http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php Copyright 2008, Wayne Allyn Root Wayne Allyn Root en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.9.1 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081118-081333 No experience as a businessman, or as a government official. All because
we dislike George W. Bush. America wanted ABB (Anything But Bush).


Well congratulations!
We've now elected a man to govern America whose entire experience
'governing' is having served less than 4 years in the US Senate.
During which time he never put his name on one bill of any significance.
He never even held a meeting for the committee that he chaired!


He arrived in Washington as a celebrity and then, spent 4 years running
for President. Worse yet, he now takes over the White House during the
worst economic crisis of our lifetime.


People across America naively say they hope Obama will solve this
economic crisis. Those who voted for him not only hope so, but believe it so.


I have a question for you. When I hire someone, I want to know about
their skills and experience for the job they're applying for. So, America
thinks Obama can fix this mess. With what? Voodoo? How can he solve
a business problem, when he knows absolutely nothing about business?


In the 25 years since we graduated Columbia University Class of '83 together,
Obama has never started a business, run a business, or risked his money on a
business deal. Not once in 25 years. During the campaign, he talked about
creating millions of jobs. Well, the next one he creates will be his first. Good
luck with that.


President-Elect Obama has never met a payroll, not to mention paying
employee payroll taxes or health insurance. Yet his supporters, fans and
voters think he holds the answers to a crumbling economy? I don't think
he could run a bakery, let alone the U.S. economy. How frightening is this
scenario?

I feel like a father who's fallen ill and had to hand over the keys to his
business to his 16 year old son- whose entire prior business experience
was running a lemonade stand at age 6. That's what we've just done to
the entire United States economy, except Obama hasn't even run a
lemonade stand.


My educated guess is Obama was the type of kid who got the neighborhood
lemonade stand shut down by calling City Hall to complain. His complaint:
the kid's lemonade stand didn't have a government-issued business license.


Lawyers to the left of me – lawyers to the right;
but not a drop of common sense.


Let's talk about the only serious experience Obama has. Experience that I consider
quite a negative.


It's not bad enough that he's never had any business experience. It gets
worse. Far worse. Obama is a lawyer. Lawyers mess up almost every
business deal they get involved with. Why? Because of a deadly combination
of big egos, combined with a lack of business acumen.


Lawyers learn absolutely nothing about business in law school. If they
learned about business, it would be called 'Business School.'
In law school, lawyers-to-be are taught how to sue businesses. There
aren't even offered courses on how to run one. There certainly aren't
any courses on how to run an economy.


Once out in the real world and practicing law, lawyers jump into business
deals with confidence, bravado and gusto. As well as one goal in mind- screwing up
every deal they can get theiur hands on- to prove how important they are.
And to justify their fat fees.


Their huge egos force them to weigh in on things they know absolutely
nothing about. After years of dealing with lawyers, I learned to appreciate
one of the great "inside lawyer" jokes: What is the most amazing trait of
lawyers? They can quote their fees without smiling.


This is one of the big problems of modern-day government. It's made up
of lawyers. Lawyers with some of the biggest egos on the planet. Lawyers
interested in playing the game. Interested in acquiring power and control
over your life. Because that's what lawyers do.


These lawyers try to get government involved in every and any facet of
our lives, no matter what. This whether they know a thing about what
they are getting involved in or not! Why? Because these lawyers-turned-politicians
want to justify their fat salaries and lofty titles. They learned this in Law School-
how to act important, charge big fees and take control of everything they're involved in.


Once these lawyers are elected as Mayor, to Congress, to Senate, or worse yet,
to the White House- do you think they'll ever let on that they don't know what
they're doing?


Politicians will never admit government doesn't have the solution.


If they did, they would lose their power and control over you.


President Obama will have to prove his brilliance and assert his power by
trying to solve things - even if government can only make it worse.
To a lawyer-politician, that's far better than admitting they don't know.


Obama and his wife are both lawyers. Neither have built a business.
Neither have ever been exposed to the real business world.
As a matter of fact, they weren't even business lawyers- they were both civil
rights lawyers and 'community activists.'


Do you have any idea what that means? They have spent their lives suing
and intimidating banks and businesses. The closest Obama ever got the
banking system was as ACORN's lawyer. Then, and as a 'community activist',
he pressured and intimidated banks to lend to unqualified buyers. And on property
that was not worth the paper the mortgage was written on.


This 'affirmative action lending' that banks were forced to do was the single
biggest cause of the mortgage meltdown and implosion of the American banking
system. Based on this "success" we've now put Barak Obama in charge of
the entire United States economy?


So what's the first thing a lawyer with a huge ego and no knowledge of
business will think he should do as President? He'll use the money and power
of government to try and fix the economy. Conveniently forgetting it's your
money he's playing with.


President Obama will create more laws while adding more regulations.
He's already said he wants to raise the minimum wage (thereby huring
business and costing jobs). Of course, in the spirit of fairness, he's planning
on ending secret ballot voting for unions (This will instantly create an environment
of intimidation and manipulation for dissenting union members).


President Obama is planning to raise taxes dramatically on our most successful
entrepreneurs and business owners, America's job-creators, to provide
himself with more money to 'fix' the economy.


Obama will punish success, while rewarding people who expect handouts.
He'll "create" jobs by expanding government. He'll spend billions on
government projects. All while create millions of new government jobs
for bureaucrats (increasing the size and power of government employee
unions). He was so brazen, it was recently disclosed, that Obama sent letters
in the days before the election to federal employees telling them how he'd give
them more power and expand their ranks. And of course he will redistribute the
wealth from taxpayers to union members by bailing out the Big 3 Automakers.
This is the least he can do to repay the huge contributions from those same unions.


Hey dude – Where's MY Bailout?


The Big 3 quietly received $25 Billion with a “B” just weeks ago. Few
Americans noticed this during the giant distraction of the stock market
meltdown. Now they've come back asking for $25 Billion more only weeks later.


Guess where the money will go? To pay for the same outrageous union pay,
pension plans and lifetime health care that bankrupted the Big Three
Automakers in the first place. We are simply subsidizing failed union
contracts that destroyed the U.S. auto industry in the first place.


Of course, it also wiped out the city of Detroit, which now wants a $10
billion dollar bailout, and gave Michigan the worst performing state economy
in the entire country. Gotta love those union contracts- the unions in Detroit
are like Canadien Mounties- they always get you. They'll either bankrupt you
today...or tomorrow...or the next day. But they always complete the job. With
friends like that, who needs enemies?


Does this sound like good business practice to you?


Of course, there is no choice for Obama and the Democratic Congress-
they received millions of votes and tens of millions of dollars from auto
unions and auto workers. They need to repay them today to keep their
support, not to mention their donations in 2012.


Only lawyer-politicians could possibly dream up this agenda to 'save' our
economy. But what are they saving it from? From capitalism?


Obama won't rest until the U.S. economy resembles France.'s The stagnant
French economy is dominated by big unions and big government. There are
few entrepreneurs or business owners in France- with taxes so high, there
is no way for individuals to ever save enough money to open a business.
Even if they did, the onerous taxes and regulations destroy their chances of
success. There are only two viable career routes in France: work for
government, or join a union and work for a big corporation. Is that what
we want our economy to become? I don't think Americans really want
Europe's version of big-government social capitalism (a nice way of saying
Socialism).


"GM, Ford and Chrysler are literally dead men walking.”


Where does it all end? Government giving another $25 Billion to GM,
Ford and Chrysler makes absolutely no business sense. Because of their
outrageous union contracts, the Big 3 Automakers can never turn their
companies around. They are 21st century dinosaurs - GM, Ford and
Chrysler are literally dead men walking.


Their entire business is based on a failed model (excuse the pun). Notice that
Honda, Nissan and Toyota aren't asking to be bailed out. They're building new
plants across America with non-union employees. They beat the Big 3 U.S. Automakers
by cutting costs and increasing efficiency. This is in large part by keeping their
payroll costs down to $30 to $40 per hour, instead of the $70 per hour
that American auto companies pay to union employees. Don't get me wrong-
If you can make that kind of wage- GREAT! Go get it. But only if you can earn it
without bankrupting your company, or asking taxpayers to bail you out.
One thing is clear with the auto industry- those $70 per hour wages are a fraud-
they can only work if they are subsidized by the U.S. government.


Is it fair to pay $50 Billion (if that's even enough) to the Big 3 Automakers while
successful companies get nothing? Why would we reward failure and
incompetence by the companies and unions? Oh, I forgot, that's Obama's
business model. Spread the wealth around, punish the successful and reward
people asking for handouts (his voters).


Who will pay for my bailout?


Many Americans are asking 'who will pay for my bailout?'


I'm a small business owner. I'm having tough times as well. My friends
with small businesses are all in big trouble right now. We're struggling to
survive. If you sell anything for a living right now, you are in big trouble-
because American consumers have stopped buying anything. Small business
creates a majority of private sector jobs in America and 75% of all new jobs.
Aren't we too important to the U.S. economy to fail? Who is bailing us out?
If we create by far more jobs than the Big 3 Automakers, why isn't there a
small business bailout plan from the U.S. Treasury?


Is it because small businesses aren't unionized? Or is it because they
didn't give huge donations to Obama and the Democratic Congress?


Allow me to present the free market alternative. It's simple- get government
out of the way. Any money government gives as 'bailouts', no matter to whom,
is money taken away from you and me. It's money taken from taxpayers, investors and
business people who would have used it to efficiently create jobs and wealth. Now it's
been confiscated by big government who will inefficiently use it to create less jobs than
the private sector could have created. You haven't gained a thing with a New Deal or
Great Society government program. For every job it creates, 2 (or more) jobs are lost
in the private sector. Money doled out by government to 'solve' this crisis, is money
taken away from you and me, away from the taxpayers and job-creators.


Money given to the Big 3 Automakers is a gigantic waste, temporarily
propping up (and rewarding) failed companies. One thing is certain about bailing out the
auto industry- they'll be back for more money...soon.


The free market alternative is to let the automakers go bankrupt or otherwise
find their own way. Will they go out of business? Probably not. The courts
will allow them to reorganize. They can and should renegotiate their union contracts,
through bankruptcy. Once they do this, they'll emerge as leaner and more
efficient companies.


Then and only then they will be able to compete with Toyota, Honda and
Nissan. If they don't, they'll be replaced by new auto companies with
better business plans. That's called capitalism.


