Manns Medium

After hearing so much about the need for a new tax system and a few unconventional plans like the “999” plan   or the choice of a flat 20% and staying with the current system, I decided that I would give it a shot.     With the reduction in the brackets, standard deductions, estate taxes and the elimination of the alternative minimum tax, I think this plan has something for everyone.   Information from Government Spending in the United States retrieved from www.usgovernmentspending.com , says that the normal federal expenditures is 6 trillion dollars divided as 18% for Healthcare, 15% for Education, 12% for Welfare, 16% for Pensions, 15% for Defense and 24% Discretionary/Remainder.   I have taken this 6 trillion dollar number to use in my calculations and attempting to reach this number in my tax reform plan.   It was also important to take a look at what is reported to be the current breakdown regarding revenue.   This information was retrieved from www.usgovernmentrevenue.com unde

I was watching MSNBC and saw a report from Luke Russert regarding the super committee and their work to reduce the deficit by 1.2 trillion dollars.   Mr. Russert and Savannah Guthrie spoke about how Republicans really had an incentive to reach a compromise if for no other reason than to avoid the deep cuts to defense. I may be wrong but I cannot help but think that a party who were willing to allow this country to go into default and have been targeting social security, Medicare and other social safety nets, would not really care about deep cuts to any program as long as it does not give this president a supposed win on anything.   I would consider it a miracle if they worked really hard at anything which involved this administration. How soon we forget, that before this president was even inaugurated, the Republicans had met and decided not to help this president in any way.   What allowed him to get as much done as he did was the majority in the House and the Senate was held

One of the major reasons why protestors in the national occupy Wall Street movement is receiving enormous support from the public is its willingness to work with city leaders and police.   It appears that some in other places are looking to challenge that premise. We are not sure if it is because they have been infiltrated with people whose primary mission is to do anything to give this movement a bad name or by people who meant well but have been overwhelmed by anger and want to act accordingly.   What we do know are those who wish to defying the law loses creditability when advocating for the law.   In order to show that all Americans should be treated equally under the law, it must be done within the confines of the law.   Breaking the law to make a point only clouds that point because the only thing remembered is the point became mute after it was revealed that you stepped over the boundaries. Occupy Wall Street protestors should be careful to monitor the members as much a

As this election season begins to heat up, I never really placed much thought in the ideas of those who seemed so far removed from the economic issues of this nation when it comes to anything especially foreign affairs but with the recent deluge of comments coming from these individuals, it has raised a question or two. It should be expected that the crop of those seeking the Republican Presidential Nomination would have a few thoughts about foreign affairs what caught me completely off guard was the article by Matt Spetalnick of Reuters titled Top Republican assails Obama "reset" with Russia.   In it he reports that “House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, in a rare speech on foreign policy, warned that Russia's response to Obama's much-vaunted outreach was "nothing short of an attempt to restore Soviet-style power and influence."   Pushing for a tougher line, Boehner pressed Obama not to agree to Russia's long-sought accession to the Worl

All of us should have heard the saying “Bless it are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called “the Children of God”.   If you have not heard or read this then it has been a failure of those before you to educate you on what that means.   It’s the only clear definition of God’s expectation of us while so many others can be gleamed and interpreted but is not so clear. It does not say that any specific religion is the children of God nor does it say that any particular color, creed, or sex is the child of God.   The Bible tells us that we all are God’s children yet we divide ourselves into these groups each claiming more of a connection.   Labels are those definitions we place upon ourselves and do not reflect the wishes of anyone but ourselves.   You decide to worship in a particular way so your gravitate toward those who share your vision of religion but that, by no means, prove that you are any closer to God than someone who choose to worship in another manner.   What it shows is

Some reporters, commentators and journalist have been stuck on the premise regarding how long it will take to bury Libya’s deceased dictator.   Like many leading stories, the need for drama is great so they play it up as something that could have grave consequences not only for Libya but for the United States.   It appears that our news media has been infected by the Hollywood Bug. Mommar Khaddafy’s body is reportedly still in Misrata and is laid out for those who wish to see his life-less body.   The freezer, where the body is supposed to be, may feel cold to many but to those who have endured Khaddafy’s wrath for 42 years, it’s as warm as the summer sun.   Khaddafy’s body should remain there as long as there are people lined up to see it because they deserve this closure.   The rebels are attempting to make sure that the people of Libya can close this chapter of their lives and go on without worrying that he still exists.   These citizens began this revolution with shovels, pitc

