Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

First off, I found this image only on May 29. It was very moving to me. So, no more words.

Healthcare: two reasons the Obama Admin needs to push legislation this year

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Recently, I posted a response to a story on Politico (www.politico.com) about why Obama ad his administration knows why if universal healthcare is not passed this year. I thought you all might find it intriguing:

Why would we need to press so hard on health care in the context of "now or never?" Don't get me wrong, the need to solve this healthcare question is critical. But if the country has waited this long, why can't we wait until a robust debate has been completed on healthcare reform? It seems to me, gauging the political and economic climates, Obama wants healthcare passed before Labor Day because of two, distinct reasons:

1) From a political standpoint, 42 percent of Americans favor "every one in the United States having free health care". 44 percent oppose. (according to a Rasmussen poll dated May 18, 2009). But, by almost 2-to-1 margin, Americans "reject free health care for all if it means changing their own coverage and joining a program administered by the government." President Obama knows this, and the only way for the government to step in and administer health care at the rate he feels it could, would be a competitve federal healthcare system. The problem there is, as we see with the bailout of companies and the banks, the federal government's coffers are much deeper than any insurance companies. How long would it take for the FEDGOV to bankrupt national healthcare, much like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid? In the end, only the FEDGOV healthcare could compete in that market, with private health insurance companies going the way of the Edsel. And then, to save money, who do you think will regulate healthcare? I'm sure a non-taxpaying healthcare czar would be appointed to oversee.

2) From an economic standpoint. We read the news each day. Tax revenue for the nation is at one of its lowest points in history. With no tax money coming in, programs either need to be slashed to compensate, or, we do what is being done now: deficit spending. Spend what you don't have to fund what shouldn't be funded. That's the Democratic Congress right now (Repubs can be blamed as well). But as the economic crisis continues, and we move deeper into the recession, Obama knows he needs to pass the legislation on healthcare this year because if it is held off until 2010, the American people will be galvanized by the tremendous debt the nation suffers from, as well as by projected inflation expected to kick in going into Fiscal year 2010.

If Obama doesn't get the healthcare legislation this year, all bets may be off. But it's a perfect storm for anti-government healthcare: The executive and legislative branches are held by liberals dominately, and arguably by far-lefter liberals than most. If conservatives (BlueDog Dems and Repubs) can't stop the legislative, it's game over for free-markets and hello to a quasi-socialist healthcare system.

Is a VAT tax coming to the U.S.? Maybe according to the Washington Post

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Wow, a disturbing news reporting on the Washington Post's Web site on May 27. It appears there are some lawmakers on Capital Hill who are looking to our European brethern on how best to supply fresh capital into the coffers of government. Under consideration is a value-added tax, or VAT tax. This is, essentially, a national sales tax on everything you buy. It is, essentially, another way for the government to take money from you. 

As we hear more about "universal health care", or socialized medicine as it's really known as, the government will require not only fresh capital, but lots of it to support the enormous costs associated with nationalized health care (that's where the government has a competing health care pool that no health care company can compete with, ultimately ushering in a one-party healthcare system... a la the government). So what's yet another way for the federal government to reach into your pocket and take MORE money? VAT would be that!

Here's the story.

And now I name names. Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, was quoted by the WaPo as saying "There is a growing awareness of the need for fundamental tax reform ... I think a VAT and a high-end income tax have got to be on the table."

Folks, if you don't believe me on liberals wanting to add additional taxes, look no further than Kent Conrad. I know... I know. You're saying we need to blame North Dakota for electing him. While not entirely a bad idea, Conrad is in the senate seat. So do me a favor? Why don't you call his office? Here's the info:

Senator Kent Conrad

530 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-3403
Phone: (202) 224-2043
Fax: (202) 224-7776
Online: http://conrad.senate.gov/contact
E-mail: https://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

State Offices

Minot:

U.S. Federal Building, Room 105
100 1st Street SW
Minot, ND 58701

Phone: (701) 852-0703
Fax: (701) 838-8196

Grand Forks:
U.S. Federal Building, Room 104
102 North 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58203

Phone: (701) 775-9601
Fax: (701) 746-1990

Bismarck:
U.S. Federal Building, Room 228
220 East Rosser Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501

Phone: (701) 258-4648
Fax: (701) 258-1254

Fargo:
U.S. Federal Building, Room 306
657 2nd Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102

Phone: (701) 232-8030
Fax: (701) 232-6449

Are Chrysler dealership closures being cherry picked based upon their owner's campaign contributions?

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

You know folks, we talk a lot about taxation with the TEA Parties. It's obviously important to bring to light the travesties of government of overtaxation ... not only through things like property and sales tax, but the small taxes hiding under the rock, like increased state gasoline taxes, miscellaneous penny taxes they try to pass to "shore up funding" they need... while they refuse to cut spending.

But the TEA Parties also stand for government accountability and returning to a strict interpretation of the Constitution. On that subject, I want you to know about the latest Chrysler information coming from Detroit.

