Bachman, Minnesota Republican, and Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, are steadfast in their refusal to give the Fed any more debt leeway. This begs the question of what, in fact, would happen if we don't raise the ceiling. Contrary to popular belief, the government won't suddenly go into default once the debt ceiling is reached. The fact of the matter is that there is enough cash coming in to pay its commitments for the next several months.
The government would not actually default unless Congress and the president refuse to agree on passage of a law requiring the Treasury to concentrate our spending and prioritize paying the interest and principle of our debt.
This makes all the Chicken Little "sky is falling" talk even more absurd. It is nothing but a ploy to scare the America people into turning on the Republicans and blaming them no matter what they do.
In 2006, a freshman senator said, "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can't pay its own bills."
I'm sure you could guess that the senator I quoted is now our president. I realize that things look different when you sit in the executive seat as opposed to the legislative seat, but President Obama needs to heed the message of Sen. Obama. It is a failure in leadership if we indiscriminately keep raising our debt ceiling without cutting the tremendous bloat in which our government continues to blindly wallow.
We need to take a serious look at what causes us to borrow and spend 55 cents of every dollar in this country. There's simply no other way of looking at it. And defense, Medicare and Social Security — the Holy Trinity of government programs and spending — must be chief among those options. Even the GOP's $2.5 trillion in cuts didn't dare touch those programs, but we must if we truly want to get this ship righted.
There is a blessing in this fiscal tragedy that faces us collectively. The only way to get either party's policymakers to face the cold reality of financial doom is to back them up against a wall and force them to make tough decisions. Raising the debt ceiling is that wall.
Sooner or later, if we continue to ask for more money, the world will stop lending it to us. Every time this vote comes due, Washington needs to be constantly reminded of just how close to peril we stand. Only by drawing a line in the sand now will we have a chance to pull out of this mess.
• Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/
arightside.
01/31/11
The rule of law
BY: Armstrong Williams
The rule of law
What stood out in your mind as you witnessed the weekend’s events in Egypt? How the entire country stood on the edge of anarchy, largely because its people had been denied basic conditions, treatment and rights to redress their grievances by a heavy-handed president.
I don’t pen this blog to challenge Egyptian President Mubarak’s behavior through his three decades in power. His conduct, and the people’s response to it, are by now well documented.
But the situation in Egypt stands as a stark reminder of the basic tenets we as Americans have grown perhaps accustomed to, and we would do well to remind ourselves that the freedoms we enjoy are derived through daily struggles and challenges.
It begins with the rule of law. Throughout the world today, citizens of countries struggle with their governments for the consistency and certainty of national laws. Newspapers are riddled with examples where government officials skirt public laws, inconsistently applying them not for the people’s benefit, but their own.
To these regimes, laws are meant to protect their tenuous grip on power. To the many, laws are meant to be abided by and obeyed. To the few in power, they can be redirected for their own selfish purposes.
Just look to countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, China, even Russia.
Something’s wrong when a country’s leader can stand in the middle of a market square, with television cameras rolling, and declare in the name of some authority that he is claiming private property on behalf of “the people of Venezuela.” Yet this is exactly what happens with Hugo Chavez.
Even still, violations of the rule of law are sometimes less obvious.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/28/11
Why we need tort reform in the U.S.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Why we need tort reform in the U.S.
We live in a litigious society. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Only in America can a woman order a hot cup of coffee, clumsily spill it on herself, and then turn around and sue the vendor for millions in damages and WIN! It’s ridiculous, and it needs to stop.
Such frivolous actions only detract from the real episodes when lawsuits are the only answer – to punish and send a message that the behavior cannot occur again. When we as a society allow the inane to occur, we begin to empty the action of any value and meaning. That helps no one in the long run.
You would think that our members of Congress would subscribe to the same principle. That they would eagerly rise and echo our claims as a people that “there ought to be a law” to prevent such actions.
And yet, the latest example of such frivolity is one perpetrated by a congressman himself – Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). It seems the fella bit into a sandwich in the congressional cafeteria and broke a tooth on an olive pit.