Did the airline industry as we know it end when TWA went out of business?
Of course not. Out of the ashes, Southwest Airlines emerged with a new
business model. And it works! They get you there on time, don't lose your
luggage, charge low fares, and a nice profit. A profit both they and their
shareholders pay taxes on, too!


TWA deserved to fail. If we had bailed out TWA, there may never have
been room in the marketplace for a Southwest Airlines. What we need right
now is a "Southwest Motors."


The other choice to bankruptcy is a government bailout that allows the auto
industry to continue with their reckless, bloated business model at taxpayer expense.


Most importantly, all of this money the federal government is giving away
has to come from someone and somewhere. It's being stolen from us, the
American taxpayer, without explanation, discussion, debate or permission.


It's not government's money to give. It is our money- yours and mine. These
endless bailouts will keep our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
enslaved. Enslaved by big government, with oppressively high taxes for
generations to come. But then that was Obama's plan in the first place.


Wayne Allyn Root's Commentaries can be found at:
www.ROOTforAmerica.com]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081118-081333 Wayne Allyn Root Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:13:33 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081118-081333 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081103-070113
I sat in amazement as I heard the news earlier this week from the Obama campaign- Barack Obama is telling his supporters, at least those who work for a living, to take the day off from work, and his younger supporters to take the day off from school, in order to vote for him. Comrade Obama has decided to declare a national holiday so everyone can praise him- we'll call it “Obama Day.”

The man who has vowed to punish success and redistribute wealth, but claims he is not a Socialist or Marxist, now wants to reward workers (at least those that support him) with a paid day off from work or school so they can perform the incredibly difficult task of voting. If Obama is trying to prove he's not a Marxist, he's doing a very poor job.

Funny, but I've already voted and believe it or not- I didn't need to take the day off. I own my business. I work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I always have. I earn my success EVERY day. Now, during the worst economy of my lifetime, I must find ways to work even harder if I am going to keep my business alive. Like virtually all small business owners, I have no time to take the day off for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, protest marches, and certainly not for voting. Like all small business owners, I have no doubt that if people who spend their time complaining about their lack of success or the “unfairness” of our capitalist society, instead spent more time working and less time complaining and protesting- they'd have nothing to protest about.

Now this group of malcontents has found a hero in Barack Obama. And why is Comrade Obama their hero? Because he is going to take even more of the money that business owners, taxpayers and job creators earn by working harder, smarter, and more creatively than others, and redistribute that wealth to others who don't- so they can enjoy even more paid holidays.

Sadly, like all socialists, Obama can give away the bribes without having to pay the bill. He just needs to fool enough voters into electing him, so he can force the taxpayers, business owners, and job creators of America to pay for his generosity. And Obama gets the credit. It's a story we've all heard before: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

Here we have the most extreme leftist politician in the history of American Presidential politics telling his voters- the very ones complaining they have no assets, no money, no piece of the American Dream- to take the day off from work (something they can ill afford to do), or to take the day off from school (something no child, let alone minority children so often failing or dropping out of our public schools, should EVER do). The last thing our children need is one less day of school, one less day of learning. But Comrade Obama has spoken- so the orders must be followed.


Here we have the most anti-business politician of my lifetime telling employees to play hooky from their jobs. What if their boss needs them? What if the customers depend on them? If every employee heeds Obama's advice, should businesses across America go dark on Tuesday? Should every restaurant close because Obama has given the cooks and waitresses permission to take the day off? Should all of America be closed for business because Obama thinks voting requires a holiday for his voters?

Is Obama now advocating another paid national holiday for millions of state and federal union employees? You mean postal workers, school teachers, and federal employees don't already get enough paid days off? When he recommends that public employees take the day off, guess who pays the bill? Taxpayers- anyone unlucky enough to own a business, or work in the private sector, while Obama's “priviledged class” of union employees take yet another paid holiday.

This is the kind of suggestion that only a lawyer and career politician like Obama could make- someone who has never owned a business, never risked his own money to invest in America, never made a payroll, never paid anyone's health insurance, never created a job. The first job that Obama creates as President, will be the first job he has ever created.


Who is supposed to pay for this new paid holiday? If Obama is such a fan of “fairness” perhaps he should take some of the $600 Million dollars he's raised for his Presidential campaign and pay for this new national “Obama Day” holiday. Perhaps he should spread his own wealth around. But, of course, that isn't what socialists do. No, they choose to spread someone else´s wealth around (yours and mine).

Here are a few questions I have for Comrade Obama:

Should the business owners who created these millions of jobs (by risking billions of dollars of their own money) take the day off too? Of course not. Obama and his voters need these owners and job creators and taxpayers to keep working, so their earnings can be confiscated to finance “Obama Day” and the trillions of dollars of new government entitlement programs planned by Comrade Obama. Haven't you seen the amazing video interview of an Obama supporter at an Obama campaign event saying (with tears in her eyes), “This is the greatest moment of my life. With Obama as President, I won't have to worry about paying for gas anymore, I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage.” Just sit back and reflect on those words for a moment.

Read my lips: Comrade Obama is going to raise federal income taxes dramatically, and not just for the “greedy rich.” Everyone, at least everyone that already pays taxes, is going to pay more taxes. Rate hikes are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the increases will be done subtly and under the table: tax deductions will be phased out; Social Security taxes will increase dramatically and receiving them will become means tested (turning Social Security into an out and out welfare program); capital gains and dividend taxes will be increased dramatically (thereby reducing the earnings of everyone with a 401K, pension, college savings or similar plan); and “Death Taxes” will be resurrected (meaning you'll be “double taxed” after you die on the monies you managed to save after 50 years of paying taxes).

Barack will also raise taxes on the sale of your home from zero (on the first $500,000 of any sale) to 28% minimum capital gains tax. That tax applies to anyone who owns a home. Since almost 70% of Americans own a home, 70% of us face a huge tax increase on the day we sell our home.

Then there's the “game-changer”- the huge tax that will hit all Americans. Obama and his cronies in Congress (Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barney Frank) will implement policies under the guise of “global warming” (you know- that phenomenon that causes snowstorms in the Northeast USA in October) that will result in dramatic increases in the cost of electric, gas, water and all utility bills. And let's not forget the Democrat proposal in Congress right now for a special tax surcharge on any home over 2500 square feet in size- all in the name of “global warming.” Or is this all simply an excuse to increase the size, scope and power of the federal government, as well as increase tax revenues so that Comrade Obama can bribe more of his voters with giveaways and entitlements?

I haven't even discussed the new taxes necessary to pay for Obama's universal health care scheme. NOTE: Hawaii is the only state in America that has instituted universal health care for all children. Not adults, only children. They just cancelled the program days ago, because it was too expensive and threatened to bankrupt their state. Can you even imagine what universal healthcare for everyone will cost the country?

Comrade Obama has promised he will cut taxes on 95% of all Americans- yet he conveniently forgets to tell you that 40% of Americans pay no federal income taxes. Interesting math. So 40% of our fellow citizens will get a welfare check under Comrade Obama- disguised as a “tax cut.” That's certainly a creative way to guarantee that 40% of all Americans vote Democrat and support bigger government. But, don't worry- Obama's not a Socialist or Marxist. How do we know? Well, he told us so.

Obama is using exactly the same sales pitch Castro used on the Cuban people. It didn´t take long before thousands of successful business owners were swimming across the Atlantic in shark infested water to escape to Florida. Those that remained in Cuba (and more recently, Venezuela under Hugo Chavez) found out what happens when you “spread the wealth around.” The people who create jobs LEAVE. That leaves everyone else unemployed, living on government handouts, living in shacks, and driving wooden carts led by donkeys. It's quite a brilliant success scheme, don't you think? It worked out well for Castro, but for the Cuban people- not so well.

Comrade Obama only wants what's “fair.” Have you ever met anyone who would not describe their ideas as “fair”? Unfortunately “fairness is in the eye of the beholder. Obama´s definition of fair is to “spread the wealth around” from those that pay all the taxes, to those that don't- aka his voters.

But “spreading the wealth around´' is just the start. How about this trick? Just like in old time Soviet Russia, Comrade Obama wants to eliminate secret ballots for union elections. Once the employees of America has to announce their vote publicly in front of union goons with baseball bats, our entire nation will be soon unionized. Then we can all look forward to higher bills on everything we buy, to pay for these “fair wages.” We can spread the wealth around just like they do so successfully in Cuba and Venezuela. Everything you buy at Wal*Mart will double. But it will be “fair.” Lucky us. Why is Obama so friendly to unions? They are, of course, among his biggest contributors.


Obama will also increase the minimum wage dramatically even though the vast huge majority of minimum wage workers are students, illegal immigrants, or part-time workers. Business owners will then pass the cost to consumers. We can all look forward to higher prices for every product we buy in order to “spread the wealth around.”

He will also give 12 million (or more) illegal immigrants drivers licenses, followed by citizenship, so they can get some of that wealth being spread around by legally receiving welfare, Social Security, and government entitlements of all kinds. Oh, and of course they can then legally vote Democrat, without getting any help from ACORN.

Sadly, there´s still more damage we can expect under Comrade Obama- lawsuits. Lots of them. Under attorney Obama and attorney Joe Biden, American business will be intimidated and damaged beyond repair under a barrage of frivolous lawsuits all in the name of “fairness,” “justice” and of course Obama's favorite cause- affirmative action. Why is Obama so friendly to lawyers? They are, of course, among his biggest contributors.

But I digress. Back to the idea of a paid holiday so that Obama's supporters can manage the difficult job of voting. After all, we can't possibly expect Democratic voters to work two jobs in the same day, can we? Voting is such a tough job, we need to give Obama's voters the day off to rest after such a harrowing assignment. Especially for the few hundred thousand Obama voters who registered through ACORN under multiple fake names. They've got a long day ahead of them on Tuesday. They will each have to travel to a dozen different voting precincts to cast all their votes. They'll not only need a full paid holiday on November 4th to vote a dozen times, but a full paid day off on November 5th to recover from such a stressful day.

Somehow, someway, silly me, I managed to vote just the other day without taking an entire day off from work. Amazingly, it wasn't too difficult. I simply filled out my absentee ballot in about 10 minutes from the privacy and comfort of my home. And can you believe this- I did it after work. I didn't have to miss any time on the job. Is this absentee voting some new-fangled new thing? No, it's been available for decades. Is it something only “the rich” can do? No, actually any voter in America can vote by absentee ballot. It took me about 3 minutes to make a phone call, request a ballot, and voila- it arrived at my home. Magic!

Voting seems pretty quick and easy to me. But, of course, I´m only voting once.


