America’s Gaudy ‘Palace of Versailles’ To Be Finished In 2015 After 11 YEARS Of Construction
” The owners of America’s largest family home, the gold-encrusted ‘Palace Of Versailles’, have announced that it will finally be completed in 2015, after 11 years of construction.
Self-made billionaire David Siegel, told CNBC that he’s excited about moving into the property located in Windermere, Florida, although, if someone offered him enough money – $100 million to be exact – he might consider selling out.”
” However, his 47-year-old former beauty queen wife, Jackie, seemed distraught at the thought of letting her dream mansion go and jokingly interjected: ‘Or I could live there and you could sell your half right?’
Work stopped on the 90,000-square-foot build in 2009 after creditors went after Mr Siegel’s timeshare company, Westgate Resorts, but recommenced this year after business bounced back.
Now the finish date is just two years away.”
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Category: Entitlements
America Falls Behind In Creating Rich Entrepreneurs
” The creation myth of American wealth is almost always rooted in the entrepreneur.
It’s the two kids who start a computer company in their garage or dorm room. Or the former standup comic who creates form-shaping undergarments, or the South African immigrant who creates a new electric car and private space program.
But despite the high-profile examples, America may actually be falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to creating entrepreneurial wealth. A new study from Barclays, “Origins and Legacy: the Changing Order of Wealth Creation,” finds developing countries now lead the U.S. when comes to wealth creation by entrepreneurs.
So is America losing its entrepreneurial mojo? There is some evidence that entrepreneurial activity is flagging. The latest data from the Kauffman Foundation found that there were 514,000 new business owners a month in 2012, down from 543,000 in 2011. The 2012 numbers marked the lowest in five years.”
Another one for the Obama record books … killing the entrepreneurial spirit … all is proceeding as Alinsky planned .
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Biggest Protests In 20 Years Sweep Brazil
” As many as 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities on Monday in a swelling wave of protest tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption.
The marches, organized mostly through snowballing social media campaigns, blocked streets and halted traffic in more than a half-dozen cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, where demonstrators climbed onto the roof of Brazil’s Congress building and then stormed it.
Monday’s demonstrations were the latest in a flurry of protests in the past two weeks that have added to growing unease over Brazil’s sluggish economy, high inflation and a spurt in violent crime.”
Related articles
- Biggest protests in 20 years sweep Brazil (scooprocket.com)
- Protests now in Brazil as discontent spreads (lunaticoutpost.com)
- Brazil Bedlam: Largest-in-decades protests sweep country (realfreedomnews.wordpress.com)
- Protests build in Brazil as discontent spreads (dokmz.wordpress.com)
- Protest in Brazil Goes out of control (disclose.tv)
- Tens of thousands return for further fare hike protests across Brazil (rt.com)
- Brazil protests spread in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio (arunbabyveranakunnel.wordpress.com)
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Sessions: Let’s Face It, This Immigration Bill Is Beyond Repair
” Washington is bickering over whether the Cornyn amendment to the Gang of Eight framework is a deal-breaking and onerous “poison pill,” or a totally inadequate “Trojan horse.” The New York Times published a piece pondering that exact question on Friday. It quoted Chuck Schumer panning the plan as a “nonstarter” and “deal-killer,” without specifying a single policy flaw. How does any of this go “too far”? One Republican Senator is having none of this entire show. Alabama’s Jeff Sessions released a blistering statement Sunday morning preemptively rejecting any “cosmetic fixes” to the legislation (hyperlinks and emphasis his):
When the Gang of Eight first announced their immigration bill they declared it was the toughest enforcement plan in history. They declared enforcement would come before legalization. And they declared that anyone who suggested otherwise didn’t know what they were talking about. Now the bill has been reviewed and there can be no dispute: it weakens current law, undermines future enforcement and puts amnesty—not enforcement—first. So new promises of amendment ‘fixes’ to save the bill should be viewed with great skepticism: every time, on every issue, the promises have not matched with reality. They promised back taxes—but the requirement isn’t there; they promised tight restrictions on welfare benefits—but state and local benefits, as well as tax credits,will be available immediately and federal welfare access is granted to millions of illegal immigrants starting in five years; they promised to protect workers—but this bill would devastate workers by tripling the number of legal immigrants over the next decade and doubling the number of guest workers.
