Earlier this evening it was announced that the City of Miami (Fl) police officers will lead the effort to recall Mayor Tomas Regalado. I believe it's not only a good move, it's the only option to keep Miami from once again becoming the poster child for what's wrong with politics.
Last week the Executive Board of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #20 voted to hold an election of the city's law enforcement personnel to determine if the FOP should lead an effort to recall the mayor. The vote was held today and the results were 432 Yes, 16 No. Other city employees are considering joining in the effort.
Because I am a Florida State Lodge Executive Officer I am a member of Lodge #20 Executive Board. I voted last week to take this action, it was not a decision I made lightly but it is necessary. When the mayor was first asked about the Executive Board's action he said this was all about pay, the unions wanted him to raise taxes so they can keep their high salaries.
The mayor's response demonstrates the problem, he knows that is not the truth but he would rather repeat a negative stereotype of public employees. He also remembers that the county's mayor was recalled over raising taxes and giving raises. The mayor would rather use the new playbook and attack his employees instead of the problem, it's a lot less work.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the next steps public employees should take, a recall wasn't explored because it's not an easy process, it's labor intensive, costly and should be a option of last resort. If that's the case why did I support this action in Miami? Miami's employees have made sacrifices over the past year and a half in order to help the city, and it's not the first time. Miami has been in contract negotiations with it's employees but instead of negotiating in good faith the city has either refused to meet, or when they do meet can't or won't consider proposals.
Out of respect for the process I won't list details so no one can accuse the FOP of trying to circumvent the negotiation process. What I will say is that contrary to what the mayor and city administration claimed in public the police offered concessions, as well as solutions. After the negotiator at the time agreed they would return and demand more. Now with the latest "crisis" the police have attempted to present the city with proposals that would have millions, real savings, and the city is refusing to listen.
Now the mayor has gone back on his word and is proposing additional sacrifices from the rank and file. The employees are at a point that someone needs to stand up to the mayor and let him know that not everyone is afraid of him. Regardless if the recall is successful it will send a message to the mayor, commissioners and administration that they should sit down and honestly work with the employees.
As I mentioned this is not the first time employees have come forward to help save the city. In 1996 the City of Miami had a fiscal crisis. There was serious consideration being given to the City of Miami ceasing to exist. A new City Manager took over and at first refused to meet with the employees or allow them to participate in the process to find a solution, he even refused to allow the union representatives to attend an emergency budget meeting. After being served with an emergency injunction the Manager gave in and allowed us to attend the meeting, however, we were told we couldn't speak. After a couple of hours some of the staff suggested that he ask the union leaders for input, they knew we had good proposals. When he called on us, one by one we pointed out that he didn't believe we were worthy of his consideration and that we knew he wasn't sincere. The city asked for a recess, when the meeting reconvened the Manager apologized for his conduct towards the union leaders the previous 2 days and sincerely asked for our assistance (amazing what can happen when a union leader sits in the audience beside the Manager's life partner and engages in a conversation).
During the next 3 months meetings took place that generated enough cost savings and generated additional revenue that the city became stable, their bond rating was raised from "junk" status eventually reaching AAA rating. This recall should bring the politicians back to reality and make them realize that their employees are truly the best asset they have, that they care about the city and it's residents, and most of all are worthy of respect and an open, honest dialogue it the City of Miami is to survive! Who knows, maybe their bond rating wouldn't have been lowered from AAA to AA earlier this week?
That's My Opinion, What's Yours
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About Me
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- James N. Mann
- I retired after completing 38 years as a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. I began my law enforcement career with the City of Miami, where I served for nearly 27 years before serving with a state agency for 11 1/2 years (part of that time as Interim Inspector General). During my career with Miami I worked in uniform patrol, the detective bureau, and the 911 center. I was also a member of the first law enforcement crew to respond to New York City on September 11, 2001. From January 2007 to April 2011 I also served as a commissioner on the state commission that governs the certification of law enforcement, correctional and probation officers in the state. I am a Past President of the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (President 2004-2006); I was an employee representative with Miami FOP Lodge #20 for almost 21 years (6 years serving at the Chief Steward). I have worked on legislative issues at all levels, worked on political screening committees. I’m a past member of the Dade County Republican Executive Committee, and have been an advisor/ law enforcement liaison for a presidential candidate..
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Standard & Poors Downgrade (Follow Up)
When I heard the announcement Friday night that Standard & Poor’s had downgraded the U.S. I was suspect of the action. Not because I’m a financial genius, my suspicion was because of my experience with that branch of S & P (and Moody’s) in the past, my watching the markets, and my experience dealing with politics.
