Riverside Press Enterprise
April 9, 2012
Obama plays politics on oil
In demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies, President Obama is engaging in cheap populist pandering to a public hurting from high gas prices.
Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and investing in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- despite the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices higher.
In addition, summer blend requirements will add to gas prices, likely pushing them above $5.00 per gallon, and will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
The president could dispense with stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
(Original letter)
Political campaign ploys by the president demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies is little more than cheap populist pandering to public injury from high gas prices.
Indeed, President Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and invest in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- regardless of the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices even further.
Plus, summer blend requirements will increase gas prices 40 cents or more higher, which will likely push the cost over $5.00 per gallon, and which will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
If the president is honestly concerned about what the people pay at the pump, and the commensurate increased cost of delivering goods and services, he could easily dispense with the stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Surely, people must be a bit confused as to why foreign oil costs $125 per barrel, about $18 more than U.S. crude because of China and India demand. The easy answer is our government creating perpetual oil, gas, and refinery chaos. Indeed, someone ought to tell President Obama and enviro-maniacs that we can't run electric cars or much of anything else without coal and natural gas power plants making electricity.
San Bernardino Sun
April 8, 2012
Transforming America
President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with costly health and financial reforms, his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attempts to transform America.
Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, pushing the failed Chevy Volt, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline are meaningless. Particularly, while stifling coal energy and domestic oil resources.
Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar, weaken the nation, and stoke the fires of inflation.
Transform America? Yes. Out of the clutches of progressive aggression. If we are to survive, his re-election is not an option.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
The Washington Examiner
March 30, 2012
Re: A second term: Obama unleashed
by Cal Thomas
What's the worst that could happen in the 2012 presidential elections. A re-elected President Obama, unleased.
Indeed, as if high gas prices aren't bad enough, President Obama is in the process of killing the coal-power industry as promised, which will cause electricity prices to escalate and affect those who can least afford it.
The energy and fuel crisis, job losses and cost of living increases are being caused by environmental zealots' litigation, EPA over-regulation, plus President Obama stifling domestic oil production, natural gas and coal energy in his arrogant pursuit of costly, unreliable green energy at any price.
In a nut shell, our national mess was started by the unmitigated misfeasance of former presidents Carter, Clinton and congressional Democrats, which caused the housing crash, financial crisis and a deepening recession set in motion by over-reaching government's irresponsible push for affordable housing.
Worse, the public miseducation system is a deeply flawed and failed money-pit of liberal arts and socialist indoctrination under the selfish interests of the education establishment, tenure and teacher unions robbing students of their future.
And President Obama is in the process of putting our national security at risk by disarming our nuclear defense weapons capabilities in collusion with Russia, and inviting terrorist attacks from Iran and other hostiles.
Fortunately, President Obama's massive health care law is being challenged by 26 states and a national small business organization in the Supreme Court, which will hopefully be declared unconstitutional by the Court.
Sadly, the out-of-control size, scope and power of our government is transforming America away from the founding principles of our unique constitutional democratic republic of limited government that made us the greatest nation of liberty and freedom the World has ever known.
If we are to survive these challenges, we must make our voices heard and our votes count in the 2012 elections. Without a strong and free America, we and the free world will collapse under the unbearable weight of tyranny. President Obama unleased on America with a second term is not an option.
The Washington Examiner
March 29, 2012
Re: Obama seeks end to subsidies for oil companies; Congress says no
by Brian Hughes
Political campaign ploys by the president demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies is little more than cheap populist pandering to public injury from high gas prices.
Indeed, President Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and invest in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- regardless of the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices even further.
Plus, summer blend requirements will increase gas prices 40 cents or more higher, which will likely push the cost over $5.00 per gallon, and which will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
If the president is honestly concerned about what the people pay at the pump, and the commensurate increased cost of delivering goods and services, he could easily dispense with the stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Surely, people must be a bit confused as to why foreign oil costs $125 per barrel, about $18 more than U.S. crude because of China and India demand. The easy answer is our government creating perpetual oil, gas, and refinery chaos. Indeed, someone ought to tell President Obama and enviro-maniacs that we can't run electric cars or much of anything else without coal and natural gas power plants making electricity.
The Washington Examiner
March 22, 2012
Re: Who's ignorant about energy?
by Conn Carroll
President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attack on America.
Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline is meaningless without the dog to complete it.
Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar and stoke the fires of inflation. If we are to survive, his re-election is not an option.
Los Angeles Times
March 18, 2012
Note: The L.A. Times was supposed to publish this letter, but did not
Re: "Gasoline doesn't come cheap" letters against Jonah Goldberg's "Obama's pump debacle"
Considering all four letters are against Jonah Goldberg's commentary, perhaps the L.A. Times can manage to find space for a letter in support.
Indeed, Jonah Goldberg's analysis of Obama's pump debacle aptly points out the president's push for green energy with campaign-blame-lies and taking-credit-deceit about oil and gas, which leads directly to the rise in the cost of living, and economic ruin.
President Obama's re-election campaign to end tax breaks for oil companies certainly won't lower gas prices, it will increase them. Indeed, if it were not for incessant anti-oil environmental left and President Obama's complicit limitations on domestic oil production and delivery, we would not be having this debate or these problems.
The extreme instability in Middle East oil producing countries surely casts a giant cloud over the dependability of world oil supplies, which are adversely affecting gas prices and threaten our economy and our national security. Alas, contrary to shallow minds and pumped-up popular belief, oil companies and speculators are not responsible for rising gas prices.
Clearly, it's intentional political turmoil and over-reaching government clogging the pipes to our recovery. Indeed, the time for taking care of our own business is quickly running thin, which is no time for ideological stupidity or economic suicide. Cleaning our national pipes to freedom can only be done by rooting-out President Obama and enough congressional Democrats in the November elections.
The Washington Times
March 18, 2012
Re: Obama: End tax breaks for oil companies
by David Boyer
March 17, 2012
Obama's economic suicide
President Obama's re-election campaign to end tax breaks for oil companies won't lower gas prices, it will increase them. Indeed, if it were not for incessant anti-oil environmental left and President Obama's complicit limitations on domestic oil production and delivery, we would not be having this debate or these problems.
Surely, the extreme instability in Middle East oil producing countries casts a giant cloud over the dependability world oil supplies, which are adversely affecting gas prices and threaten our economy and national security. Alas, contrary to shallow minds and pumped-up popular belief, oil companies and speculators are not responsible for rising gas prices.
Clearly, it's intentional political turmoil and over-reaching government clogging the pipes to our recovery. Indeed, the time for taking care of our own business is quickly running thin, which is no time for ideological stupidity or economic suicide. Cleaning our national pipes can only be done by rooting-out President Obama and enough Democrats in Congress to free us in the November elections.
The Washington Examiner
November 25, 2011
Occupy anger should be directed at colleges
If the disgruntled college students who started and expanded the Occupy Wall Street movement ever come to realize they are the victims of indoctrination by the socialist college and university establishment -- to the exclusion of America's founding principles and conservative thought -- the mass deceit should really make them angry. Indeed, their anger over the constant rise in tuition ought to be directed at the cause: to fund the rise in professors' and bloated administrative salaries, benefits and tenure.
And their anger and blame directed at banks, corporations and the wealthy should be directed at the cause of the housing and financial crash: Democrats growing government and insurmountable debt. Surely, socialist deception comes at a devastating social, political and economic price, certain collapse into authoritarian government, and the loss of freedoms. When certain free speech is the only speech, it is certainly not free.
Thankfully, we are not there yet, and we have much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day, including Americans' unique, innate ability to turn wrong around and make it right.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2011/11/letters-editor-november-25-2011#ixzz1ejnkAxiF
San Bernardino Sun
November 13, 2011
Re: Occupy groups may join forces
Compromised movement
The Occupy movement expanded with displaced, disgruntled, disaffected and disoriented people who are joining what began as miseducated college students -- who were taught activism and demonstrations by the academia of the left, and want taxpayer-funded free college education for all -- claiming they are the 99 percent representing the Occupy Wall Street movement protesting against the top one percent and demanding a re-distribution of wealth.
Then, the Occupy movement was compromised by the SEIU, labor and teacher unions, '60s counterculture revolutionaries, Hollywood celebrities, and radical organizations such as George Soros' MoveOn.org, to escalate the intensity of demonstrations against Capitalism spreading nation-wide.
Indeed, the anti-American far-left and MoveOn.org's motives are to overwhelm our unique constitutional republic with a welfare state, to destroy free-market Capitalism, and replace it with socialist-controlled capitalism, a government-run economy, which would result in near-poverty for nearly all the people.