If absentee ballots are too tough for Obama's voters to figure out, almost every voter in America could have gone down to their local mall at lunchtime or dinnertime (after work) and participated in “early voting” on computer screens. Last I checked, this makes it possible for virtually anyone to vote without actually missing a day at work.

If you feel angry that some people feel they deserve a day off- a paid holiday- in order to exercise the great America privilege of voting…if you feel angry that politicians like Obama (and McCain too) only want to make government bigger…only want to punish success…and
create new giveaway and bailout programs to those who never earned it (both Obama and McCain voted for the bailout)…and want to pay for those big government programs on your back…if you're angry that Obama thinks your money belongs to government…if you're angry because government believes they know better than you, what to do with your own hard-earned money…it's time to vote for the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr and
Wayne Allyn Root.

It's time to vote for real change- to give the power back to America's citizens and the taxpayers. The people who work day-in and day-out to pay all these taxes. Just as the Founding Fathers intended. Just as the constitution is written. Only one party cares about the small business owners, taxpayers and job creators- vote Libertarian on November 4th.

But don't take the day off.


Wayne Allyn Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com

]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081103-070113 Wayne Allyn Root Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:01:13 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081103-070113 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081026-090034
"I work extra long hours to support him. I bring home all the money, yet he tells me what to do all day long. He winds up controlling almost every aspect of my life. He even tells me that I don't know how to properly raise my own children.”

"When he needs me, he's nice to me. He tells me how he wants the same things I do. After he gets what he wants, he goes back to his real personality. The truth is that he couldn't care less about me. He couldn't care less about anyone or anything. He only cares about himself. He uses the rest of us to get what he wants.”

"He keeps hurting me and I don't know what to do. I'm really scared. But he has me convinced that anyone else would treat me worse. He's probably right. So I stay.”

"It's probably all my fault. I just need to show him that I support him 100%. Maybe than he'll treat me better."

Everyone has heard of “battered spouse syndrome.” Battered spouses lack self-esteem or confidence, and actually choose to stay in disastrous, depressing, dangerous, and even deadly relationships. In many cases, the more loyalty they show to their abusive spouse, the worse they are treated and the more abuse they absorb. Most of us cannot understand how someone can choose to stay in a relationship with someone that torments them, hurts them (physically or psychologically), or threatens to kill them (or their children).

But the tale of woe you just read above is not from a battered spouse. This person is suffering from "battered voter syndrome."

Both Republicans and Democrats fall victim election after election to such abuse.

Let's start with battered Republicans. How many times can conservative or free market libertarian voters be lied to, without waking up to the deception? Year after year, at election time Republicans trot out candidates who portray themselves as libertarian conservatives standing for free markets, smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, and more freedom. But after they are elected, they govern very differently than they promised. The reality is that Republicans talk about smaller government, but once elected, they expand government just like Democrats. They treat us like battered voters.

Even one of my heroes was guilty of this offense. Remember when Ronald Reagan said, “The nine worst words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'” Then he was elected and oversaw a dramatic expansion of government. Reagan also said he'd eliminate the Department of Education. It is still standing almost three decades later- not only standing, but growing at an alarming rate. The budget of the Department of Education is $80 Billion dollars almost 3 decades after Reagan pledged to eliminate it. Eighty billion dollars.

Remember when George H.W. Bush (daddy of W) said, “Read my lips, no new taxes.” Then after his election, he promptly raised taxes.

Remember George W. Bush's promises to cut government and reduce spending. Then he was elected and went on a spending rampage that would embarrass a drunken sailor. The first veto of his Presidency was against stem cell research. But earmarks, pork, waste and bloated budgets never seemed to bother W.

Now we have John McCain- yet another Republican Presidential candidate promising to be a conservative free market libertarian. But in his prior political life McCain voted against tax cuts; supported amnesty for illegal aliens- whose demands for government spending and entitlements threaten to bankrupt our nation; supported more government regulation, more bureaucrats, and higher taxes in the name of global warming; supported violations of our civil liberties (like warrantless wiretaps); and created a campaign finance bill (McCain Feingold) that eroded our free speech.

And that was all BEFORE McCain joined with Barack Obama to support the trillion-dollar government bailout- the greatest rip-off of taxpayers in American history.

Yet the specter of socialist radical Barack Obama has once again been used by Republican campaign consultants and strategists to frighten conservatives and free market libertarians reluctantly into the arms of McCain and Palin. I keep hearing those sad, pathetic words (that are trotted out every 4 years by Republicans), “well they are the lesser of two evils.” But is that good enough? Republicans threaten us with the specter of bigger government- then they get elected and give us bigger government. Should anyone be surprised when President John McCain governs in much the same way as prior Republican Presidents once elected? Any fiscally conservative, small-government advocate that votes for John McCain is certainly suffering from battered voter syndrome.

But it isn't only Republicans who suffer from battered voter syndrome. Democrats have spent their fair share of time being abused by their own heroes too. Democrat politicians promise responsible government that will help “the little guy,” and then give us Congressman Barney Frank to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while his lover runs the very programs that put the housing market and financial system into crisis.

Then there is Obama- the man of “change.” Well he has raised over $600 million dollars in change- smashing all-time records for campaign contributions. Who gave him $600,000,000? What do they expect in return? How did he do that in the worst economy in our lifetime? Does this ring any alarm bells in your mind? When Obama promises to “spread the wealth around,” to whom will he give your money?

Is Obama really for the “little guy?” He has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of contributions from Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. All of them were at the very center of our credit crisis, investment banking meltdown and Wall Street bailout. Why did they choose to give so much money to Obama? What did they expect in return? Did all that campaign cash prevent Obama from speaking up about the looming financial meltdown?

Obama comes from the Chicago political machine- a modern day Tammany Hall. The economy of Chicago and the state of Illinois have been wrecked by this corrupt Democratic machine- with bloated budget deficits; out of control spending; unfunded state government employee union liabilities; among the worst public schools in the country; among the highest taxes in the country; the highest murder rate in the country; and one of the biggest population exoduses in the country.

If you like Chicago, you'll love America with Obama as President. If you think Obama is the man of change, you are a battered voter.

Do you see a pattern? Republicans promise smaller government and more freedom from Big Brother. But once elected they bring us bigger government and the Nanny State. They expand government in order to help their friends- defense contractors, oil companies, pharmaceutical companies and agribusiness (billion dollar farm conglomerates). The small business owners that Republican politicians talk about at election time are thrown overboard in favor of corporate lobbyists.

Democrats promise to take care of the “little guy.” But once elected they throw the little guy overboard and hand the country over to trial lawyers, teachers unions, federal and state employee unions, radical environmentalists, and entitlement addicts. Democrats swear they will raise taxes only on the rich in order to spread the wealth around. But once elected, you become “the rich.” The reality is that Obama wants to spread the wealth around from those who work hard, achieve success and create jobs to those who don't- because those are his voters. His economic philosophy isn't about “fairness,” it is simply about BRIBERY.

Polls show that 90% of Americans now believe we are on the “wrong track” as a nation. That's the highest rate in history. Yet if you've been voting for the same 2 choices- Republican or Democrat- for the last 20 or 30 or 50 years…if you've been voting all these years for “the lesser of two evils”…perhaps it's no coincidence why we are on the wrong track. You've been voting for the wrong track.

Voters who choose the same 2 flawed choices of Republican or Democrat year after year are starring in “Groundhog Day.” You make the same choices election after election, yet you keep expecting different results! You fall for the same deceptions, lies and fraud year after year, yet you're shocked that nothing changes. You still believe it when the politician offers “CHANGE” without asking what is his track record, and exactly what is the change that is he now offering? You are a battered voter.

But there is another choice. There is a way out. There is a right track. The Libertarian Party is here to end the abuse. As “America's Third Party” we offer you the relationship with government that you've always desired.

We don't deceive or lie or defraud voters. We support smaller government, reduced spending, lower taxes, school choice and more freedom. We do not support special interest pork-barrel spending or corporate welfare. We don't just talk about these principles of limited government. We don't just trot out actors (known as “candidates”) to portray a love of these principles every election day. We live these principles every second of every day. And once elected, Libertarians have a proven track record of actually doing what we said we'd do.

The Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Root could never hope to raise the $600 million dollars like Obama. Doesn't that tell you something? Follow the money. Whoever gets the big corporate contributions is expected (or required) to return the favor- only one thousand times bigger (with taxpayer's money).

Barr/Root isn't bought or paid for by special interests or large corporations. Our campaign and convention were not funded with your tax money. We don't owe anyone anything. Our only interest is you- the American citizen and taxpayer.

Isn't it time that you supported a candidate who actually cares about you- the taxpayer? A candidate who actually says what he or she means- not just at election time, but after the election too. Isn't it time you supported a candidate who is actually committed to a set of principles- not just to using principles as a “marketing tool” to get elected. Someone who actually pledges to make their own office less powerful, less important- so they can give the power back to the citizens and taxpayers.

The Libertarian Party and the Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root want a long-term healthy relationship with you. Together, we will build a future that is better for our children and better for our country. No, we're not going to win this Presidential election. Not this time. But we have achieved all-time Libertarian Party records for media appearances and exposure to mainstream American voters. We are building a foundation of credibility for future victory at the national level. And it's what that foundation is built upon that should be most important to you. We offer you the unique opportunity to take power back from the politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, lobbyists and special interests.

We don't batter our voters. We better them.

I started my campaign 18 months ago by announcing a 16-year detailed plan to win the White House. A small businessman and home-school dad from low-tax Nevada, who has never collected a government paycheck, or been corrupted by the "Beltway Insiders" or special interests in Washington D.C., is now the Vice Presidential nominee of a major third party ticket. I'd say that's one heck of a successful start for my plan. November 4th isn't an end, but rather the beginning of my long-term vision to give power back to the citizens.

Join us in starting the process of recovery from battered voter syndrome. You can do it. You can leave. You can change the self-destructive pattern. You can stop wasting your vote on the two parties that 90% of American voters agree have led us in the wrong direction. It's never a wasted vote to choose a candidate that you really like, instead of someone you neither like nor trust. You actually have a choice. A third choice- the Libertarian Party is “America's Third Party.”

Stop accepting the battering and abuse. Stop accepting the lies and deception. Choose a positive, healthy relationship with Bob Barr, Wayne Root and the Libertarian Party. On November 4th, come home to us.

Make your vote count. Go to www.LP.org and join us today.