No small cosmetic fix can save this bill, with so many provisions clearly authored by special interests whose chief desires are lower wages and amnesty—rather than a lawful, rational system of immigration. As the ICE officers’ association warned: ‘instead of cracking down on the Administration’s abuse of power, S. 744 places unprecedented new restrictions on interior enforcement—making the current situation much worse and much more hazardous. It is as if S. 744 were explicitly written to handcuff law enforcement officials—binding their hands while giving virtually unchecked authority to executive branch officials to prevent future removals, including removals of criminal aliens.’ And as the USCIS adjudications officers warned: ‘the legislation was written with special interests—producing a bill that makes the current system worse, not better. S. 744 will damage public safety and national security and should be opposed by lawmakers.’ It’s time for the Gang of Eight to start being straight with the American public.” “
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Immigration Reform Bill Finally Hits Senate Floor
” Debate finally began on the U.S. Senate floor last week on the bipartisan immigration reform bill seen as the best opportunity in a while — or for a while — to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws.”
Keeping in mind all the recent revelations , can Congress and Washington really be trusted to do the right thing for America or are they most interested in further strengthening their own political careers ?
” The day the Senate began discussing the bill developed by the “gang of eight” senators — four Republicans and four Democrats — that would, among other things, provide a road map to citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented workers already in the United States and enhance border security, President Obama urged the Senate to “do the right thing” and pass the bill.”
Fortunately there are still a few representatives of the people in DC but their numbers are small . We need to show them our support in every way possible if we are to avoid giving the Democrats carte blanche over the affairs of state for the next several generations .
” The Senate’s first full vote was to stave off a filibuster, an overwhelming 82 yeas to 15 nays. All 15 senators voting to block debate were Republicans who have criticized the bill: John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Boozman of Arkansas, Michael Crapo of Idaho, Ted Cruz of Texas, Michael Enzi of Wyoming, Charles Grassley of Iowa, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Mike Lee of Utah, Jim Risch of Idaho, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Richard Shelby of Alabama and David Vitter of Louisiana.”
Please offer these Senators all the support you can muster and tell your friends to do so as well . This is the fight of our lives . If political pandering is allowed to trump one of the few legitimate government functions , border security , we as a nation are doomed .
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It’s Obvious Student Aid Is Driven By Politics. But Not This Obvious
” Federal aid for college students, it’s really no secret, is driven by what works politically, not what’s best for students. While logic and evidence strongly suggest that aid mainly enables colleges to raise their prices at breakneck speeds, politicians talk nonstop about aid making college “affordable.” Financial reality simply does not trump appearing to “care.” But on Friday, the Obama administration appears poised to take aid exploitation to a new level.”
If you thought student aid was about students you’d be mistaken . As with all that DC does it’s about aiding politicians , not constituents. Silly taxpayer , aid is for pols …
” At this point, you’d think the President would be negotiating, not grandstanding. But then you wouldn’t understand federal student aid (or, really, almost anything government does). It is first and foremost about politicians – who are normal, self-interested people – getting what they need: political support, not sane college prices. And you get a lot of that support by appearing to want to “help people” more than the other guys.”
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Odds Grow Longer For Immigration Reform
” Many pundits assumed that this would be the year that comprehensive immigration reform became law. The conventional wisdom was that President Obama’s re-election and his strong showing among Hispanic voters would force Republicans to go along.
Now, halfway through the year, the prospects for immigration reform have dimmed significantly.
Seventy-six percent have a favorable view of immigrants who work hard, support their families and pursue the American Dream.
But they also want the system to work so that the border will be secure enough to prevent future illegal immigration.”
Related articles
- Border security a concern (bostonherald.com)
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THE 2013 FARM BILL
” The Farm Bill is currently moving through Congress, and it’s bigger and more bloated than ever. This year’s version will spend nearly a trillion dollars on broken food and farm welfare over the next decade. Unfortunately, Congress is poised to rubber-stamp this bloated welfare bill known as the Farm Bill.
Americans For Prosperity strongly encourages Capitol Hill to consider real reforms and meaningful savings to the 2013 Farm Bill.”
Related articles :
Members of Congress Get Millions in Farm Subsidies
Rural Broadband Program in Farm Bill is Woefully Broken
Update on the Farm Bill: Good News and Bad News
What savings? 2012 Farm Bill is agribusiness as usual (The Hill)
New farm bill: Welfare in disguise (POLITICO)
End direct payments to find spending savings (Real Clear Policy)
Farm Bill is Welfare Bill (Des Moines Register)
The Farm Bill is Bloated (Billings Gazette)
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Is Obama Waging Psychological Warfare On Americans?