Sadly, it doesn't seem to matter to the phony 99-percentors that the top 10 percent pay over 70 percent of taxes, that the top 20 percent are the job creators -- or that insidious SEIU and ACORN extortion -- and irresponsible government affordable housing actions taken over a span of three decades by Carter, Clinton, Cuomo, Reno, Frank, Dodd and Raines -- are largely responsible for the housing, financial and economic meltdown, and the loss of jobs and homes.
The tragedy is that the news media, our representative government, administration and society are turning a blind-eye to treasonous behavior and the enemy within. The blight of foreclosure-creep throughout our neighborhoods and communities are clear and convincing evidence of who and what are to blame: The politics of the left, and the expansion of government control -- not Capitalism, the banks, lenders or corporations.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
New York Post
October 25, 2011
Biden teaching 4th-graders
Biden campaigning for the president’s jobs bill in front of 4th-graders is an invitation to expose the liberal indoctrination of students from elementary school to college.
It’s simply a crime against the fiber of America. Indeed, the Occupy Wall Street movement is a direct result of the 1960’s cultural revolution, the takeover of the education and political establishment and the unbridled growth of government.
Free-market capitalism is the only thing keeping our country from social, political and economic extinction.
Dan Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
(Original letter)
VP Joe Biden indoctrinating 4th-graders
VP Joe Biden campaigning for President's jobs bill to 4th-graders should be an invitation to expose the liberal indoctrination of students, from elementary schools to college -- by the NEA, teacher unions, tenured professors, and the Department of Education -- at great taxpayer and property owner expense -- while graduating functionally illiterate students and robbing them of a core academic education.
It's simply a crime against the fiber of America.
Indeed, the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement is a direct result of the socialist '60s cultural revolution, the takeover of the education and political establishment, and the unbridled growth of government. Free market Capitalism is the only thing keeping our unique constitutional republic from social, political and economic extinction.
San Bernardino Sun
October 15, 2011
Freedom taken
There were certainly no mature adults among the first Occupy Wall Street protestors simply because they were predominately functionally illiterate, indoctrinated disgruntled students taught by liberal academia to practice name-calling anti-American mobaucracy to intimidate their perceived enemy: free market Capitalism.
Of course, the spread of protests across the country was prompted by known liberal activist organizations such as Move On and others, to help focus blame for the failing economy on Wall Street, banks and the wealthy -- later joined by the usual suspects, unions, teachers, Hollywood creatures, and 60s and '70 revolutionaries.
And, of course, there has been no mention of the actual cause of the economic meltdown in the liberal media's credibility coverage of the hapless street mobs: Government's reckless intimidation of banks and mortgage lenders to give home loans to unqualified buyers for the sake of affordable housing.
[Indeed, blame for the giant housing bubble that burst -- causing the housing and economic collapse -- should be directed where it primarily belongs: Former President Jimmy Carter's CRA, Former President Bill Clinton -- along with Former HUD Director, Andrew Cuomo, and Former Attorney General, Janet Reno -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; Former Fannie Mae CEO, Franklin Raines; Rep. Barney Frank, and Senators Chris Dodd and Chuck Schumer.] (edited for space)
Alas, elected representatives' selling protection for their elections and re-elections is as old as politics in America -- as are free-market Capitalists paying for the protection to remain in business. It's simply big, gangster government by any definition -- with hard working taxpayers and consumers paying the ultimate price for government malfeasance: Freedom
Unfortunately, under the guise of saving the economy, gangster government was elevated to a disturbing and unworkable level by the Democrat Congress and the Obama administration. Now, it's worse, and the outlook is grim -- unless the 2010 Republican win in the House is repeated in the Senate and White House in the 2012 elections.
Lest we forget, the First Amendment protects the people's right to free speech, and to peaceably assemble, and to petition government for redress of grievances -- as the tea party movement does. There is no right to mob the streets to interfere with businesses and other people's freedom of movement.
That is illegal everywhere in America.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
Riverside Press Enterprise
October 11, 2011
Socialist thugs? Yes
The Occupy Wall Street protests began with anti-capitalism students demonstrating about the rich not paying enough taxes and the lack of jobs, which describes President Obama’s jobs bill (“The left trots out its pathetic version of the tea party,” Oct. 6). As the movement spread across the country, it was joined by unions and Move-On.org.