Wayne Allyn Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081026-090034 Wayne Allyn Root Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:00:34 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081026-090034 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081019-141241
My decision was reinforced recently when GOP Presidential candidate John McCain joined Barack Obama in supporting the greatest federal power grab and rip-off of taxpayers in the history of America (the trillion dollar bailout of banks, housing, AIG and Wall Street). A bailout filled with waste and bribery, yet supported by McCain- the man who claims to fight earmarks and waste with his every breath. A bailout filled with handouts to firms that manufacture wooden arrows, wool, rum in Puerto Rico and products in American Somoa. A bailout that provides tax breaks for bicycle commuters (that is sure to save the U.S. economy). A bailout that socializes the banking and financial system of the United States. A bailout that gives the I.R.S. expanded powers for undercover sting operations against our own American people.

If John McCain had chosen to take a stand against the bailout, the election would have been his. Yet even in this moment that so clearly defined big government vs. limited government; Big Brother and big corporate interests vs. American citizens and taxpayers; capitalism and personal responsibility vs. socialism; John McCain and the GOP joined hands with Barack Obama and sang cum-ba-ya. They proved that there are no longer any big differences between the 2 major parties.

But nothing has made me feel better about leaving the GOP than Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama. Can you even imagine? For months now as the Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate, as a guest on hundreds of radio talk shows and media interviews, I've said that there is no longer any big difference between the 2 major parties- they both support the same long term goal: BIGGER GOVERNMENT. I dubbed the Republicans and Democrats "big and bigger, dumb and dumber." Neither has any interest in defending the constitution. Neither has any interest in supporting beleaguered taxpayers. Neither has any interest in actually cutting the size, scope or power of government. Both parties believe in nothing, but the core principles of bribing the electorate with handouts and entitlements; supporting the lawyers, lobbyists and corporations who provide the biggest campaign contributions; and taking more control over the lives of ordinary Americans. Both major parties crave one thing and one thing only: POWER. That much is now clear.

The endorsement of Democrat Obama by Republican hero Colin Powell makes my case. Supporting McCain and his ideas for bigger government would have been bad enough. Enough to make my heroes Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan roll over in their graves. But Powell didn't choose McCain's vision of big government. That wasn't big enough for Colin Powell. Powell chose Obama's vision of FAR bigger and more intrusive government. Powell chose Obama's vision of re-distribution of wealth. Powell chose the most draconian tax increases in American history. Powell chose a man who supports the punishment of the successful citizens in our society, in order to reward the rest (Obama's core voters) with handouts, entitlements and outright bribes. Powell chose a man named by the National Journal as the most partisan left wing extremist in the entire United States Senate.

Powell has chosen a man that is against tort reform- who literally wants lawyers to run wild and unleash lawsuits across America. Powell chose a man that is against school choice and vouchers- even if they might help black students in the failing hellhole public schools of Washington, D.C. Powell chose a man who supports a government takeover of health care. Powell supports a man who has opposed offshore oil drilling his entire career, while in bed with radical left-wing environmentalists. Powell supports a man who on every issue is to the extreme left of everything mainstream America believes in, let alone what conservatives and Republicans in his own party think. Colin Powell chose socialism.

If Colin Powell could make that choice, as have several other GOP power players like former U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee and former Congressman Jim Leach, then the difference between the 2 major parties has blurred to the point of indistinguishable. Powell's announcement proves that there is no longer a GOP. The party of Goldwater and Reagan is dead. The party of fiscally conservative, limited government principles is long gone. There are no longer any principles left in politics, if a Republican can leave his party to support a radical left-wing, tax-raising, redistribute-the-wealth, socialist who supports a government takeover of health care. Powell has sealed the deal.

McCain may yet win this election against all odds. But it won't change a thing. The charade is up. There is no longer any big difference between Republicans and Democrats. Not when a Republican hero like Powell can choose Big Brother socialism without blinking. Big and bigger, dumb and dumber. It's now a reality.

It's time for change all right. But neither McCain nor Obama will change anything- except for the worst. Among the 2 major parties there is only a choice between a moderate Democrat and a socialist. Sadly, McCain is playing the role of the moderate Democrat who will simply continue President Bush's expansion of government. Throw into the toxic mix the continued violation of civil rights (in the name of "security"); nonstop wars across the globe; and the endless expansion of military spending- all of which will lead to the bankruptcy of America.

On the other hand, Obama is a far-left socialist who will expand government far beyond anything ever imagined. Obama will choose to tax successful citizens to death (literally- by bringing back the death tax and raising the rates of taxation on money we all have left on the day we die AFTER a lifetime of paying taxes). He will bankrupt America even sooner- by handing the keys to government spending to his friends- lawyers, lobbyists, radical environmentalists, obstructionist teachers unions, and greedy government employee unions. No matter who is elected, McCain or Obama, American taxpayers face a bleak future. It's bankruptcy soon, or sooner.

Or voters can choose Bob Barr and Wayne Root. For real change- smaller government; dramatically reduced spending; lower taxes; school choice; energy independence through drilling for our own natural resources; more freedom and rights for gun owners; and more freedom and individual rights for the American people. Most importantly, we stand for less power for the politicians and government bureaucrats, and more power to the people. If that's the kind of change you desire, it's time to leave behind big and bigger, dumb and dumber. I invite you to join the Libertarian Party at: www.LP.org

Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081019-141241 Wayne Allyn Root Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:12:41 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081019-141241 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081014-081511
We work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, during our kid's ballgames and dance recitals. And the thought of “early retirement?” Well it's just not in the cards for ambitious entrepreneurs. If you're employed in the private sector, I know you understand exactly what I'm talking about. But if you're a federal or state employee, this kind of work schedule is something you can't even begin to understand. And that is exactly the problem. A big problem. A cancer upon our nation. It's a big problem for all of us- you, me, taxpayers, cities, states, our entire country. We are all in grave danger.

Because there is a war brewing in this country. I'm not talking about the Iraq war. Nor the Afghanistan war. Nor the threat of any war with Iran. I'm talking about an economic war that threatens to bankrupt our cities, our states, and our country. A war that threatens to burden our children and grandchildren with debt they can never hope to pay off. It is a war of government employees and their unions, versus all of us in the private sector.

We have created a monster- a privileged class of government employees who think they are entitled to a better deal than any of the rest of us- the taxpayers. They work for us, yet they think they're better than us. They act as if we work for them. They think that while the country is in recession, they deserve ever-higher salaries, pensions and benefits.

We are a nation in the midst of severe recession. Business is down everywhere. Ask any small businessman or woman- sales are down a severe 30% to 40% (or worse). Car dealerships are seeing 50% or higher drops in revenue. America is in crisis. Businesses are drastically cutting budgets and laying off millions of employees. Yet guess who isn't cutting? Guess who isn't laying off employees? Guess who isn't reducing salaries or pensions or benefits? I'll give you three guesses. Government. Government. And more government. Local, state and federal governments want more money during the worst recession of our lifetimes. Bigger budgets. Higher taxes. More money spent on education (which translates to higher teacher salaries). More employees. Higher cost of living increases. Bigger pensions. More health benefits. Can you even imagine the gall?

My business revenues are down 30% to 40% and they want increases? Government is still hiring, while the rest of us are laying employees off? Government is asking for budget increases, while the rest of us are busy cutting budgets? It's obvious that government employee unions want to bankrupt America the same way that auto worker unions destroyed the entire auto industry. The same way that auto unions wrecked the biggest companies in the world- Ford, Chrysler and GM. The same way they bankrupted the economies of the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.

It is no coincidence that Michigan now has the single worst economy in these United States of America. They won't rest until all of us in the private sector slave away 9 months a year to meet all their demands, to pay all their obscene salaries and pensions and health benefits. They won't rest until the whole America is one big decaying, depressed, economic disaster like Detroit.

If you doubt me, please Google the Los Angeles Times cover story of Sunday 6/10/07 on this economic tsunami headed our way. The normally ultra-liberal L.A. Times reports that California will surely go bankrupt sometime in the near future under the weight of unfunded public employee liabilities. The Times reports that health care benefits alone for retired California public employees will grow from $4 billion today to $31 billion by 2020. That's just the healthcare! There is no possible way to pay for it all. It is a looming disaster for every state in the nation. But the bleeding-heart liberal, “People's Republic of California” is the perfect test-tube, poster-child for the disaster headed our way.

That article was “the canary in the coal mine.” It was written over a year ago. Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pleading with the federal government to loan California $7 billion dollars- or the state will go bankrupt. The chickens have come home to roost. You can't pay state employees 40% higher wages than other employees in the private sector- at least not if you want to survive economically. California now has the highest state income taxes in the country. Those two are no coincidence. In order to pay one privileged class a "decent living wage" (as liberals like to call it) you have to redistribute wealth away from those who actually earn it (by risking their own money and by creating actual jobs). In other words someone has to pay for all these big salaries and pensions for government employees- so taxpayers get fleeced. The result is that successful business owners (and anyone with assets) are leaving (or should I say escaping) California in droves. Tax revenues are therefore going down, not up, due to this exodus of brains and talent to low tax states like mine- Nevada.

The problem exists all over the country- although on a smaller scale (simply because California is that much bigger, more liberal, and obviously more ignorant of simple mathematics). The L.A. Times article entitled “Public sector reels at retiree healthcare tab” reports that local governments will soon be overwhelmed. "It will be impossible to meet their obligations. The only possibilities are bankruptcies, or a death by a thousand cuts in services to the public." That's a direct quote from the ultra-liberal Los Angeles Times. And that prediction of being overwhelmed “soon” is obviously referring to today. My prediction is that over the next 4 years, hundreds, if not thousands of cities throughout the USA will declare bankruptcy in order to get out from under their government employee union contracts. Bankruptcy will give them the leverage to renegotiate more reasonable (some would say “sane”) deals with government employees.

The Times quotes nonpartisan studies that report wages for state and local government workers are 40% higher than private employees, and retirement and fringe benefits are a whopping 60% higher. The liberal media bombards the public nonstop about the "divide between rich and poor in America." But this is truly the secret "fairness divide" the liberal media has up until now completely ignored (or hidden): the obscene compensation and benefits lavished upon public employees (who happen to vote virtually 100% Democrat just like the media), and the divide between employees of the public sector, and taxpayers of the private sector.

Why do public employees deserve so much more compensation than those in the private sector? Based on what? Small business owners like myself take massive risks, often put their life savings and homes on the line as “personal guarantors,” create jobs, make payrolls, pay millions in taxes (payroll, state and local, federal, sales taxes), and pay for health insurance for our employees. We make it possible for others to live the American Dream. And of course the massive taxes that we pay, make it possible for government to keep hiring, to keep over-paying government employees, and to keep expanding their bloated budgets.

