Pension Tax, Green Energy, and a Few Thoughts
by Barry Bauer
The new governor of Michigan has proposed big tax cuts for businesses and new taxes for retirees to make up the difference. What ever happened to the old idea that in order to balance the budget we enact a 5% (or fill in the number) spending cut across the board. If we can’t afford it, we don’t do it. No one program or individuals are single out. Is that too simple? One would think that there’s only two things in Michigan, businesses and retirees. We all know that’s not true.
Two things the governor should keep in mind, seniors vote too and budgets should never be balanced by raising taxes. That’s not only the easy way out; it’s also detrimental to the economy.
It isn’t taxes that are doing businesses in; it’s too many government regulations. Why do you think businesses aren’t hiring while they wait to see how Obamacare plays out.
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Why do people think that we’re going to flip a switch and go from fossil fuel and nuclear energy to green renewable energy overnight? If certain people have their way we’ll all be huddled around tribal campfires trying to stay warm. Never mind that we have to make a living doing something which requires lots of energy from some source.
We’ve sat on this problem since the early 1970s and done nothing but argue about whether we should or shouldn’t do anything. Wind Turbines sounds innocent enough and the last I knew there were a couple of them at Mackinaw City but I’ve never seen any reports on how efficient there are.
Two problems come to mind when we talk about Wind Turbines, nobody wants them in their backyard and they have to have a backup when the wind doesn’t blow. You know . . . no wind, no energy. Solar energy has the same problem, especially in Michigan. How many days of the year do you see the Sun? There’s no way at the present time to store that kind of energy for later use.
Even Electric vehicles have their limitations which is why they include a gasoline engine for backup (actually primary) when the batteries discharge. 40 miles on a charge doesn’t seem like much when you’re out in the middle of nowhere.
Nuclear energy has its danger just like oil and coal. We have to be careful where we build them, upgrade existing plants when needed, and shut them down when they’ve reached their life. That’s what Japan failed to do. Also, at least two backups are required for vital systems, just like the Space Shuttle.
I would think cooling the core is vital.
Lord Obama is a big supporter of Green Energy but where did we find him this week, down in Brazil promising them a two Billion dollar loan to drill for oil offshore and promising them that we will be their biggest customer.
Is this the same guy who banned offshore drilling here? Can’t he get his story straight?
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A few thoughts:
I have a message to all politicians from all parties; do something for America for a change.
I can’t remember the last President that ordered a preemptive air strike on a nation while on vacation in another. I thought we were going to just establish a no fly zone, but we’re attacking Libyan troops and vehicles on the ground in support of the rebels and we have no idea who the rebels are. By the way, members of his own Party are pissed off because Lord Obama ignored the Constitution . . . again.
What the hell are you doing, Mr. President?
If we don’t hobble those nincompoops in Washington, they’re going to spend this country right in the ground. Are you sure you want to go there?
Until the next time . . .