Sounds familiar, like when Obama said he was going to every corner of the country campaigning for his proposal. He has not done that, but his zealot supporters have. There is no comparison with the tea party movement, which does represent most of the American people.
It’s simply socialist thugs versus capitalism and concerned citizens.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
USA TODAY
September 26, 2011
Letters
Obama’s plans to boost economy will be blocked
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
President Obama’s proposed “Buffett Rule” to raise taxes on Americans earning more than $1 million a year will handicap many job creators (“Don’t raise taxes on ‘job creators,’ ” Other views, Taxes and spending debate, Tuesday).
Adding insult to injury, Obama’s added proposal to reduce tax deductions on individual annual incomes of $200,000 and couples’ incomes of $250,000 — many of whom are small-business owners and job creators — would crush them and do further injury to the job market.
The president’s jobs, taxes and debt reduction plans are nothing more than campaign exercises that he knows Republicans will reject. He will do it again and again and blame what certainly will be a worse economy on Republicans during the months leading up to the 2012 election. That’s his plan.
If Obama truly had the best for America at heart, he would stop the spending, reform and simplify the tax code, eliminate unreasonable business-killing regulations, and reduce the size, scope and power of government.
If Republicans are not elected to control the Congress and the presidency, and the Bush tax cuts are not made permanent but allowed to expire, our country surely will sink into a long-term depression.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2011-09-25/Obama-jobs-plan/50547772/1
Don't raise taxes on 'job creators'
by Daniel B. Jeffs, founder DDC
September 20, 2011
The premise of President Obama's proposed "Buffett Rule" to raise taxes on Americans earning more than $1 million a year is not only false, it will raise taxes on most job creators.
Adding insult to injury, Obama's continuing proposal to raise taxes on individual incomes of $200,000 and couples' incomes of $250,000 --many of whom are small business owners and job creators -- would crush them and do further injury to the job market.
President Obama's jobs, taxes and debt reduction plans are nothing more than deceitful campaign exercises that he knows Republicans will reject. He will do it again and again and blame what will certainly be a worse economy on Republicans during the 14 months leading up to the 2012 election. That's his only plan.
If President Obama truly had the best for America at heart, he would stop the spending, reform and simplify the tax code, eliminate unreasonable business-killing regulations, and reduce the size, scope and power of government. Unfortunately, he won't.
If Republicans are not elected to control the Congress and the presidency, and the Bush tax cuts are not made permanent and allowed to expire on December 31, 2012, our country will surely sink into a long term depression.
No plausible denial for government malfeasance
Solyndra and other American solar panel manufacturers can't compete with Chinese manufacturers, who turn them out cheaper and faster to the United States and the world market. The Department of Energy and President Obama had to have known that. Yet, Obama recklessly showcased the taxpayers' $535 million stimulus loan for green jobs at the now bankrupt Solyndra. That kind of fraud cannot be ignored, particularly when President Obama is trying to push through a tax-hiking, shell game jobs bill that would hurt business, workers and the already weakened economy.
Indeed, there is no plausible denial for government malfeasance.
Wasting tax dollars backing costly/unreliable green energy, while stepping on reliable energy resources, increases the cost of electricity and fuel, thus the cost of living. Stepping up reliable energy and domestic fuel resources will increase jobs and reduce the cost of nearly everything. Dumping the corn ethanol program would also decrease many food prices and the cost of fuel. President Obama should be backing the reduction of all business-inhibiting regulations, which would create jobs and elevate the overall economy--at little or no cost to taxpayers.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 15, 2011
President Obama continues to play the tax, spend and waste shell game
President Obama is indeed proposing to play tax and spend shell games by taking from big business, and giving temporary tax incentives to small businesses and workers. Creating temporary jobs and saving others will end, however, higher taxes and government empire-building will continue.
Furthermore, wasting tax dollars backing costly/unreliable green energy, while stepping on reliable energy resources, increases the cost of electricity and fuel, thus the cost of living. Stepping up reliable energy and domestic fuel resources will increase jobs and reduce the cost of nearly everything. Dumping the corn ethanol program would also decrease food prices and the cost of fuel.