To do all this, we in the private sector work weekends, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and overtime for no extra pay. We never get to retire early. I have yet to meet a business owner retired at age 55. Not one. Yet we in the private sector have no guaranteed paychecks (actually we often pay ourselves nothing in order to make employee payrolls when things are tight), no tenured jobs for life, no pension of any kind, and no one to pay our health insurance after retirement. Heck, we have no idea if we can ever retire.

Why do public employees deserve so much more than the rest of us? Why do they get to retire early on an obscene pension of 80% of their last year's salary for life? Why do they deserve health care for life, when the rest of us in the private sector don't?

Why do they deserve to get the day off for Columbus Day and weekends and sick days when the rest of us don't? There simply are no “sick days” when you own your own small business- you either show up or you lose your customers (and your business). There is no time to get sick when you own your own business- so you just don't. I haven't missed a day of work in 25 years. Why is this gigantic divide between public sector employees and private sector taxpayers “fair”? The answer of course is it is not. And it is time for a citizen revolt to end this travesty of justice- simply because the rest of us can't afford to pay for a privileged class anymore.

Tens of millions of American taxpayers are going to start asking these crucial questions: First, why should we in the private sector take all the risks, work 14 hour days (including weekends and holidays) and labor under the burden of ever-higher taxes, so we can pay for the lavish salaries, pensions and benefits of public service employees? Secondly, why are government offices closed on weekends and on holidays, when we often work on those days? Third, why should we slave away at work until the day we die, so we can pay for the early retirements at age 55 or 60 of public employees who get to play golf for the rest of their lives with pensions of 80% (or more) of their last annual working salary, plus full health care for life?

Why should the private sector taxpayers be stuck with this burden? Who are these government employees that they should be paid so much better than the typical taxpayer? No one is saying that they don't deserve to be paid a good wage. What we are saying is simply that it should be in line with what private sector employees with similar jobs receive. And when times are tough and the rest of us in the private sector are cutting budgets and laying off employees, government should be doing exactly the same thing.

The real issue is not whether the overwhelmed taxpayers and small business owners can pay for it or not- we cannot. The real issue is what happens when the unfunded liabilities come due? California, and the other 49 states are facing bankruptcies and economic crisis of epic proportions. Meanwhile the real heroes of the American economy- the job creators and risk-takers called small businesspersons and entrepreneurs- will be forced to work from January to October just to pay the 70% to 80% taxes that will be necessary to save this country from economic disaster.

Can that happen? It already has- it's called France. That's why our American economy is so successful year after year when compared to the stagnant French economy. It's because America encourages and rewards entrepreneurship, ambition and personal responsibility; while France encourages a welfare state where virtually everyone has a guaranteed job, guaranteed medical care and guaranteed pension for life. The result is high unemployment, high taxes, and shared misery for all. Unfortunately California is becoming our American version of France.

Brave politicians (if there are any left) must deal head-on with this looming economic crisis now, before public employee unions destroy the greatest economy in world history and bleed taxpayers and private industry dry. History proves that great democracies are always destroyed when too many citizens believe that they are entitled to feed off the public dole. When 1 of 5 (or more) citizens works for the government; and many more live off companies that do business with the government; and even more citizens depend on government handouts; our economy is in deep trouble, our way of life is threatened, our taxpayers are drowning in debt.

Worst of all, it is quite simply a recipe for political bribery and extortion (“Pay me more, increase my pensions and benefits, and I'll vote for you, support you, contribute to you, and my union will go door to door on your behalf”). Why should government employee unions that donate millions of dollars to politicians, then be allowed to negotiate with those same politicians for obscene pay raises? Why should one class (private sector taxpayers) shoulder all the burden of another class (entitlement junkies and government employees)?

Our Founding Fathers created our constitution to keep the government out of our lives. That constitution clearly gives the power to the people- not the government. But if a majority of Americans live off of, and work for the government, then the tables have turned. Those same people that work for the government; depend on the government; and pay their bills and mortgages with government paychecks; therefore desperately need the government to grow ever-larger (to protect their jobs, benefits and entitlements).

Afterall, the more government keeps hiring, the more employees are available to join the government employee unions. And therefore more union members available to contribute to union political action funds; to vote for union-friendly politicians; and to man phone banks or walk door to door to campaign for union-friendly politicians. These same union organizers and “community organizers” (as Obama calls them) can therefore be counted on to rig the system to continually fleece the taxpayers and benefit themselves- with the full cooperation of the corrupt politicians they helped elect.

I'm sad to say that this war being waged today is all about the same issues as the American Revolution of 232 years ago: freedom; excessive taxes; and taxation without representation. But today it isn't American peasants versus British soldiers. Today it is a battle of government employees and government employee unions, versus the rest of America (the taxpayers who create all the jobs and pay all the taxes). Today it is private sector, versus public service employees. No lives are being lost in this war. But taxpayers are fighting for our economic lives- and the future of our children. There is no blood spilled. But taxpayers are sacrificing blood, sweat and tears to toil all day, every day in order to pay the heavy taxes required to feed this privileged class.

When the ultra-liberal Los Angeles Times makes it a front page story, the disaster is bigger, closer and more devastating than we ever imagined. The time to act is now- before the people working for and depending on government outnumber the people that depend on ourselves and want government out of our lives.

My Columbus Day is now over. I've been working for 17 hours. I'm going to sleep. I have to be up at 5 AM again tomorrow…and the next day…and the day after. Remember, I have 4 young children, a big mortgage, no guaranteed weekly paycheck, no pension, no government guaranteed job for life, and no early retirement on the horizon. For me, it's “off to work I go” for the next 30 years (or more). For those of us who aren't members of the privileged class, there is no rest.

Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com

]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081014-081511 Wayne Allyn Root Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:15:11 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081014-081511 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081008-082840
Bush, McCain, Obama, Biden, Pelosi, Barney Frank- they all joined hands and cried wolf. “Without the bailout, our economy is doomed, our stock market will plummet” they shrieked. So what do they say now? The market has plummeted hundreds of points SINCE the bailout was approved. We are in a free fall and it is obvious the vote is in: the average American stock investor has rejected the bailout. If I'm not mistaken, I thought I heard all of our politicians hysterically screaming in unison that only a bailout could prevent a stock market collapse. Yet now it appears the bailout is causing a stock market collapse. And to add to the misery, we have just thrown away another $700 billion of taxpayers' money to boot- the worst of all possible out-comes. The moral to the story is that anytime politicians hold hands, agree and sing Cum-ba-ya, grab your wallet because we're all about to get violated.

Yet in a critical national TV debate, with the whole nation watching, neither candidate thought to even mention the investor reaction to the bailout. Not a word. Not a thought. I guess if you pretend it never happened, it will all go away. As a matter of fact, all I heard from the two Presidential candidates (otherwise known as tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb) in reaction to the economic crisis of a lifetime caused by government intervention, was MORE government intervention. Obama wants hundreds of billions of dollars worth of new spending- paid for by raising taxes on successful people and small business owners who create jobs. A surefire recipe for disaster.

And McCain isn't happy spending $700 billion through a massive government intervention. He announced a new $300 billion government intervention to aid homeowners. Where does it end? We all know California will now demand $7 billion (or more) from the federal government or threaten bankruptcy. Other tax and spend bastions of liberal thinking like New York, Massachusetts and Barack's beloved big-government, big spending Illinois cannot be far behind. Soon all of America will be on welfare- the people, the biggest corporations, and now even the states themselves. We're just one big, happy, bankrupt family.

Here's the crucial debate point that Obama and McCain both avoided. What did a few hundred billion dollars in pork and outright bribery have to do with a bailout that was supposed to save the U.S. economy? What does giving millions in tax breaks to rum producers in Puerto Rico do for taxpayers on Main Street? How does giving away millions of dollars to companies in American Samoa help taxpayers? Or how about giving away millions of dollars to the manufacturers of wooden arrows? Sounds like somebody has a wooden arrow manufacturer in their Congressional district. I'll bet that Congressman will be getting more than a turkey for Thanksgiving.

But worst of all, why was a provision added to the $700 billion dollar bailout bill that gives the I.R.S. the right to violate and entrap American taxpayers? Why was it “necessary” to give the IRS the right to spend taxpayer money to set up undercover sting operations? You mean imprisoning more American taxpayers on tax evasion charges will help prevent an economic meltdown? Really? Silly me- I just don't see the connection.

But wait- it gets better. The same bailout bill that had Nancy Pelosi smiling and laughing and hugging Congressmen and women like she'd just saved the world, also violates the privacy of American taxpayers. Not only does it allow the IRS to set up undercover operations to entrap our own citizens, it allows the IRS to now share your personal tax information with any federal, state or local agency. This isn't a bailout, it's a hold up. The American taxpayer is being gagged, robbed and violated by multiple government entities. First Congress takes the taxpayers' money without asking our permission, to pay for a socialist bailout of their biggest contributors on Wall Street…then they give the IRS permission to entrap us, imprison us and legally violate our privacy.

I have a better idea. I think my fellow taxpayers might really appreciate this suggestion. Here is my bailout proposal to Congress: Instead of asking taxpayers to take all that risk, and to guarantee $700 million in bad loans, let's put up current and future Congressional salaries, pensions and health benefits as the guarantee. Then let's see how many members of Congress want to proceed with the bailout? I'm guessing none.

Now there's an idea you didn't hear from Obama or McCain at the Presidential debate. There's an idea you'll never hear from two United States Senators (or any member of Congress). Why? Because they are only confident (or arrogant) when giving away YOUR money, not theirs. That's the kind of creative thinking that American voters are missing by not including Libertarians like Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root in the debates.


Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081008-082840 Wayne Allyn Root Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:28:40 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081008-082840 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081003-082044
As far as winners- the clear-cut winner was Governor Sarah Palin. First, because expectations were so set so low. She did a very credible job- one that far surpassed what was expected of her. Second, because the biased liberal media once again has proven its own worst enemy. The media tried so hard to create the impression of Palin as being unqualified and “out of her league,” that they made her the big underdog. Palin more than rose to the occasion. What the media fails to understand is that America loves an underdog. The more the media belittles Palin, the more America (especially middle America) will rise to her defense. Third, the intellectual elite of this country thinks far too much of themselves. The pompous, arrogant “Beltway Insiders” crowd thinks that no moose-hunting, hockey mom and beauty queen contestant from the University of Idaho can ever debate them on a national stage. To the contrary, middle America loves to see one of their own do battle (and win) versus an elite D.C. establishment-insider like Senator Joe Biden. Most Americans- if given a choice- will always root for a Sarah Palin over a member of the millionaire boys club.