” I believe that the Obama administration is conducting psychological warfare on conservative Americans. Not only that but it is also waging this war on all Americans who previously viewed themselves, their country, their Constitution and their overwhelming belief in God as a force for good in the world.”
” Psychological warfare has been described as a set of techniques aimed at influencing a target audience’s value systems or beliefs and inducing confessions of wrongdoing or attitudes favorable to the group proffering the techniques. “
” The techniques are often combined with black ops strategy, in which covert initiatives seek to dispirit, disempower and confuse adversaries.”
“…The thirteenth rule: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. — P.126-129″
If you think about it , the Obama administration’s efforts in regard to reshaping the way American’s view their country and history is nothing but the opening of another front in the battle to control American “hearts and minds” . The first front started two generations ago and continues unabated in the education establishment .
The public school system has become nothing but a Statist propaganda machine and Obama’s psy-ops are a continuation of that effort brought to the Bully Pulpit. This is straight out of Saul Alinsky‘s Statist bible “Rules For Radicals” , with a dose of Cloward-Piven thrown in for good measure.
Remember that the Left has absolute control over the educational establishment and has maintained it since the sixties . That was no accident .
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First Lady Heckler Speaks Out: Michelle Obama ‘Came Right Down In My Face’
” The LGBT activist who heckled Michelle Obama at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser says she just “couldn’t stay silent any longer.”
Sturtz’s actions Tuesday night appeared to rankle the first lady, who threatened to leave if Sturtz did not stop interrupting her.
Of the interaction with the first lady Sturtz told The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday night that “[Obama] came right down in my face ,” Sturtz said. “I was taken aback.” “
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IRS Employee Contract Promised No Political Coercion
” In August of 2009 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agreed to a labor contract with the National Treasury Employees Union. But Article 4 “Protections Against Prohibited Personnel Practices” contains sections that seem to indicate that in targeting organizations applying for tax-exempt status, IRS agents were required to break the terms of their union contract.”
Another reason to fire them , as if anymore were needed . This is another example of why government employees have no business being unionized .
” Section 8 of the preamble states that “Employees should be protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion for partisan political purposes; and prohibited from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for election.”
While this contract was agreed to in Aug. 2009, by March 2010, IRS agents were clearly being directed to target organizations based on their political persuasion in an apparent effort to silence people who didn’t agree with the administration.”
Why should the civilian employees of the government enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining when the one department of the government that is constitutionally authorized ( the military ) has no such right ?
” A broader look at the values espoused in IRS agreement with the National Treasury Employees Union reveals a list of things Americans want government to stand for, but in light of recent incidents it reads more like a Saturday Night Live skit.
The introduction includes a short list of six IRS Values:
• Honesty and Integrity: We uphold the public trust in all that we do; we are honest and forthright in all of our internal and external dealings.
• Respect: We treat each colleague, employee and taxpayer with dignity and respect.
• Continuous Improvement: We seek to perform the best that we can today, while embracing change, so that we can perform even better in the future.
• Inclusion: We embrace diversity of background, experience, and perspective.
• Openness and Collaboration: We share information and collaborate, recognizing that we are a team.
• Personal Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and decisions and learn and grow from our achievements and mistakes. [emphasis added]“
All employees of all branches of government , whether they be federal , state , county or municipal should be subjected to the same employment rules as the various branches of the military are . If you want to live off of the public dime then you should have to take the job with predetermined benefits , salary , job security and possibility of advancement .
There should be a predetermined ( by the various government budgetary departments ) pay/benefits scale as the military utilizes and when you sign on to the job it is a take it or leave it proposition … No negotiation with the taxpayer’s money . Job x receives salary x , job y receives salary y , no ifs ands or buts … If the prospective employee does not like the pay scale they are free to find a job in the private sector just like the rest of us producers .
It is time to enact a major draw-down of the looters and eliminate the power of the public employee unions . There is something inherently corrupt with unions negotiating salaries and benefits with the very politicians whose pockets they line year after year .
As long as government employment , union membership and it’s clout continue to grow and maintain it’s symbiotic relationship with the Democratic party we should expect nothing but partisanship from the State .