World Net Daily, a conservative-leaning news reporting Web site, is reporting on the more than 700 dealerships getting the axe from the Chrysler bailout/bankruptcy debacle. Of those more than 700 dealerships, WND has learned through their own research that when matching the list of owners of these dealerships versus their political donations, more than 90 percent of the owners gave to Republican candidates. Less than 10 percent gave to either then Senator Clinton, former Senator Edwards and then Senator Obama. 

Yet, many of the most profitable dealerships on the list, which are scheduled for closure over the next two months, are getting the axe. And these profitable dealerships are owned by Republicans.

Here's the story.

Now, I don't know if this is enough evidence. Far from it... it's difficult to tell if there is something fishy going on here. But I would hope that some investigating will get to the bottom of this. I, for one, would like to know the truth on Chrysler's systematic plan for dealership closures. 

There are a lot of people who purchased MOPAR vehicles for their dealerships in the hope of keeping the company alive. After purchasing massive amounts of inventory, which Chrysler, in effect, off loaded, they turned right around and closed a good portion of the dealers. What happens to the cars? After they are closed, they can continue to sell off their inventory, but the popular warranties that usually come with vehicles will no longer be honored by Chrysler. So, who buys a car without a warranty? No one, that's who.

If you want to see the dealer list, it's here.

Folks, I guess my best advice from this column is to be ever mindful of government. Government is still ran by men and women, some of which can and are corrupted. It's sad to think it, but look no further than Sen. Roland Burris from Illinois. He lied to the Illinois Senate committee on the Blago investigation. So, remember, always keep a magnifying glass on them. Because the Chrysler deal, as it continues to unravel, looks like politics, rather than economics, trumped the carmaker's fate.

Statewide petition effort from Doug Bruce's office

It seems Rep. Doug Bruce from Colorado Springs is pushing for petition support to get 120,000 signatures throughout the summer in support of two initiatives. Those are:

Colorado Citizens for Colorado here. 

Limit Property Tax here.

These are two initiatives that aim to give power back to the Colorado taxpayer via the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR. Supporting these initiatives forces the Denver state house to come to grips with what all of us already know: money is scarce, we need a balanced budget and additional taxation, especially in times of recession, are not the way an effective representative government operates.

For more information, call Jeff Wright at (719) 330-1358 (cell phone). Get involved!

THE GOOD POST: Results from our local polls

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Well gang, thought this would be a good opportunity to compile the information from our small, yet modest polls on the future of the Colorado Springs TEA Party movement. Without further ado:

In poll number one, we asked "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE COLORADO SPRINGS TEA PARTY MOVEMENT DO NOW?"

It was pretty evenly split, but there are some differences. 16 of you said we should do another TEA Party protest in town, which equalled 39 percent of those polls. On the other side, 36 percent, or 15 of you, asked if we can get involved with straightening out local politics. And lastly, 10 of you, or 24 percent, wanted to take the TEA Parties to Denver's capital steps. However, I think one stat that is very important is that no one voted declaring the TEA Parties have no where else to go. Faith, in every day actions and in the movement, is critical.

Now the second poll asked "WE'RE PLANNING ON A TOWN HALL MEETING SOON FOR THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ... WHICH DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DISCUSSED?"

For me, this poll was a bit more interesting as we focused on a specific event, if held. The big items, focusing on talking less and mobilizing as well as talking about a way forward to plan our next move were the same, both garnering 35 percent of the vote, with 11 votes cast each. Those two answers are in stark contrast to each other. Seven other folks, making up 22 percent, wanted to talk about how the TEA Party can get involved with local politics, while 6 percent, or two people, wanted to talk more about the tea parties themselves.

So, what's the bottomline? Looks like the folks who participated in the polls (31 in one and 41 in the other) are showing us the TEA Parties are still getting organized, putting together a solid campaign. But two distinct themes continued through each. 1) People want the TEA Parties to continue and 2) people want to get involved with local politics.

Another poll will be coming out soon and we ask for you to get involved. Until then, keep showing your support for the TEA Parties. After all, our Declaration of Independence from the British Crown will be honored once again July 4th. That's the same day YOU get the chance to speak out against those in government, here in Colorado at in D.C., you're mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore!

Your socialized health care bill? Make the check to "cash" for the total of $1 Trillion

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

The numbers are staggering and unbelievable. Are you ready for the Democrats plan for socialized health care? Tax your employer health care benefits, raising a $1 trillion for further redistribution to those who can't pay health care. Once again, Karl Marx is getting the last laugh after years of fighting the exact ideology overtaking the halls of Congress and the White House today.

The information, available from the CATO Institute, works to outline the stark differences from the John McCain plan (tax health benefits, but provide a health care credit to works, virtually zeroing out the tax) to the liberal plan, which taxes the healthcare... but doesn't answer the question of controlling spending or putting the money back into the hands of the average citizen.

When does this madness stop? AFTER YOU STAND UP! Call you Congressmen/women, demand your 5 minutes on the phone with them and tell them how you feel about this. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! The memory of a free man or woman in our Republic is very long and very sharp.

Fight the growing government bureaucracy threatening each and everyone of us. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!