Palin lacks the U.S. Senate pedigree, law degree, or the D.C. Beltway credentials of Biden, but she has Reaganesque-like charm, charisma and middle American values. She also has something that even a brash New Yorker like me appreciates- CHUTZPAH. Sarah, in an “aw shucks” kind of way, is more confident of a speaker and debater than any 5-term United States Senator. Like Reagan, she knows how to connect to her audience- soccer moms and NASCAR dads (or as she calls them “Joe Six Pack”).

More than any other politician in the country, I understand why McCain took the gamble of a lifetime to choose Sarah Palin. She is a female me! We're both unusual non-traditional politicians. I speak often of being a small businessman, home-school dad, S.O.B. (son of a butcher) and citizen politician, from a far Western frontier state like Nevada- where we love guns and hate taxes. Sarah talks of being a small-town hockey mom who hunts, fishes and shoots moose, from a far West frontier state like Alaska- where they love guns and hate taxes. We both come from humble blue-collar beginnings- my dad was a butcher, my mom a homemaker. Her dad was a teacher, her mom a homemaker. We both speak often about our beliefs in smaller government and more power to the people. We are both family-oriented with long-lasting marriages and large families- Sarah has 5 children, including a new baby; my wife Debra and I have been blessed with 4 children, including a new baby. We're both young, enthusiastic, and passionate spokespersons for our political causes. We both get our supporters pumped up with enthusiasm. We are both proud of our lack of connections to Washington D.C. and fancy-pants lawyers or lobbyists.

And we both have a signature line that ties into who we are and where we're from- Sarah talks of the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls- lipstick. I talk of the big difference between my hometown Las Vegas and Washington D.C.- in Vegas the drunks gamble with their own money!

McCain sensed in the “Palin style” what I've understood for a long time: America is looking for a hero, an ANTI-POLITICIAN. Someone who is not a lawyer; not an elitist; not an intellectual; who understands middle America and small town values; who will govern with common sense; who wants to give the power back to the people- NOT the lobbyists and corporate interests. So I say BRAVO to Governor Palin for a job well done. You “get it” in a way so few politicians do (or ever have).

But that is where my compliments end. And that is also where our similarities end. You see Sarah is much like me when it comes to “style.” But when it comes to substance and reality, not so much (as Sarah would say). You see I'm the real thing. I'm a Barry Goldwater-loving, anti-government, anti-tax rebel who despises politicians, lawyers, lobbyists, government spending, earmarks, waste and corporate welfare.

Read my lips: I will NEVER in my lifetime support a tax increase- taxes are already far too high. I pledge to lower taxes, and oppose any attempt at a tax increase. How's that for putting a bold promise in writing? Etch it in stone- I will NEVER support a tax increase. When it comes to spending, I join great fiscal conservatives like Barry Goldwater and Dr. Ron Paul in playing the role of “Dr. NO”- I pledge to oppose any and every spending increase that is not authorized by the constitution. Government spending is already far too high. I will only vote (and fight) to lower government spending.

Governor Palin is not an anti-politician. She's been a politician for 13 years now. She is not against tax increases- she has in fact supported tax increases. She is not against earmarks- as Governor of Alaska she has requested more earmarks (per capita) than most any other Governor in America. She is not against government spending- while she did cut some spending out of the budget, she also signed the biggest budget in Alaska history into law. She was not against the Bridge to Nowhere- she was actually for it, before she was against it. After it was killed by public opinion, she actually kept the federal money allotted for the infamous bridge. And unlike me (a home-school dad)- she certainly is no fighter for parental freedom and school choice. To the contrary, she has publicly denounced vouchers in speeches in front of Alaska teachers unions. So it appears Sarah's “citizen politician” image is just that- an image portrayed by a skilled actress.

The Vice Presidential debate was most shocking to me for what it exposed- a 2 party system that I call big and bigger, dumb and dumber. There was no smaller government candidate on that stage in St. Louis. There were only 2 big government supporters arguing over how big to make it. The party of Goldwater is long gone. Palin and her running mate McCain support the $700 billion bailout that socializes the U.S. banking system- just like Obama and Biden. Palin used every opportunity at the V.P. debate to denounce “greedy Wall Street” just like Biden and Obama (instead of strongly stating the truth- that it was corrupt and incompetent government that caused our economic and credit crisis). Palin supports more government regulation over Wall Street- just like Biden and Obama. Palin supports carbon caps- just like Obama and Biden. Palin agreed that mankind has caused some degree of global warming- just like Biden and Obama. Palin thinks the federal government should spend more money on failing public schools- just like Biden and Obama. No mention by Palin of failing public schools; greedy teachers unions; the need for choice and competition; or Democratic politicians being bought and paid for by teachers union contributions. Note that Goldwater supported an end to all federal meddling and spending on education. Reagan promised to terminate the entire Department of Education (although he never did). Palin proudly promised to spend more on education. Palin never mentioned one program or cabinet department she would cut. Not one. I have no doubt that Goldwater and Reagan were rolling over in their graves after this performance.

And when it comes to taxes, Palin simply says she wants to lower taxes, while the Democrats want to raise them. But she never clearly stated a detailed case for dramatically lower taxation or spending. She had no answer at all when Biden pointed out that McCain has supported tax increases hundreds of times. Is this what it has come to? Both sides arguing over who has supported tax increases the most? Is a conservative now the candidate who has supported tax increases only 120 times, instead of 400 times by the liberal Democrat?

And when it comes to war, Palin obviously supports ever-expanding military budgets (and taxation) to support more intervention and wars all over the world. There was not a mention by either candidate of cutting foreign aid, military bases or waste in the pentagon budget. Perhaps major contributions by defense contractors got in the way of that possible policy difference?

In the end, this debate proved the differences between the two major political parties to be small. Both Biden and Palin stand for bigger government- the only debate is over how big. With Biden (and Obama) it's always just a little bigger. Palin was chosen by McCain to win back conservative and Libertarian votes. She is an actress playing a part: the part of Wayne Allyn Root- a fiscally conservative, anti-tax, Libertarian small businessperson and citizen politician from a Western state, that wants to restore common sense and give power back to the people.

Every 4 years Republicans pull the same charade- then they get elected and go back to bribing corporate interests and spending like drunken sailors (no offense intended towards drunken sailors). Democrats don't even bother to hide what they stand for- higher taxes, bigger spending, bigger government, more power to teachers unions. Republicans just hide their true intensions much better. They run for election as small government Libertarians, then get elected and expand government to record levels. I call it “the November surprise”- they talk like Libertarians, then govern like liberals. Only now- after all the decades of promises broken- it should no longer come as a surprise. Having me on that stage would have exposed the 2-party system for the sham that it is. I now understand why I wasn't invited to spoil the party. But boy would it have been fun!


Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry081003-082044 Wayne Allyn Root Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:20:44 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081003-082044 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080930-091145
The reality is that Obama TALKS about change. Just like McCain talks about being a fiscal conservative who believes in smaller government and lower taxes. It's all just the usual talk at election time. I call it the "November political con game." The politicians simply spout the same lies and broken promises to get elected every November.

In the end, both McCain and Obama are beholden to the same status quo- lawyers, lobbyists, corporate interests, and bigger government at all costs. No one- but the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Root- is looking out for taxpayers on Main Street. Perhaps that could be the reason Barr/Root hasn't raised any major corporate money. Perhaps.

The good news is we aren't beholden to the lawyers, lobbyists or Wall Street. We are free to tell the truth. Only one party- The Libertarian Party- is looking out for the common citizens and taxpayers- the ones without armies of big shot lawyers and lobbyists.

So here's the truth. Journalist and Author Bernie Goldberg had it right…Crazies To The Left, Wimps To The Right. Both major parties are badly failing the American people. Let's look at the facts as to how this financial crisis came about. The seeds were planted in the Carter and the Clinton administrations with the good intention of helping low income families become homeowners. It all started with The Community Re-Investment Act of 1977 (under Carter). The intent of the CRA was to pressure banks into making subprime loans so that levels of home ownership among minorities and low income Americans would rise. Things got worse under liberal do-gooder Bill Clinton. The CRA was re-structured and promoted even harder under Clinton. The concept was simple- banks were told to loosen credit requirements for low income Americans or face regulatory pressure.

While the concept was noble, history proves that anything that manipulates the free market with so-called “good intentions” is destined to fail. And once the politicians- those crazies and wimps- started to tinker (to make it “better”), it was destined to get ugly (ie not just failure, but wholesale disaster of epic scale). Entire bureaucracies called Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac were created, and a new game called subprime mortgage-backed securities was created by the politicians- that is, by those same crazies and wimps.

If you ever had any doubt about the deficiencies of politicians, you need no longer suffer that delusion. NONE of the lawyers who make up most of Congress know anything about economics. Neither does anyone on their staff- they are almost all lawyers and career bureaucrats who have never run a business, never risked their own money, never made a payroll, or created a job in their entire lives. They live their entire lives with public money (from the taxpayers). They get paid by public money (government paychecks), and use public money to fund all their ideas, pet projects, earmarks and spending bills. Someone else (taxpayers like you and me) pays every bill, funds every idea, pays their way through life.

But it gets worse- few executives on Wall Street know anything about business either. The Wall Street big shots- investment bankers, money managers, hedge fund gurus, analysts, brokers, traders- create nothing of value. Like politicians they spend most of their lives talking about business- not doing it. And like politicians what little business they conduct is with OPM (Other People's Money). They analyze and sell stock in companies that other people created. They give opinions on whether other people will fail or succeed. And they look to their friends, the politicians, for opportunities to make gobs of money without risk- situations where any risk is passed onto you and me, the taxpayers.

Once Congress created this new “easy money” game of subprime mortgage-backed securities, Wall Street started playing it according to the rules of the game, rules established by the politicians. And they played it to the max- with both fists.

Once the gravy train started rolling, millions of low-income families took advantage of the “free money.” They were able to qualify to buy homes for the first time in their lives and they did. The problem, of course, was that they couldn't afford to pay the mortgages, which they should never have gotten in the first place. Then, the defaults began. It's obvious that government isn't the solution to this crisis- as you can clearly see above- government is the problem. Ignorant, irresponsible and corrupt politicians looking to legislate “equality” caused this mess by relaxing credit standards to scandalous levels. And what a mess it is. If we are to believe the politicians and Wall Street gurus, we are facing financial Armageddon at this moment. Of course, if it's true, it's because they caused it.