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Cast Your Ballot Now
The median wealth of a House member is $765,010… For a senator it’s $2.38 million. Yet, incredibly, they still enjoy all of this:
- $174,000 salary
- Free company car
- Free gas
- Free parking (even at airports)
- Free flights almost anywhere in the world
- Per diem travel allowance… up to $3,000 a trip
- A month’s paid vacation
- 3-day work-weeks
- Free membership to a top-flight gym
- Pension plan and 401K plan
- Full retirement benefits (including up to 44% of their six figure salaries) at age 62
- Free top of the line health insurance with 10 plans to choose from
- Fully covered – even with pre-existing condition
” Being a member of Congress is the most lucrative “Public Service” job in the world. Are our representatives officially out of touch with the real America? Should Congress live like the rest of us?
Vote now to make your voice heard and receive a stunning report that shows the full scope of congressional abuse of power. You won’t believe how well members of Congress live – all at our expense.”
” This poll is being conducted by Money Morning, the nation’s fastest growing source for independent financial news, research and advice. We’re on a mission to keep our readers’ money safe and growing. When you submit your vote, you’ll receive a full report on congressional abuse, up-to-the minute poll results, as well as daily strategies for building wealth and taking control of your finances. Make your voice heard by voting above and passing this important vote to a friend. “
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RI’s Top 50 Highest Paid State Employees
” The top 50 highest paid state employees collectively earned more than $10 million last year and include a university president and a controversial department administrator, as well as nurses, corrections officers, and athletic coaches.
The highest paid state employee is David Dooley, the president of the University of Rhode Island, at a salary of $320,000 last year. Second highest is the men’s basketball head coach at the school, Daniel Hurley, who earned $295,481 in 2012, according to state payroll records provided in response to a records request.
The list is as notable for who it includes as who it doesn’t. Governor Lincoln Chafee, who earned $129,210 last year, isn’t on it. Neither are any of the other general officers or their top staffers.
Only two department heads show up. Ranking 14th overall is Paul Suttell, the chief justice of the state Supreme Court. He earned $219,601 last year. Several spots below is state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, at $204,600. Her contract is currently up for renewal.”
Lightnin Hopkins – Mojo Hand
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Morning Bell: A Bumper Crop of Food Stamps
” Where do food stamps come from?”
” They come from taxpayers—certainly not from family farms. Yet the “farm” bill, a recurring subsidy-fest in Congress, is actually 80 percent food stamps and other government nutrition programs.
It has become the norm that Congress lumps billions—even trillions—of dollars in taxpayer-funded programs together into huge bills. This allows them to sneak in plenty of special-interest pork.”
Illustration by Glenn Foden
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U.S. Gives 1/3 Of Puerto Rico Food Stamps
” The USDA does confirm, however, that an average of 1.37 million people received food stamps in Puerto Rico each month in fiscal year 2012. The island, which is a U.S. territory, has a population of 3.7 million, which means that 37% of Puerto Ricans get food stamps from Uncle Sam. Though the figure of 47.7 million in the U.S. shatters records, it still marks only 15.2% of the nation’s population of 313 million.”
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Occupy Wall Street And The Tea Party
” Some say there are important parallels between Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party. I do not see them, only minor and inconsequential similarities highlighted much by those who have a proneness to anarchy.
Occupy attacks Free Market Capitalism, not just “corporations.” Corporations are for them the most visible sign of the evils of Market economics. Tea Party attacks cronyism, that is, corporations that align with power to get undue advantage. Big difference: one attacks corporations to dissect Capitalism and the other attacks corporations to bring about real Free Markets.
Occupy sees the solution for Corporatism in Statism. They want to give government even greater power to reign in corporations. They are blinded to the fact that the biggest corporation is Big Government, which has the power to confiscate and kill and the power to lure corporations that are willing to surrender to political pressure for advantage. In attacking unruly corporations they incentivize even more cronyism. In the end, their solution, of necessity, ends in totalitarianism. The more they attack corporations and empower government, the more Corporatism is empowered until they see no other choice than to offer all power to the State.
Tea Party sees the problem in Big Government first and in corporations in a subsidiary way. By limiting the power of government one limits the lure of power to attract corporations. If there is nothing for them in aligning with government they can only compete openly and win or fail. Or they can act illegally to get advantage but knowing that government is not there to protect them. When government is reign in to limit its purpose to protecting our liberty, government becomes a source of good and a true steward of our liberty.
As you can see, there is no comparison between Occupy and the Tea Party, no matter how many fake similarities some want to establish. “
Ismael Hernandez, Freedom & Virtue Institute,www.fvinstitute.org
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PJTV: Obama IRS Scandal Uncovers the Ugly Side of Income Taxes
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