Mitt Romney has a well-earned reputation as a “flip-flopper” and one of the lessons learned from those currently in Congress and our former presidents is this nation cannot afford another politician who does not have a consistent position on the issues facing this nation.   There is plenty of documented and recorded proof of how Mr. Romney will tailor his position to meet the requirements of his audience and while that is a good thing when you are trying to sell a product, it should not be accepted when you are asking for the votes to place you in the White House. Now, truth be told, Mr. Romney is not the first and probably will not be the last person to demonstrate this behavior but he should be the reason why the public begins to demand better.   Some say that Mr. Cain will be given a pass for his misstatements and they use the excuse of him not being as “polished” as the others candidates.   My only question then is if that is truly the case, how could Mr. Cain be the first and

As a former U.S. Marine, I was very excited to hear that finally all of the Iraq troops were coming home and this president had just delivered on yet another campaign promise.   I was a little dismayed by some of the talk I heard from pundits, reporters, commentators and experts who spoke from many different points of view and many negative.   I felt much better when I realized that they were all speaking from a position of little to no real knowledge of the interior workings that Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in the past and present have to deal with.   That is the taking of a life.   It’s nothing like the taking of a life in the Civilian World because here you have a chose and there you don’t.   Some reported the view from the White House as one of political means while others saw it as an economic decision.   I see it as a Commander-in-Chief who has been informed and has come to the conclusion that keeping hard-charging individuals cooped up in a mission where they were

Grover Norquist insisted that all who dons the title Republican prove their loyalty to the party by signing a pledge not to ever raise taxes for any reason and they are sticking to it even at the risk of sacrificing those that they took an oath to serve.   What do you do with a party or person who promise one thing but delivers another? So many Americans could use the power that they loaned to those in Washington to help with the multitude of issues that they are facing.   Their chooses are quite simple, deal with the day to day hurdles or support division between the parties.   Every poll tells you what that decision was yet nothing seems to work to get those sitting tightly on their hands to get up and get into the game.   I guess it’s plain to see when you look at those facing re-election as to the ones who might be forced to move. It has not gone without notice, that many of those who are dead-set against making any movement toward job creation are those who literally have

When I first heard President Obama say that his administration would do all that they could to create jobs even if congress and Republicans would not help, I really did not know how he was going to be able to keep that promise.   I got the answer while watching the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC last night. Apparently while Republicans and some Democrats are happy to let Americans continue to go unemployed, our bridges and roads to continue to disintegrate, and teachers and first responders to suffer, this administration does not.   Rachel Maddow reported on several police departments winning an award from the Justice Department which allows them to not only keep those first responders on the job but in many cases allowed some departments to even add officers. Since these awards are coming from these individual agencies and their budgets have already been approved, Republicans and those few Democrats can not block these job creations.   It appears that this administration may als

When it comes to the American Justice System, as compared to other justice systems the world over, even those who care less for this system must admit that no other can ever beat it.   We know this because so many who are truly guilty and place their comfort over the comfort of their fellow man will eventually pay the price and when so many who see themselves as above the law find themselves caught by the long arm of it.   But with all good things, there will be some bad and the true difference between those who demand better and those who are content as long as they are not directly affected, are the drive to make it better. So what do I mean when I say that judicial incompetence is the key?   Simply put, it’s those in our legal system who are poised to defend the least among us.   That public defender who is extremely new, extremely unsympathetic to those they are called to defend or just extremely bad at their job period.   Either way, this is the first thing that should be add