It is important to point out that several years ago a group of concerned people in Congress saw the problems coming and attempted to rein in a program that appeared- for anyone who had even a basic understanding of business- totally out of control. Unfortunately, by that time it was too big and too powerful to slow down. The Wall Street guys, who were getting rich at this wonderful new game the politicians had created for them, also knew how to play the game of politics. They led the key Senators and Congressmen to the trough (follow the big money contributions right to the doorstep of Obama and McCain). Once they were all wallowing in it together, it was too late to fix it. So they all kept “partying like it was 1999” and prayed the disaster would not occur until they were out of office, or out of the CEO suite.

So the crisis has come. The first thing to happen, of course, is the politicians pointing their fingers, calling the Wall Street guys “greedy,” when they were only playing a game whose rules the politicians had established. Naturally, the politicians ignore the fact that in addition to being ignorant and clueless about business, they were equally greedy. How about the banking regulators that followed the politician's orders to encourage banks to suspend credit requirements so that low income applicants could own a home (they could not afford). Or “community activist groups” like ACORN that stoked the fires. There is more than enough blame to go around.

Enough of how we got here, enough of the blame game. Let's look at the solution that is being stuffed down the taxpayer's throats- with little or no explanation, accountability or oversight- by the same people who caused this mess. They are trying desperately to convince us that they have the solution- even though they caused this whole mess and to make it worse, did not have the foresight to see it coming. Here's their big brilliant solution- give $700 Billion to a former Wall Street guy (the ex-chairman of Goldman Sachs Treasury Secretary Hank Paulsen), with an oversight committee made up of LAWYER LEGISLATORS. Then he'll use taxpayer money (yours and mine) to buy all the bad loans and bail out his rich Wall Street friends- using OPM (other people's money). Surprised? That's the only game that lawyers, politicians and Wall Street executives have played in their entire lives! What's wrong with this picture? EVERYTHING!

Now here's the part where it gets really bad- and the important thing to remember is that the financial guys on Wall Street knowing NOTHING about actually running a business. Now that we taxpayers own these billions of dollars (maybe a trillion) of bad loans, what are we going to do with them? The Wall Street guys say that's simple- you just hold the bad loans (or “paper” as they call it on Wall Street) until the market gets better and then you sell them. You see, for the financial types on Wall Street, the term "doing business" means moving money and paper around. That part is easy.

The hard part is what to do with the millions of defaults and foreclosures. Remember, there is a physical piece of property underlying these bad loans. When someone walks away, whoever holds the loan now owns a piece of property. When the banks and financial institutions own these mortgages, they have to take them over, fix them, and resell them. Who's going to do that when the taxpayers own them? Ah, here's where the politicians get involved again!

We are now looking at BILLIONS and BILLIONS more of our taxpayer money going to FOP's (Friends of Politicians)- mostly friends of the liberal Democrat-controlled Congress. Friends of Nancy Pelosi; Friends of Charles Rangel (who creates tax policy for the USA as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, but recently was allegedly caught cheating on his own taxes); and of course, Friends of Obama- “community activist groups” (like the corrupt ACORN) who are going to be awarded HUGE contracts and government handouts to deal with the foreclosures (the actual physical property). These are the same people who caused this catastrophic crisis in the first place- by demanding that government force bankers to loosen credit standards for low income Americans in the name of “equality.”

What will these community groups do with all these billions of dollars of our taxpayer money? Since they have even less business acumen than legislators, and will have absolutely ZERO incentive to return the taxpayers' money from these properties, they will do what they always do- offer great deals to their friends and cronies. And the people getting the benefit of this theft of taxpayer money in the form of “can't lose sweetheart deals" will in turn give large contributions to the politicians who made it all possible. And you thought Wall Street was greedy? All the while, who is paying for all this- YOU, THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER! In this whole big mess it is the taxpayers- who bear none of the blame- who are the only ones on the hook for billions in losses.

So, what do we do? First it makes no sense to ask Congress to approve a bailout plan on 24 or 48 hours notice. I guarantee you that not one Congressman took the time to read the 400+ pages of this bloated piece of panic legislation. Or the financial acumen to understand the details of what they were reading, if they ever chose to read it. Think about that for a moment. Here we have the biggest taxpayer giveaway in history and none of our representatives bothered to read it or study “the small print” before voting on it. The devil is always in the details- so what exactly does the small print among those 400 pages say? I guarantee you it is a giveaway to special interest groups and a disaster for taxpayers.

My advice is to slow down, take a deep breath, and work on a plan that benefits the taxpayers on Main Street, instead of the politicians and their cronies on Wall Street. If this is truly so important that the fate of the entire U.S. economy hangs in the balance, why rush through a bad deal crafted on a few hours notice, and voted on without a discussion, debate or explanation to the American people?

My personal vote is to NOT do anything. Doing nothing is better than doing something bad that compounds the problem for generations to come. Let the free markets work. Let the companies who made the bad loans deal with them. If what the Wall Street big shots say is true, if these loans will rise in value over time, then let them hold them. If it's such a “sure thing” that the values of these loans will recover, then the bankers should take the risk, not the taxpayers. Of course, if the bankers and Wall Street big shots are wrong or worse- lying to the American people- their companies will fail. But last I checked, that's the very definition of capitalism. I did not realize that the difference between capitalism and socialism is that, in socialism the government nationalizes profitable companies, while in capitalism the government nationalizes failing companies. I guess that I missed that point in my economics class!

To bail bankers and Wall Street out is truly un-American. It is to socialize Wall Street and the American banking system. To make things worse, to give Treasury Secretary Hank Paulsen what amounts to a blank check for his Wall Street buddies is a disaster for the American taxpayer- who bears no blame in this mess. The powers requested by Paulsen would mean yet another unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of government by the Bush administration. But hey, what's the big deal about yet another violation of the constitution among friends?

I say NO to the bailout. I say NO to bigger government. I say NO to any more violations of the constitution. I say NO to believing that the government that caused this mess has the answers to solving it. I say NO to allowing big government and big corporations to bamboozle the American taxpayer into paying for a mess that we bear zero responsibility for. I say NO to voting for a bailout 400+ pages long, the details of which we know nothing about. I say NO to allowing ACORN and other “community activist groups” to benefit by billions of dollars off the misery they caused. And I say NO to the hysteria on Wall Street that says rejection of the bailout will destroy the American banking and economic system. Perhaps it's the same Wall Street big shots and bankers who helped to cause this mess, that are manipulating the markets to freeze credit and drive stock prices down until they get a billion dollar bailout. I say let them (and the free markets) clean up this mess. Leave the American taxpayers out of it. The American economy has weathered worse, and it will weather this one as well. It's time to draw a line in the sand. My answer is NO!

I know what the politicians will say to my answer- that it is simplistic. Well yes, my answer is purposely simple. It was created with the American taxpayer in mind. What made it possible to think of such a simple, straight-forward, fair answer that doesn't fleece the taxpayer? Well that's simple too- I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a lobbyist. I'm not a union boss. I'm not a government bureaucrat. I'm not a politician. I'm not a “Beltway Insider.” I don't spend my days and nights thinking of ways to fool or fleece the taxpayers.

I'm just a S.O.B. (son of a butcher), small businessman, home-school dad and citizen politician from the common sense, low tax, limited government state of Nevada. And I hope to be your next Vice President of these United States. God Bless America, and the people that made this country great- the citizens and taxpayers.

Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080930-091145 Wayne Allyn Root Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:11:45 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=09&entry=entry080930-091145 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080917-082913
But there is also a big story about political corruption going on in New York at this moment- one that has not hit the national radar yet. But I believe these two big stories go hand-in-hand to prove just how out of control our government truly is. They prove the folly of government caring about “the little guy.” They prove what I call “The Big Lie:” the idea that our politicians serve the people, or for that matter even care about the people. The government may be here to help- but it sure isn't here to help the taxpayers.

Neither Republican nor Democrats care about anything but themselves, big donors, big corporations, and of course preserving the current system that preserves their power. The big national news story was the disintegration of Wall Street behemoths like Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG and many other household names rumored to be on the financial precipice (such as Wachovia). We are witnessing the worst financial meltdown of my lifetime- and perhaps any lifetime. And in response, politicians at all levels of government and the infamous Fed are giving away our money. Yes, I said our money- yours and mine. It is the greatest corporate welfare giveaway in the history of the world. The billion-dollar taxpayer giveaway started with Bear Stearns, then grew potentially to trillions of dollars with the federal takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Now, AIG is the next lucky recipient of the government-giveaway game. No sooner had the Fed decided to draw a line in the sand and allow Lehman Brothers to fail, than the politicians re-started the giveaway game for AIG. The Democratic Governor of New York David Patterson literally begged the Fed to intervene on behalf of New York-based AIG, only hours after the Fed stood firm against a Lehman bailout. Could that theatrical and hysterical plea by the honorable Governor of New York have had something to do with political donations from AIG to Governor Patterson or Democrat politicians in New York? Wouldn't that be a big surprise?

In any case, just as I predicted, the Fed has already broken its own Lehman Brothers precedent to intervene on behalf of AIG. After bravely holding steady and drawing a line in the sand, the political winds blew that line to bits in a matter of hours. Undoubtedly Gov. Patterson was the first of many political insiders to call the Fed begging for help on behalf of AIG. I'll bet that every politician who has ever taken a donation from AIG was instructed by their bosses (at AIG) to get on the line with the Fed to demand a bailout. So much for the idea of “government backbone.” Who is next in line? Automakers in Detroit? Wachovia? The list goes on and on. The tab for AIG alone is $85 Billion (with a B). But hey, what's $85 Billion among friends? After all, it's only the taxpayers' money.

The excuse for all this federal government intervention is that these companies were all deemed “too big to fail” and would induce “catastrophic systemic failure.” The reality is Lehman was no different than the rest of the group, and its failure- while unsettling and frightening to investors- was actually absorbed quite well by Wall Street. I'm ashamed of my fellow capitalist warriors. The Kings of Wall Street play with other people's money; take gigantic risks; ignore the worst-case perils; crow about capitalism while they are making huge profits; but at the first hint of failure, they run to government demanding that taxpayers on Main Street pay for their mistakes with government handouts, loans and easy money from the Fed.