President Obama should be laying off taxes and reducing all business-inhibiting regulations, which would lower costs, create jobs, and elevate the overall economy -- including tax revenues. However, his record says he won't.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 14, 2011
President's American Jobs Act speech an empty gesture
by Daniel B. Jeffs, founder DDC
September 10, 2011
I'm so frustrated about President Obama using the media and a joint session of Congress (at taxpayers' expense) to launch his 2012 re-election campaign with the promise of his American Jobs Act legislation that, "Congress must pass right away," with details to be released a week from next Monday -- that I can't understand the insanity of it beyond deceitful political theater.
The president just keeps doing the same thing, expecting a different result, when it is obvious that it has not worked, and won't work to improve the economic and jobs crisis. It's simply another empty gesture that wastes $billions more. The House of Representatives is on the right track. The Senate and the President are blocking the way out of a deepening recession.
Indeed, the nation is steeped in uncertainty caused by government. What an "American Jobs Act" should contain is legislation repealing the tax code and replacing it with a flat tax, removing all unreasonable EPA administrative laws and regulations inhibiting businesses, repealing Obamacare and the Dodd-Frank finance legislation, and opening up all America's domestic coal, oil and natural gas energy resources. That would be a good start to increase confidence, jobs and economic growth.
Clearly, the Congress and President Obama should pass it right away!
President's American Jobs Act speech an empty gesture
I'm so frustrated about President Obama using the media and a joint session of Congress (at taxpayers' expense) to launch his 2012 re-election campaign with the promise of his American Jobs Act legislation that, "Congress must pass right away," with details to be released a week from next Monday -- that I can't understand the insanity of it beyond deceitful political theater.
The president just keeps doing the same thing, expecting a different result, when it is obvious that it has not worked, and won't work to improve the economic and jobs crisis. It's simply another empty gesture that wastes $billions more. The House of Representatives is on the right track. The Senate and the President are blocking the way out of a deepening recession.
Indeed, the nation is steeped in uncertainty caused by government. What an "American Jobs Act" should contain is legislation repealing the tax code and replacing it with a flat tax, removing all unreasonable EPA administrative laws and regulations inhibiting businesses, repealing Obamacare and the Dodd-Frank finance legislation, and opening up all America's domestic coal, oil and natural gas energy resources. That would be a good start to increase confidence, jobs and economic growth.
Clearly, the Congress and President Obama should pass it right away!
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 9, 2011
FHFA's bogus lawsuits against banks
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) lawsuits against the Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and 15 of the largest banks on behalf of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is nearing the last straw of government extortion and malfeasance in covering up the government-caused housing, finance and economic meltdown.
Indeed, it was former president Jimmy Carter’s Community Reinvestment Act, which was used by former president Bill Clinton to have his Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, and then-Attorney General Janet Reno intimidate banks and mortgage lenders to lower standards for affordable housing. Of course, that was exacerbated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac knowingly purchasing, bundling and reselling the toxic mortgages to Wall Street and others.
Congressional finance and banking oversight committee leaders Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd are equally responsible for prompting Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines and Freddie Mac to perpetuate the affordable housing fraud, victimizing unqualified home buyers, which created the housing boom and bust — thus the near financial collapse, job losses and foreclosures.
Yet it continues, and as usual, this is the worst possible time for government to stir the boiling economic pot. What is it going to take for the federal government to stop jerking around banks, mortgage lenders, homeowners, businesses and the American people? A good start would be the aforementioned violators to forfeit their government-paid retirements and benefits.
Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
DDC
September 6, 2011
The San Francisco Examiner
August 8, 2011
Tea party is not terrorism
Calling the tea party movement “terrorists” is grossly misplaced. Indeed, the real domestic terrorism going on in our country is our government’s confiscatory taxation, public education indoctrination and economy-crushing regulations raising the cost of living.
The tea party was a spontaneous reaction to the way most American voters feel about big, intrusive, out-of-control government. Demonizing the movement will only help it grow to be heard loud and clear in the 2012 elections and beyond, until the people and the states take America back.
The application of two-thirds of the states for a constitutional convention to propose amendments is long overdue. A balanced-budget amendment with teeth should be first on the agenda.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
U.S. Credit downgrade overdue
The downgrade of the U.S. credit rating comes as no surprise. Indeed, I, as an American citizen could never have maintained a high credit rating while borrowing and spending twice the value of my assets and income. Nor could I have borrowed or spent more than my income, without stealing money from others, which is exactly what government is doing to current and future taxpayers.
Surely, the rating agencies did us no service by doing nothing when the national debt ceilings were raised, unabated -- and the housing and financial industries crashed in 2007-2008 -- or when the spending was increased by $4 trillion during the next two years -- including President Obama's worthless stimulus package -- not to mention the enormous potential cost of Obamacare.