You need no more evidence to the answer to the question above than to read the article by Chris Hawley of the Associated Press titled “Anti-Wall St. movement grows to dozens of cities”.   His article is full of reasons why the Tea Party envies the Occupy Wall Street Movement but incase you are a little confused, let’s recap. The Tea Party began as a united group of people from all walks of life banded together to demand change in the government.   Their first priority was the indignation of partisan politics and the refusal to compromise.    Their initial goal was to force all of Washington to work together for the betterment of the nation as a whole, to prevent this economy fiasco from ever happening again and to hold those responsible accountable.   Their movement was about to begin but big money influenced those at the head of this snake and they allowed themselves to be then cooped and controlled by those more radical than they had hoped.   Enters Dick Army’s FreedomWorks, Rov

For those who were so vocal when it came to bailing out the Auto Industry but were not so when it came to bailing out Wall Street, the results of your decision is in and you lose.   If you go back into the archives of tape, you will find many prominent leaders decrying the Auto Industry bailout and lately you have heard Mitt Romney singing the same tune.   Those union workers and all those who support them were very happy to see that the few did not influence the many and they got their bailout.   The largest difference between the banks and the auto industry is that while the banks are still looking to lay off more workers, cut more expenses and grow their profit margins, the auto industry is doing the exact opposite.   GM and its workers dedicated materials and manpower to re-equip those firefighters who lost their vehicles during the attack of 911.   The union took a severe pay-cuts and a slash in benefits so that this and their company would survive.   Not only have they survi

While it may be confusing to many, why Herman Cain has been heard spouting disparaging remarks when referencing Black people in general, it is not confusing to others who have spent a lifetime trying to understand why the connection of all Blacks are not as strong as we see in other cultures, or is it? In recent interviews Herman Cain has been recorded saying some things that make many in the African-American community scratch their heads and some times consider it coming from a source of an “Uncle Tom”.   A “sell-out” and a person who would sacrifice anyone or anything to get a little further up on the ladder of statue.   To some it is disheartening to hear a prominent person speak with such a low tolerance of their own community and yet it’s pleasing to others in that very same community because they feel the same way but refuse to get caught saying it out loud. Why is that?   Simply put, individuals like Mr. Cain only see people from his own community as necessary and not e

Attention America, we can no longer depend on Washington to make right the wrong that has been done to the 99%’s which is why I make the following offers. Seeking investors of two thousand ($2,000) U.S. Dollars to purchase shares of DARROCLEAN TOOTHPASTE and MOUTHWASH.   DarroClean offers benefits that goes far and beyond that of any other toothpaste and mouthwash on the market and will set the standard for those that follow after.   It is non-toxic eliminating the need for seeking immediate medical attention if swallowed.   Its ingredients are essential to the smooth running of the human body, has anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties and one of its main ingredients have been shown to decrease mortality rates. Seeking investors of twenty thousand ($20,000) U.S. Dollars to purchase shares of SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL ROD CONTAINERS (SPURS).   SPURS houses spent nuclear fuel rods in a gel which eliminates the possibility of radiation leakage and makes them safe for travel in hours instead

When the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO joined the list of nominees for the Republican Party Presidential Nomination, many in the media, blogosphere and cable television did not pay much attention.   Only after Cain won a straw poll and began to climb in the polls did he warrant a closer look.   Herman Cain has not been vetted as much as many others who have surged in these polls and the reason may be as simple as The Ticket’s Rachel Rose Hartman ’s article Cain touts Main Street appeal, Aunt Bessie implies when it reports that "He just has a different type of business experience," he said. "Mine is better, because mine's been more hands-on and more nitty-gritty than his. I call it the Main Street executive versus the Wall Street executive."   In another sign of his "main street" appeal, Cain revealed to reporters after the debate that he has a very special person in mind to cater White House dinners if he wins the presidency.   "My Aunt Bessie

Andrew Taylor and Ben Feller of the Associated Press penned an article called Senate Republicans vote to kill Obama's jobs bill and it was made up of just 4 paragraphs.   Four paragraphs, I mean that’s it.   The U.S. Senate can not pass a bill that they know very well is sorely needed by their constituents and all that get’s reported on is 4 paragraphs.   Where is the outrage? Americans are struggling to make ends meet.   Businesses are refusing to lift a finger to help but do not mind paying billions to buy congress and keep profits high.   They do not mind enjoying the protection that this country affords them but do mind helping to protect their fellow Americans.   Congress hired to represent the people but can’t seem to find their backbone to vote in favor of these people when they need them the most and all we have to say about this is 4 paragraphs. The 46 Republicans and 2 Democrats should be consistently hounded by the Mainstream Media and asked over and over agai