My question as a small businessman is, who is bailing out Americans like me when I'm in financial trouble? Who in the federal government or Federal Reserve hands money out to millions of my fellow small business owners when we're suffering a financial crisis? Small business is the economic engine of America- creating the majority of non-government jobs (and 75% of new jobs). Where are the late night emergency meetings on behalf of small business owners in distress? Where is the expansion of Fed Funds for the owners of small businesses on Main Street? Where are the government guarantees when we fail?

So let me get this straight. The government takes 50% of our profits (as small business owners), and when we're in financial trouble, they give us back ZERO. But when a big corporation with expensive, connected lawyers or lobbyists is in trouble, that same federal government takes billions of our tax dollars to handout to them. Now, that's a great deal if you can get it.

So it's a double whammy to small business (and a double slap in the face)- when we're in trouble there is no one to bail us out; we have to keep paying taxes into the system; and our monies are used to bail out others with political connections; all the while, these billion dollar bailouts devalue our buying power with the dollars we have left. Something is just not right here.

Worse, small business owners are merely in trouble because of a slowing economy. It's not our fault that sales are down. But these big billion dollar companies like Lehman, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch and AIG are in trouble of their own making. They are run by big-shot CEO's, who've made reckless decisions and bad bets. Why reward them for reckless behavior? Doesn't bailing them out merely encourage them to take those same reckless risks again and again? Isn't the point of capitalism and unfettered free markets to allow the smart and successful to rise to the top, and to punish those who make dumb mistakes or irresponsible bets? When did we change the rules of the game? When did CEO's of the biggest firms in America become welfare queens?

Why should average American taxpayers be put on the hook for all the losses from reckless CEO's wagering on exotic financial instruments like derivatives? Few of my small business owner friends even know what derivatives are, or how they work. I only know that they were a way for greedy Wall Street egomaniacs to leverage investor money by a factor of 20 to 1 (or higher), to produce massive profits on investments that no one (including the Wall Street analysts, experts or CEO's) even understood. The risks blew up in their faces and now they want the American taxpayer to bail them out.

Well, who is looking out for our interests as taxpayers? Certainly not powerful politicians who are wined and dined by lawyers and lobbyists on behalf of corporate giants- then are handed a big fat campaign contribution at the end of dinner. Small business owners- that economic engine that creates the majority of jobs- cannot afford big-shot lawyers, lobbyists or consultants. We can't afford to wine and dine politicians. We can't afford to pay for Congressmen's vacations. Nor can we afford to legally bribe politicians with big fat donations. We're too busy working and trying to earn a living. So it should come as no surprise or coincidence that taxpayers on Main Street get the short end of the shaft.

That brings up the second big story in New York while I was there. It turns out that powerful Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel- who is CHAIRMAN of the Ways and Means Committee of the United States Congress (the group that determines tax policy for all of us) doesn't like to pay taxes himself. It turns out that he's owned a fancy home in a fancy Dominican Republic resort for years- allegedly without disclosing his rental income to either the IRS, or to Congress (on required Congressional disclosure forms).

If you or I did that it would be called “tax evasion” and we'd be sent straight to prison. But Charlie Rangel appears to be different than your typical taxpayer. He simply confessed (after being caught red-handed by the New York Post), agreed to pay a small fine, and now refuses to give up his powerful Committee Chairmanship deciding tax policy for the rest of the country. Can you imagine? He allegedly cheats on his taxes- commits a FELONIOUS CRIME- and he thinks that he deserves to keep his job deciding our tax laws.

How do these two controversies tie together? Anyone who now wants government to create more regulations and take more control over Wall Street has learned the wrong lesson from this crisis. Government is incompetent. Government knows nothing about economics or finance. Government doesn't care about taxpayers. When government needs money, they simply create more money by raising our taxes and printing more money (which dilutes the value of the American dollar). When government wants to create jobs, they simply raise taxes on some of us, to create unnecessary jobs for others.

And then there are the people who run the government- the Charlie Rangels of the world. These arrogant politicians create the tax laws to pilfer money from our pockets as taxpayers- then they break the very same laws themselves. They believe they are above the law. They believe that tax laws are for the rest of us mere mortals- the little people.

Why would we want the same government that has produced a $400 Billion budget deficit, and a $9.5 Trillion dollar national debt, to take more control of our financial system? Why would we want the people, who have managed Social Security and Medicare to the brink of financial ruin, to take more control of our financial system? Why would we want the same people who already oversee and regulate Wall Street, and have therefore presided over this catastrophe, to now create more rules and regulations? What would make you think that the very people who presided over the first mess, can now prevent the next one? Why would we want the Charlie Rangels of the world to take more power and control over our lives? Why would we want to elect politicians who promise to increase taxes again- so that they can use the additional money they've taken from us to bail out the next Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or AIG?

The only lesson to be learned from this financial crisis and Charlie Rangel's little “tax problem” is to take the power away from government. We must make government smaller. We must give politicians less power and control over our lives and finances. We must de-regulate, not add more regulations. We must lower spending and taxes dramatically to allow our economy to recover from this crisis. More taxes and regulations will only deepen the crisis. We must ask government to get out of the way. We must leave free markets free to profit and to fail. And if we want to avoid the next financial crisis, we must stop rewarding those who caused this crisis with their irresponsible decisions. We must stop bailing out and handing out taxpayer's money to those with the most powerful and expensive lobbyists and lawyers. Handing AIG more of the taxpayers' money when they fail is not the solution. Handing more power to Charlie Rangel is certainly not the solution. The only real lesson in this tragic story is that government doesn't have the solution. Government is the problem.

Both Republicans and Democrats are on record as supporting bigger government, more regulation, more power, more control over private markets and the American economy. Only the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Barr/Root supports smaller government, lower taxes, free markets, and more power to the people.

Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.
]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080917-082913 Wayne Allyn Root Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:29:13 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=09&entry=entry080917-082913 http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080910-081833
What a journey it is has been since I was honored with the Libertarian Party Vice Presidential nomination last May. I have traveled the country; sat down for hundreds of media interviews; and I have appeared nonstop on talk radio across the USA- sometimes as many as 6 to 8 radio shows per day. In just a 72 hour period this past week, I was a guest on a dozen radio shows- including UK national radio on “The George Galloway Show” (a former leader of Parliament), and then just 48 hours later Canadian national radio on “Adler On-Line with Charles Adler.” Tomorrow I'll be a guest on one of the most popular shows on New York radio “The John Gambling Show” on WOR Radio (guest hosted by Rita Cosby, formerly of Fox News and MSNBC). In between there were local radio station interviews across the USA. What a whirlwind! And certainly not your typical media schedule for a third party V.P. But then I don't do anything quietly.

But here's what's truly different about my campaign- unlike Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain or Sarah Palin, this isn't my full-time occupation. You see I am a citizen politician. I run for the 2nd highest office in the land, while I run my small business (35 employees). My business happens to be intense, high-pressure and centered around media (TV, radio, web). So while I run for Vice President off the United States and give hundreds of media interviews, blog interviews, and find the time to travel to events across the country; I'm also running a complex business as CEO; producing and starring on two national sports radio shows (heard on 41 stations across the USA); a web television show; analyzing and predicting the winners of sporting events for thousands of clients; and doing dozens of sports radio interviews a weekend.

Yes, you heard correctly- I'm the first Vice Presidential candidate in history to do media interviews where I'm asked to solve America's biggest problems- war, economy, taxes, illegal immigration, health care and education- then have to switch roles to do a different media interview (sometimes minutes later) to predict who will win the Super Bowl. And as a father of 4 young children, I also help my wife to run a family of six. Now that's a feat that I'd like to see my fellow candidates manage.

What is a typical day like? I sometimes start my day by awakening from a dead-sleep, to answer the phone at 4:45 AM, sit up in bed, and go straight into an important political interview with thousands of Americans listening…head to my home gym for a one hour workout (which I never miss)…then head off to manage my business for a full day's work…then rush to the airport…fly to a political event…get off the plane in a strange city, turn on my cell phone to find that I have 26 phone messages and 75 emails waiting…take a call within seconds from a radio station…do a radio interview in the car on the way to the political event…then arrive at the event to deliver a speech…get back to my hotel and answer 125 emails…before finally drifting off to sleep at 2 AM. Then I wake up to do it all again. R&R (rest & relaxation) is not a luxury afforded to either CEO's or national political candidates. And in a brilliant move, I have chosen to do both at once. LOL.

That's a pretty typical day in my life. But wait, it gets better! In the midst of all this, editors and reporters stick microphones in my face and try to catch me saying something stupid, or controversial, or just plain wrong. Occasionally (thank goodness, VERY occasionally) I give an interview I'd like to redo, or simply say a few words I wish I could take back. It has happened perhaps a half dozen times out of hundreds of interviews. That's a pretty darn good track record.

But can you imagine in the midst of that grueling schedule- where many interviews are given at 4 AM or 11 PM (or both on the same day), or after getting off an airplane (after a full day of work)- having to be perfect every time, or face criticism by readers or listeners or opponents or the media? Can you imagine being perfect hundreds of times, then having one sentence or one word taken out of context and used to denigrate everything you've done and everything you stand for? Can you imagine being perfect hundreds of times, then being criticized for one issue or opinion that one critic doesn't like? Can you imagine having each word you choose picked apart, just so a critic or political opponent can score political points? Can you imagine doing 100 great interviews, then getting slammed by critics for the one lousy one? Can you even imagine that kind of tremendous stress, pressure and responsibility? That's my day, every day.

Politics is tough, but now I understand why there haven't been any true “citizen politicians” since the days of our Founding Fathers (until I came along). Running a business, a large family, national TV and radio shows, and a national political campaign is a tough mix. Am I having second thoughts? Not a one. I'm loving every minute. I can't wait for 2012.

Just try to remember what my days are like the next time you start to criticize the way one interview, one sentence or one word sounded. Just try to consider the hours your candidate puts in; the personal and professional sacrifices he or she makes; the intense stress, pressure and time constraints they are operating under. It's grueling. Most of all, I miss the time I used to spend with my family. I wish I could spend more time with my new baby daughter Contessa. I miss playing football with my boys Hudson and Remington. I miss dinners with my oldest daughter Dakota (who gave my nomination speech for President of the United States on C-SPAN). Yet I do it- and love it- because I love the Libertarian cause.
It's my passion to spread Libertarian ideas for smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes and more freedom. Just be glad it's me out there, instead of you. And then be sure to VOTE! That's the only sacrifice we ask of you.


Wayne Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.
]]> http://www.root4america.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry080910-081833 Wayne Allyn Root Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:18:33 GMT http://www.root4america.com/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=09&entry=entry080910-081833