An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Morning Coffee 02/01/09
Higher reappraisals may surprise homeowners
With the nation’s real estate market on the skids, banks in turmoil and the economy in recession, it is hard for William Bradbury to believe the value of his Murfreesboro home is increasing.
“Property is not worth as much as it was even a year ago,” said Bradbury, who lives near Middle Tennessee State University. “Property values have dropped severely. … The real estate market is depressed.”
Homeowners like him will be in for a shock, officials predict, because the values listed on the tax rolls are going up. In Nashville, for example, the increase announced this spring could average 10 percent.
Just how stupid do they think we are? Evidently, we little peon types are as dumb as a box of rocks, according the those in Nashville. Odds are, if you raise the property tax, even though the prices have dropped, you will find few people making that HUGE purchase of a home, because the annual tax may just price that home right out of their budget. Or, are the morons hoping that new home buyers, taking advantage of the drop in value, will be so ignorant, they won’t bother to find out what the taxes will cost them in the long run? Hint: You don’t pour gasoline on a fire.
Despite Rocket Attacks, Aid to Gaza Flows
Despite continuing rocket fire, mortar shelling, and terror attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians and soldiers, the Ministry of Defense revealed Sunday that over 47,427 tons of aid has been transferred to Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
The aid included food supplies, medical supplies, dairy and meat products and grain for livestock. Some of the aid came from international sources – mainly from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the nations of Egypt and Jordan.
So, even though the Pallies are liars and murderers, and broke the cease fire agreement within hours, and are targeting the innocent, as usual, the Israelis continue to allow aid to enter the territory. Dem evil Juice!
PRESIDENT’S BROTHER IN KENYA DRUG BUST
President Obama’s half-brother was arrested on a charge of pot possession yesterday near his home in a Nairobi shantytown, police said.
George Obama is in his 20s and barely knows his famous sibling. He had one marijuana joint on his person, said Police Chief Joshua Omokulongolo.
“He is not a drug peddler, but it’s illegal,” the chief said. “It’s a banned substance.”
I had to chuckle when I read this, but in all seriousness, I don’t see what a brother he has only met once has to do with diddly. It’s not like BHO was giving it to him.
Federal Work Force On the Rise
Companies are cutting jobs by the tens of thousands. State and local governments are penny-pinching, too. So what about Uncle Sam? Tough times for him as well? Not exactly.
In fact the number of federal workers is on the rise.
That might seem strange to the 11 million people in the U.S. who are out of work — and the millions more who fear they soon will be. Shouldn’t Washington pare down too?
But it is unlikely that President Obama will put any of the nearly 2 million federal civil servants out in the street in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. His proposed $800-plus billion economic aid plan, which includes heavy spending on public works, is expected to increase the ranks of federal workers, although mostly at the state and local level.
The biggest employer in the country isn’t one that produces anything. No, the biggest employer in the country is the greatest reason so many companies are dying. Regulations, more regulations, red tape, tied in knots. All at the expense of those who pay their salaries, and are losing theirs. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?
Steele reassures GOP’s right flank
Despite the standing ovations, prolonged applause and foot-stomping approval by RNC members upon his election Friday, there was considerable tension within the committee over who Mr. Steele really is and where he will lead a party that has lost two straight national elections, lacks a clear leader and is perceived as philosophically rudderless.
Mr. Steele began his first day as national chairman with several members saying that he has a number of formidable tasks ahead, chief among them to unite the ideological and regional factions in the party that have become increasingly obvious.
When the Republican Party cut ties with Reaganism, it became ‘rudderless’. That term ‘right flank’ bothers me. The RIGHT is the base of that party, and when the party itself started moving left…or WRONG…they lost those who fought the hardest for the principles on which so many found their political beliefs. Things such as LIFE, MARRIAGE, SMALL GOVERNMENT, LOW TAXES, just to name a few. Bring the party back, and you’ll find many waiting and willing to fight for you. Until then, just keep floundering.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has told Sky News he wants the power to expel peers from the House of Lords if they have committed serious criminal offences.
It comes after a week of sleaze allegations around members receiving money in exchange for changing the law to favour businesses.
The measures could be retrospective, meaning that those with criminal convictions – such as author Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, and newspaper mogul Lord Black of Crossharbour – would face expulsion.
It seems to me, that should be a given. How can you have someone making laws while they are breaking laws. It’s really a no brainer, one which our own legislative body to heed. (Rangel comes to mind, right off the bat.)
S.S. D.D.