Imagine my surprise when I heard a gentleman interviewed during a segment about the 99%’s on Wall Street and protesting all over the nation.   What surprised me was this gentleman’s question of “what happened”.    Now I do not know exactly where that gentleman has been but to look around and not know how we got to where we are today makes me wonder just whose hands this nation has been in all of this time.   The answer, however, is quite simple and can be clearly seen in the following paragraph. According to an article titled Thirty-seven states cut education funding this year in The Lookout published Monday, October 10, 2011; “ A majority of state governments have cut funding to K-12 schools this year as they struggle to balance their budgets without the $100 billion infusion from the federal stimulus that has now dried up. Thirty states are now funding their schools with lower budgets than they had in 2008 (measured in inflation-adjusted dollars); even though school populations

Kimberly Dozier and Matt Apuzzo of the Associated Press, US officials: US attack in Yemen kills al-Awlaki reports that “i n a devastating double-blow to al-Qaida's most dangerous franchise, U.S. counterterrorism forces killed two American citizens who played key roles in inspiring attacks against the U.S., U.S. and Yemeni officials said Friday.   U.S-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, who edited the slick Jihadi Internet magazine, were killed in an air strike on their convoy in Yemen by a joint CIA-U.S. military operation, according to counterterrorism officials. Al-Awlaki was targeted in the killing, but Khan apparently was not targeted directly.   Following the strike, a U.S. official outlined new details of al-Awlaki's involvement in anti-U.S. operations, including the attempted 2009 Christmas Day bombing of a U.S.-bound aircraft. The official said that al-Awlaki specifically directed the men accused of trying to bomb the Detroit-bound plane to detonate an explosi

Got my first look at a show that I was excited to hear about, UP with Chris Hayes.   I had listened to him comment on other shows and really liked the way he made thoughtful arguments.   I also liked the way he would hold people’s feet to fire when he interviewed them, asking all the questions that is worthy of being asked and others avoid asking.   I was a little disappointed when I watched today.   His guests were Maggie Haberman from Politico, William Cohen of Vanity Fair, Rinku Sen of Colorlines.com and Reihan Salam of The Daily.com.   The style of debate on the show was refreshing and the time Chris gave others to respond was great.   Each made valid points when it was their time to debate but the one flaw was when they made statements which I thought deserved more explanation, Chris failed to ask or inquire more.   In an effort of being totally fair, those on the panel never pushed the other to explain more in detail either. William Cohen mentioned that Obama had taken m

An article by Colleen Long of the Associated Press titled 700 arrested after protest on NY's Brooklyn Bridge , informs us that “Protesters speaking out against corporate greed and other grievances were maintaining a presence in Manhattan's Financial District Sunday even after more than 700 of them were arrested during a march on the Brooklyn Bridge in a tense confrontation with police.   The group Occupy Wall Street has been camped out in a plaza in Manhattan's Financial District for nearly two weeks staging various marches, and had orchestrated an impromptu trek to Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon.” How does this compare to the “Arab Spring”?   In Egypt, protestors took to the street without violence to protest their leaders and demand justice.   Occupy Wall Street should be doing the same thing.   The difference is they are not looking to over-throw the government but they are demanding justice because we all know where this economic collapse originated from and we do

It was only about time before big business would begin to show their true colors.   They cried foul and begged for help form taxpayers in order to receive a bailout.   They bought favors to get those enormous tax breaks and cuts in 2003 and their incomes skyrocketed after they fired workers and downsized, yet still they want more so now they claim that the new regulations has forced them to downsize again and raise fees on debt cards. According to an article by Eileen AJ Connelly and Dave Carpenter of the Associated Press titled Bank of America debit fee is only the latest , Angela Malerba, who works in public relations in Boston, carries a debit card because she likes to know when she buys something that she has enough in her account to pay for it. But paying $5 a month to use her own money? That's too much.   So when Bank of America starts charging the fee next year, Malerba figures she'll rely more heavily on her credit card. Or, in a strategy that seems almost quaint i