If the Republican House proposal to cut, cap, and balance budgets with a constitutional amendment had not been rejected the Democrat Senate and the president, there would have been no debt default crisis or a downgrade. Alas, the anemic deal struck by Congress and President Obama, raising the debt limit by $2.4 trillion, and cutting spending by $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years, will do little or nothing to keep the national debt from increasing by $10 trillion over that time.
Clearly, the way to resolve this unsustainable mess is to eliminate the sources of the suppressed economy and stimulate growth with real tax reform, cutting business inhibiting regulations and litigation -- slashing the size, scope and over-reaching power of government -- and passing a balanced budget amendment with teeth.
That can only be done with a 2012 Republican Congress, and a 21st Century Calvin Coolidge-style Republican president. Only then, can we open the road to recovery, prosperity and the real legacy of freedom we can believe in.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
August 6, 2011
FDR, LBJ, Carter and Clinton built the housing market time bomb, Frank, Dodd and Obama lit the fuse
Why have we not heard a peep from Rep. Barney Frank during the debt crisis? Because he and Sen. Dodd lit the fuse of a housing and financial market time bomb built by FDR and LBJ, with a trigger manufactured by Carter and Clinton.
FDR established Fannie Mae as part of the New Deal to provide a national savings and loan for a secondary mortgage market and affordable housing. Fannie Mae had a monopoly on the housing market until 1968, when LBJ privatized Fannie Mae as a GSE to take it off the federal budget, then created as second GSE, Freddie Mac in 1970.
On their way to controlling 90 percent of the nation's secondary mortgage market, they were stimulated by President Carters Community Reinvestment Act, which was used by President Clinton to intimidate Fannie, Freddie, and private lenders to lower their loan standards for affordable housing. That triggered the government-backed mortgage securities mania that followed.
The Bush administration was concerned about Fannie and Freddie's financial condition, However, Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, said there was no need for concern, which lit the fuse to a spike in sub-prime lending, and the eventual explosion and implosion of the housing and financial markets. Now the national debt crisis is upon us, half of which is accountable to Fannie and Freddie, thus the taxpayers.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the Dodd-Frank financial regulation nightmare is about to get real nasty, which could be the straw that breaks the nation's back -- if Congress and President Obama national debt crisis contributors let it happen. The 64 trillion-dollar question is: How could the American people allow the malfeasance of Presidents and Congress pull off a giant Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme on our country and let it go unaccountable? The answer is, it's never too late.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
July 31, 2011
The Washington Examiner
June 28, 2011
Release of oil reserves is a symbolic Band-Aid
Re: "Obama releasing 30m barrels from U.S. oil reserves," June 23
The United States consumes about 20 million barrels of oil per day. Thanks to environmental zealots and government overregulation, our current domestic oil production is limited to about 6 million barrels per day.
President Obama's politically-motivated release of 30 million barrels of oil from our 727 million-barrel national oil reserves will reduce our national security, provide a Band-Aid of less than two days of oil, and won't help our long term economy. Permitting production of 30 million barrels per month from Alaska's outer continental shelf, and opening up our oil and gas resources would.
The economy will suffer even more if President Obama continues his costly government-controlled nation-building at home, as he confirmed in his speech on removing troops from Afghanistan.
Lest we forget, insanity is doing the same stupid things over and over, expecting different results.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
COMMON GOOD
Philip K. Howard, founder
Author: The Death of Common Sense
http://www.commongood.org
Henry Nothhaft, author
David Kline, Contributor
Available at Amazon: GREAT AGAIN
Time Magazine
June 27, 2011 issue
Re: What Recovery? cover story
June 20, 2011 issue
A Recovery in Need of Recovery
It's bad enough that President Obama's $800 billion economic recovery program is a total bust.
But why add insult to injury by assuming that the private sector has no chance, and that government is still the solution? Indeed, government has been the problem all along.
Government from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton, caused the housing bubble by intimidating lenders with legislation designed to make it too simple to buy a home.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
Original letter:
Re: What Recovery? cover story
Don't hold your breath
by Rana Foroohar
Ignoring the cause worsens recovery
It's bad enough that President Obama's $800 billion economic recovery program is a total bust. But why add insult to injury by assuming that the private sector has no chance, and that government is still the solution? Indeed, government has been the problem all along.