As I mentioned I had dealings with this branch of S & P in the past. in the mid 1990’s I was assigned full time to Miami’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge, Miami FOP #20 was (and still is) the Collective Bargaining Agent for the law enforcement officer of the City of Miami. Periodically the rating companies, including S & P would meet with City officials prior to issuing a change in Miami’s Bond rating. At one point the raters also wanted to meet with the unions along with the City administrators. The meetings would be in three parts, the first was a general meeting in which the City would put on a presentation and the raters would ask questions. Then they would meet alone with City administrators, then with the union officials, and finally a closing session with all groups present. A part of the goal for S & P was to learn if there were labor issues that could impact the City negatively, and to get a feel for contract negotiations to determine the fiscal impact of any agreement reached. These talks were very direct, to the point and intense. Considering the intensity put into rating a municipality, if the information provided to the public was accurate and complete downgrading the U.S. at this time made no sense. Putting the U.S. on a negative watch list is warranted, a warning of a downgrade the next quarter or six months absolutely, yes.
Then on Saturday morning I saw an interview with an S & P representative trying to defend their actions. After watching the interview, and the fact that the other rating companies had the same information and didn’t lower the U.S. rating, I believed that there was something else behind the action.
No, I’m not jumping on the conspiracy bandwagon that this is out of the Cloward-Piven “playbook” and that the administration was complicit in S & P’s action in order to gain support to seizing more control of the financial markets and the economy. That’s a stretch at this point and besides the President can control the economy of the U.S. and the world just by his words. Looking at the Dow Jones yesterday before, during and after President Obama made his public comments demonstrates that point (he began to speak at 1:58 PM).
Another point proved by the Dow Jones yesterday was “Be careful what you ask for.” Over the weekend people kept asking why “we” weren’t hearing from the President, his aides and advisors were talking to the media, appearing on the Sunday talk programs, but not a word from the President.
Finally word came Monday morning that the President was going to speak at 1:00 PM. I went online and accessed the streaming audio from a local talk radio channel so I could listen to the President. To be honest I was hoping that the Barack Obama of the 2004 Democratic Convention would also be present, the charismatic speaker. I wanted to hear the President motivate us and layout specific steps he was going to do to address the situation, after all he had the entire weekend to come up with an initial plan (while his advisors and confidants were out testing Democratic talking points).
1:00 PM came and went, then 1:15, 1:30, 1:45 and still no President, but word that it would only be a few minutes. As the times came and went the market reacted. Finally at 1:58 PM the President spoke. Instead of getting the President of the United States we got a candidate for President. The President said that in the next several weeks he would lay out a specific plan, but no details. When President Obama began to speak the DJIA was down 427, by the time he finished the market dropped another 105 points to 532. Throughout the remainder of the day DJIA was like a roller coaster, up and down, it FINALLY closed -634 points (-5.52%).
I expected that today the market will begin to increase because the professional investor, persons that play the market will start to buy those stocks that dropped yesterday betting that the market will turn around, which in the short term will be a self fulfilling prophecy.
I am always suspect of information released by, or affecting the government, on a Friday night or weekend. That the time when you put information out that you know has to come out, but you want to have some extra time to figure out a response without the criticism that you deliberately withheld the information. S & P’s release is also suspect because they waited until late on a Friday night, a time when one could be certain that members of Congress had gone home.
As I mentioned I had dealings with this branch of S & P in the past. in the mid 1990’s I was assigned full time to Miami’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge, Miami FOP #20 was (and still is) the Collective Bargaining Agent for the law enforcement officer of the City of Miami. Periodically the rating companies, including S & P would meet with City officials prior to issuing a change in Miami’s Bond rating. At one point the raters also wanted to meet with the unions along with the City administrators. The meetings would be in three parts, the first was a general meeting in which the City would put on a presentation and the raters would ask questions. Then they would meet alone with City administrators, then with the union officials, and finally a closing session with all groups present. A part of the goal for S & P was to learn if there were labor issues that could impact the City negatively, and to get a feel for contract negotiations to determine the fiscal impact of any agreement reached. These talks were very direct, to the point and intense. Considering the intensity put into rating a municipality, if the information provided to the public was accurate and complete downgrading the U.S. at this time made no sense. Putting the U.S. on a negative watch list is warranted, a warning of a downgrade the next quarter or six months absolutely, yes.
Then on Saturday morning I saw an interview with an S & P representative trying to defend their actions. After watching the interview, and the fact that the other rating companies had the same information and didn’t lower the U.S. rating, I believed that there was something else behind the action.
No, I’m not jumping on the conspiracy bandwagon that this is out of the Cloward-Piven “playbook” and that the administration was complicit in S & P’s action in order to gain support to seizing more control of the financial markets and the economy. That’s a stretch at this point and besides the President can control the economy of the U.S. and the world just by his words. Looking at the Dow Jones yesterday before, during and after President Obama made his public comments demonstrates that point (he began to speak at 1:58 PM).
 |
| graph information from UBS |
Finally word came Monday morning that the President was going to speak at 1:00 PM. I went online and accessed the streaming audio from a local talk radio channel so I could listen to the President. To be honest I was hoping that the Barack Obama of the 2004 Democratic Convention would also be present, the charismatic speaker. I wanted to hear the President motivate us and layout specific steps he was going to do to address the situation, after all he had the entire weekend to come up with an initial plan (while his advisors and confidants were out testing Democratic talking points).
