Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny There is most definitely a huge gap between what proponents of low marginal tax rates argue and what the actual results of lowering said rates over the past 30 to 40 years has been. While reading the following article from The Guardian think long term effect. Many are arguing the policies of lower taxes and increased spending (much on defense and the MIC) during this time period is largely responsible for our present sorry fiscal state state of affairs. They may have a point and it is most certainly worth considering as we look to 2014 and 2016. At the very least the party of lower and lower taxes and increased spending, and we all know who that is, should rethink it's strategy for success. In the United States, the share of total pre-tax income accruing to the top 1% has more than doubled, from less than 10% in the 1970s to over 20% today (pdf) . A similar pattern is true of other English-speaking countries. ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Herman Cain The following is an excerpt from RealClearReligion . It is concerning the allegations of sexual misconduct by Herman Cain during the 2012 presidential campaign. It seems he has been able to identify the perpetrator and organizer of what he claims were (are) fallacious allegations. Come to find out is is the DEVIL himself. Then he speculated as to who may have orchestrated the allegations: the Devil. "It made me realize that there was a force bigger than right," Cain said. But that doesn't mean Cain has given up. Nowadays, Cain fights against the Evil One from the pulpit. Cain has been a member of the same Baptist church in Atlanta -- "a church in the hood" -- since he was 10, where he now serves as an associate pastor. Cain preaches that the Devil is "determined to destroy our culture" and that "the family is at the center of our culture and the center o...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny James Madison Why are there no great thinkers anymore in American politics? Is is merely that we no longer notice them? A sign of the times? A result of the me first generation where the desire for and realization of instance gratification overcame long term rational self interest? Or is it just another phase in the current backwards evolution of the American electorate? Perhaps the questions are rhetorical. However, it is certainly in the rational self interest of the people of the nation to find the answers and take the appropriate actions to correct our national trend towards the lowest common denominator. "In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself." -- James Madison, Federalist No. 51 Where is the voice of reason in ei...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny There has been a great shift in wealth in America. As the video will show the shift is decidedly and hugely in the direction of the very top income earners. If this continues unabated our nation is staring down the barrel of great social unrest and the upheaval that always follows. Simply put the present income distribution scenario, if it continues on its current path will result in the system collapsing on itself. One way or another. Fixing Capitalism so a much broader base of Americans can create a measure of wealth and security for themselves and their family, thus growing the American middle class once again, is not socialism or collectivism. It is good common sense and it is the only thing that will ultimately save Capitalism. Corporations and CEO's were doing just fine back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's and so was the rest of America economically speaking. What has changed? Watch the video to ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny As the administration acknowledges the myriad of technical problems with the healthcare exchange marketplace (and feigns anger) contractors have identified most of the problems but worry it may be weeks away before all issues are resolved. This is because the Obama Administration has been slow (remis) in issuing orders to fix the flaws. From The New York Times . Federal contractors have identified most of the main problems crippling President Obama’s online health insurance marketplace, but the administration has been slow to issue orders for fixing those flaws, and some contractors worry that the system may be weeks away from operating smoothly, people close to the project say. Administration officials approached the contractors last week to see if they could perform the necessary repairs and reboot the system by Nov. 1. However, that goal struck many contractors as unrealistic, at least for major components o...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)  I am getting more amused every day by the loonies that constitute the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party. Being an advocates of exercising rational self interest in all thing I cannot help by marvel at Senator Marco Rubio's remarks on FOX News this Sunday. Certainly his remarks don't sound much like concern for rational self interest . Of course this is based on the belief comprehensive immigration reform is in everyone's rational self interest. But maybe it's just me. Via Memeorandum . Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) suggested on Sunday that President Obama’s refusal to compromise with Republicans on Obamacare to re-open the government and raise the nation’s debt ceiling has jeopardized the chances of passing comprehensive immigration reform. “I think immigration reform is harder to achieve today an it was three weeks ago because of what happened here,” the firs...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A L i b e r t y -vs- T y r a n n y As America continues its struggle to figure out just how to marry capitalism and the ever present social concerns of a modern advanced society I personally just sit back and chuckle. The recent national melodrama, driven by the continuing debate over politically opposing views on the ACA (ObamaCare) as well as how to control the spiraling national debt highlights the above point nicely. And, it makes me chuckle all the more. As I listened to the video I realized, more than ever, the proponents of the opposing political view(s) will never find that place were reason can ultimately result in effective, productive, and long term lasting results benefiting the individuals of this nation. This is largely because they willfully fail to recognize what is really in their rational self interest. I say this to the ideologically driven politicians and the elected officials of both parties that are only too willi...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Questions: Do you trust this man? Do you think this issue is resolved? Is it just me or has the Tea Party left reason for the realm of wishful dreams? Then there is the following from FDL ... " It would seem that Senator Cruz should be in a more sour mood given that his plan to stop Obamacare is set to be thwarted. Things really seem to be going poorly for Cruz as the Houston Chronicle, one of his home state’s most prominent papers, took back its endorsement of him. " Houston Chronicle - "When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November’s general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation – that he follow Hutchison’s example in his conduct as a senator. Obviously, he has not done so. Cruz has been part of the problem." And this. "In three week period following Cruz’s speech — even as GOP’s national approval ratings plummeted — conservatives fra...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny It is not at all surprising that this week's Gallop Poll shows the American people now view the federal government as a larger problem than the economy. This at the same time President Obama's favorably hits a new low according to a recent AP Poll... " 53 percent unhappy with his performance and 37 percent approving of it. " PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are now more likely to name dysfunctional government as the most important problem facing the country than to name any other specific problem. Thirty-three percent of Americans cite dissatisfaction with government and elected representatives as the nation's top issue, the highest such percentage in Gallup's trend dating back to 1939. Dysfunctional government now eclipses the economy (19%), unemployment (12%), the deficit (12%), and healthcare (12%) as the nation's top problem. Click Picture To Enlarge Americans' mentions of eit...

by; Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny This will probably not be my last post, although if it were it certainly would be in my best interest. At least from a health perspective. Reason in America has quite frankly jumped the shark. Politics, and by extension government has become a thing to be disdainful of. Personally all I have left for our politicians and GOVERNMENT is utter and complete contempt. How easily and effortlessly the media, the politicians, the representatives, the senators, the political blogs full of partisan poisonous BS, the talking heads of FOX.. MSNBC.. Limbaugh... and more, all react to the strings their puppet masters are in control of. Winning. Preserving the long held paradigm(s) of your chosen political ideology is ALL that is important. Whether you be conservative, liberal, progressive, conservative, reactionary, libertarian, anarchist, socialist, communist, fascist, or whatever, you dare not risk it be said that you actually ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny You just can't make this sh*t up. Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry obviously fails to understand how our nation of laws work. Even following a United States Supreme Court ruling that a law is Constitutional. Apparently the slightly light in the attic Governor Perry has determined that ' implementation of the national health care reform law constituted "a criminal act."' By what standard he arrived at his "scholarly" determination apparently only his God knows. He (or I) may not like or agree with the ACA but that doesn't make it criminal. From REAL CLEAR POLITICS . HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. -- In a campaign appearance Tuesday on behalf of New Jersey Republican Senate nominee Steve Lonegan, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the government's implementation of the national health care reform law constituted "a criminal act." "If this health care law is forced upo...