Government caused the boom by intimidating lenders with President Carter's Community Reinvestment Act for affordable housing, exacerbated by President Clinton, Rep. Barney Frank, Senator Chris Dodd, Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines, Freddie Mac, ACORN -- and the extortion and terrorism of the SEIU and NACA.
Lest we forget, the housing boom and bust caused the financial crisis, and set this unique long term collapse in motion. Our only hope is to cut the size and scope of government to strict constitutional limits, pass a balanced budget amendment with teeth, stay out of the people's business and leave the free market alone.
Who works for who in our constitutional republic?
May 13, 2011
The Democrat-controlled Senate inquisition panel is conducting business as usual by dragging oil executives before them to answer for high gas prices in the nation. Contrary to popular indoctrinated belief, the oil companies are not the bad guys here. Intrusive, over-regulating, intimidating, restrictive and unreasonable government-controlled energy policies are.
Indeed, if it were not for our government's abuse of power, we would not have suffered the housing crash and economic collapse, the cost of government and the cost living would be significantly lower, and we would not be encumbered by insurmountable debt.
And contrary to government's dependency-driven view of America -- even though we are being ruled by the power of taxation, massive government and tyrannical regulation -- we do not work for government. Government is bound and limited by the Constitution to work for us. Our power of the vote is in the process of reversing those roles. It's a matter of survival.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
USA TODAY
April 12, 2011
Time to make real headway on cutting the budget
Follow GOP plan
While President Obama, Senator Reid and House Speaker Boehner pat themselves on the back for avoiding a government shutdown by making a deal on $38.5 billion in budget cuts, they lose sight of the real deal. $38.5 billion is political chump change, and the people lose.
Why? There is a $14.3 trillion public debt gorilla in the people's room fed by political ideology and the malfeasance of personal power.
Indeed, according to U.S. Treasury and budget office reports, the federal debt will reach $19.6 trillion by 2015. The interest on the debt this year will be over $530 billion, and the federal deficit will be over $1.6 trillion.
Contrary to popular political belief, the people are not stupid. We are more informed than ever. Government growth means loss of freedoms. We recognize the abuse of power, fraud and deceit -- and we are not going to take it anymore.
If our elected representatives and officials don't get their act together and work out something like the "Path to Prosperity" budget plan put forth by House Budget Committee Chairman, Paul Ryan, the changes made in Congress in 2010 will be expanded by voters in 2012 and beyond until Washington gets it right.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
USA TODAY
March 3, 2011
Government officials share the blame in financial crisis
It’s curious that USA TODAY’s editorial "Why aren’t more meltdown moguls charged with crimes?" was published the day after filmmaker Charles Ferguson received the Academy Award for his documentary, Inside Job (Monday). In his acceptance speech Ferguson said, "I must start by pointing out that three years after a horrific financial crisis caused by massive fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail and that’s wrong."
USA TODAY’s rogues gallery of major 2008 financial meltdown players is misguided, just as the biased Inside Job misplaced the blame on Wall Street’s financial mortgage industry, which was the result of the crash, not the cause.
Indeed, the rogues gallery for the cause begins with former president Jimmy Carter’s Community Reinvestment Act, which was used by former president Bill Clinton to have his Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, and then-Attorney General Janet Reno intimidate banks and mortgage lenders to lower standards for affordable housing. Of course, that was exacerbated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchasing and reselling the toxic mortgages to Wall Street and others.
To complete the rogues gallery, congressional Democratic leaders Rep. Barney Frank and former senator Chris Dodd must be included for failing to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They helped perpetuate the affordable housing fraud, victimizing unqualified home buyers, which created the housing boom and bust — thus the financial collapse and foreclosures. Sadly, biased media, Hollywood, and left-wing ideologues end up being the false and superficial finger-pointers, when government is the guilty wild bunch.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
END THE FED
By Ron Paul
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
September 2010
Synopsis
In the post-meltdown world, it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve.
Most people think of the Fed as an indispensable institution without which the country's economy could not properly function. But in END THE FED, Ron Paul draws on American history, economics, and fascinating stories from his own long political life to argue that the Fed is both corrupt and unconstitutional. It is inflating currency today at nearly a Weimar or Zimbabwe level, a practice that threatens to put us into an inflationary depression where $100 bills are worthless. What most people don't realize is that the Fed — created by the Morgans and Rockefellers at a private club off the coast of Georgia — is actually working against their own personal interests. Congressman Paul's urgent appeal to all citizens and officials tells us where we went wrong and what we need to do fix America's economic policy for future generations.