Okay, how unfortunate. So maybe, just maybe, he complains to management and they work out a deal where the cafeteria covers the congressman’s dental bills. Even then, I’m scratching my head, because aren’t members of Congress supposed to have the best health care in the country? Do they really need help in getting proper health care?
But Kucinich doesn’t want just compensation, he wants damages -- $150,000 worth. The olive apparently caused “serious and permanent injuries” as well as “loss of enjoyment.” There you have it, Americans. Enjoyment to an elected official is apparently worth six figures. Give me a break.
I guess I should be surprised by his actions, but I’m not. Kucinich is one of the most liberal members of the House. And yet, he has to know that his actions could lead to the loss of jobs for the workers in the cafeteria.
The $150,000 has to come from somewhere. And as much as the congressman will cry that the money will come from “Big Insurance Companies,” someone at the cafeteria vending company will still need to pay the bill. That means lost revenues, lost profits, and less in the till to dole to employees.
This is why we need tort reform in this country, folks. If elected policymakers think that even they can make a quick buck off the backs of America’s private sector, then we’re all in for a world of hurt…
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/27/11
Honor Killings. Have we returned to the Dark Ages.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Barbaric Honor Killings. Have we returned to the Dark Ages?
Americans have been found guilty of performing reprehensible acts throughout it's history. The Salem Witch Trials are a case in point. Members of the Puritan community in pre-revolutionary Massachusetts were convicted and executed solely on the basis of the testimony of suspicious neighbors and the accusations of teenage girls. And yes, many of them were killed in horrific fashion.
The United States and the greater international community have, for the most part, come to a greater understanding of the value of human rights and the importance of protecting them. Much of this is based upon the individual’s conscience developing past a point to where it is strong enough to stand up against the mores of society if it goes against ones core values and beliefs which are rooted in doing what is best for society overall.
Now for the cultural relativist, honor killings are a part of the idea of protecting the greater society overall. After all, and I will only continue to use radical Islam in order to be consistent with past arguments, members of radical Islam are performing these killings in order to protect the order of things. They feel that sin, in any way shape or form, is a form of contamination to their religion. And in their case, at least for the individual, their greater duty is to protect their community of believers –regardless if it means killing their own daughter or mother. In such respects, not only does the perpetrator receive honor from the greater community, and a sense of gratitude for protecting them from sin, but also the individual will be honored by their God for doing a work which is considered righteous.
I have no problem drawing the line in such a case. Something must clearly be done in order to protect basic human rights; all which I believe to be developed at an early age within the family unit. Again, and it is an understanding of these basic rights which help formulate the conscience of the individual. Now there are some who believe that honor killings and other notorious acts are basis for the grounds of going to war. If they happen on a large scale, then I would have to agree. There are others who would like to convert these people to a whole other way of thinking. Both solutions are a little too much in most cases. However, we must establish a set code of human rights that would be enforced internationally. I don’t recommend that these human rights be contained in a sophisticated and detailed document. Rather, it should consist of well written and enforced statements that everyone can understand and adhere to. It also should allow room for cultural differences. But it must be clear about its fundamental purpose – Its most important purpose is protecting individuals so that they can go through life without the fear of being tortured or killed in a senless and inhumane manner. It is barbaric to kill family members in this day and age because of religious or ideological differences.
Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook- www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.
01/26/11
Forgive them, for they know not what they do.
BY: Armstrong Williams
Forgive them, for they know not what they're doing.
Coming out of the dot.com debacle, government policy tried to improve the economy by spurring spending and production. The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, attempting to encourage borrowing and investment in productive enterprise. The Clinton administration had bolstered the power of the quasi-governmental lending organizations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, charging them with the task of helping home ownership become more accessible, especially by targeting low income families.
The low income family was the perfect target. They were expected to not read the disclosers about what an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) would do and more importantly, they were easy to sell on the American dream of home ownership. After all, with interest rates so low, one could move into a home for the same monthly price as renting an apartment. It was that eas