Biography
Ron Paul, an eleven-term congressman from Texas, is the leading advocate of freedom in our nation's capital. He has devoted his political career to the defense of individual liberty, sound money, and a non-interventionist foreign policy. Judge Andrew Napolitano calls him "the Thomas Jefferson of our day."
After serving as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, Dr. Paul moved to Texas to begin a civilian medical practice, delivering over four thousand babies in his career as an obstetrician. He served in Congress from 1976 to 1984, and again from 1996 to the present. He and Carol Paul, his wife of fifty-one years, have five children, eighteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Ron Paul, the New York Post once wrote, is a politician who "cannot be bought by special interests."
"There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles," added a congressional colleague. "Ron Paul is one of those few."
Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
December 21, 2010
Re: And the rich get richer
By Tim Rutten
Tim Rutten's hackneyed social justice notion that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is simply absurd and irrelevant, particularly in these dire economic times. Indeed, in case he missed it, we have serious problems in government in America, such as the growing damages of over-reaching government.
Though the Tea Party-effect has taken a positive hold-back on increasing taxes, a bloated budget-as-usual, and implementing fiscally terminal Obamacare -- the looming Fannie and Freddie fiasco is still alive and threatening the overall economy.
Indeed, the years of irresponsible multi-billion dollar band aids for deeply-infected Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, banks and mortgage lenders have had little to no effect on the housing nightmare -- and government has yet to own-up to causing the housing and economic collapse.
Instead, the usual government suspects continue to ignore the Fannie and Freddie disease, while affordable housing entitlement activists go about the dirty business of intimidating banks and coercing lenders to modify home loans and forego foreclosures for unqualified borrowers who still cannot afford homes.
Jerking around the American people, our taxes, our property and our economy is far beyond the constitutional scope of government. Plunging the nation into insurmountable debt is malfeasance. Embezzling $billions and $trillions to fund 10 thousand unworkable government programs is criminal waste.
Breaking up Fannie and Freddie to privatization -- and seriously downsizing government and government programs -- would be significant steps toward reversing out-of-control federal power, restoring power to the states, and sanity to domestic affairs.
Dan Jeffs
Apple Valley
http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_16894638
San Bernardino Sun
Perspectives Section B1 - Is it time for sacrifice?
December 19, 2010
Why give more? I've given plenty
When asked what I would be willing to sacrifice, give up, or do without to help resolve the climbing deficit and looming national debt, I was stunned.
I thought, sacrifice what, when I am among most Americans being sacrificed by confiscatory government, which will take it?
What can I give up when I'm on a fixed retirement income, which could be threatened? What can I give up when the equity in my home vanished with the housing collapse, and I have little or no discretionary spending to give because of the economy, recession, and the increasing cost of living? What can I give up, when my health care insurance is going up, my taxes are going up, and the cost of energy is likely to skyrocket?
What can I give up when the nation is steeped in uncertainty, individual responsibility is at an all time low, and government irresponsibility is at an all time high? What can I give up when government's affordable housing crusade caused the housing crash, the economy to collapse, and plunged taxpayers into enormous debt? And What can I give up when I'm living in California, where our government and voters blindly exacerbate the problem with even more irresponsibility?
Considering what has happened to our country since the 9/11 attack on America in 2001, and what transpired long before that, I am deeply concerned by how government growth has systemically accrued so much intrusive power over our society and our daily lives -- with regressive ideology, tyrannical agencies, unreasonable laws, and destructive regulations attacking a struggling free market.
Let's face it. Even with the threat of terrorism and fighting wars to defeat it, we are living under the influence of a superficial society of selfish interests, social aggression, and extremes. Our education system has been reduced to costly factories of indoctrination and warehouses of ignorance.
And we are being consumed by runaway government. The good news is, there is a spontaneous awakening going in America that will overcome the worst because there is the fire of freedom burning inside us.
What I am willing to give is my time, energy and efforts to do what I can to help rescue our state and our country. And to restore our Constitution, our representative democracy, our republic, and the power of the people to limit government to only what we need for our security, liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
Along the way, I will continue to give what I can to worthy charities and the homeless.
Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
The Direct Democracy Center