1:00 PM came and went, then 1:15, 1:30, 1:45 and still no President, but word that it would only be a few minutes. As the times came and went the market reacted. Finally at 1:58 PM the President spoke. Instead of getting the President of the United States we got a candidate for President. The President said that in the next several weeks he would lay out a specific plan, but no details. When President Obama began to speak the DJIA was down 427, by the time he finished the market dropped another 105 points to 532. Throughout the remainder of the day DJIA was like a roller coaster, up and down, it FINALLY closed -634 points (-5.52%).
I expected that today the market will begin to increase because the professional investor, persons that play the market will start to buy those stocks that dropped yesterday betting that the market will turn around, which in the short term will be a self fulfilling prophecy.
I REALLY hope that Congress and the Administration are paying attention, people don’t want politics, they don’t want talking points, people want results. If the President does that, if people see him actually presenting detailed proposals instead of just promising time and again that they will soon come, he’ll easily win reelection without campaigning.
Poll Question and Computer Issues
If you follow this Blog you may have received my recent post a couple of times. If you did I am sorry about the additional traffic to your In Box, I noticed that when I made corrections the corrected version had not uploaded. I think that issue has been resolved, I appropriate your patience.
Also, at the time I originally uploaded the post I was not able to add a poll to coincide with the posting . That has also been corrected and the poll will be available for 5 more days, I hope you will participate.
Thank you for reading my articles and the constructive feedback, it helps me improve as a writer and put together a product you enjoy reading.
Posted with BloghuB for Windows Phone 7
Also, at the time I originally uploaded the post I was not able to add a poll to coincide with the posting . That has also been corrected and the poll will be available for 5 more days, I hope you will participate.
Thank you for reading my articles and the constructive feedback, it helps me improve as a writer and put together a product you enjoy reading.
Posted with BloghuB for Windows Phone 7
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Fiscal Catastrophe Avoided? (Part Two)
Like I said I’m not going to fault the President for celebrating his 50th birthday, or going to a fundraiser. Also, he is not the first president to fly Air Force One to a fundraiser so enough about that. The President should be transported in an aircraft that is capable of keeping him or her in communication and safe should there be an emergency situation, and the communication capability has been improved since September 11, 2001. There are provisions for the government to be reimbursed a portion of the cost involved by a campaign. Besides, what are you going to do, have the leader fly commercial to a campaign event? On second thought that might not be a bad idea, maybe if the President was groped by a TSA employee he’d have a better understanding of the anger many have about TSA procedures (but that’s a topic for another time).
First I believe that the President and Congress need to remember that there are a large number of Americans that weren’t here in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, they either weren’t living in the United States or weren’t born. Our leaders need to reassure the people that the country will survive, instead of saying that our economy is going to crash if the other guy doesn’t change, try reassuring that political differences are being set aside for now to develop a solution. To those reading this that weren’t around in the 1970’s take it from someone that was this country, you will get through this. As the saying goes, Been There, Done That! Like the saying goes those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it, so let me give the President and politicians a brief history lesson.
First, Mr. President if you’ve been conducting this as your advisors have recommended, you need to fire them and get someone else because they are failing you and the country. If you are not, maybe it’s time you tried doing so and see how it works. Next and I say this with all respect, unless you have something constructive, a specific detailed plan to announce to the country (and world) don’t go near a microphone. When the media, and critics, ask why we haven’t heard from the President your aides can say that you haven’t had time because you are working on this. Especially don’t go near a microphone in the East Room or Oval Office. Your giving a speech without citing specifics is part of what is causing the markets and rating companies’ serious concern about our economic stability. If you think I’m wrong just look at the market trends and compare them to the dates of your speeches and interviews.
The last two things I will tell you, for now are that you need to reconsider the speed in which you are doing things, as well as reconsidering your vision of what the government should be doing. I can prove my point very easily by taking a look at the budget you proposed for this current year. You proposed this year’s budget when the Democratic Party, your party, had control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. As a matter of fact there was a veto proof majority in the Senate and your proposed budget failed unanimously, not a single democrat voted for your budget.
The final thing I will say, and I believe if you heed this advice you not only will be reelected you will be more than a notation in the history books as the first African-American elected President. You like to bring up past Presidents; you talk about them as examples of our greatness. In keeping with that theme I’ll mention two Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan (who you’ve mentioned a lot lately). I lived through both administrations so I’m basing this on my experiences and not what I read. President Carter failed because he lectured the American people; the Sunday school teacher was scolding his class. Try talking with the American people, not to them; speak as if you were having a conversation instead of presenting a lecture when you were teaching.
This brings me to President Reagan. When he spoke to the country he didn’t talk about hope, he actually gave people hope. President Reagan reminded us of how great the country had been, still was, and could be continuing into the future. When people are going through hard times they sometimes forget that. Finally, and perhaps more important, you’ve been talking a lot about what President Reagan accomplished. What you need to remember is that during President Reagan’s term the Democrats were in the majority in Congress, yet despite that he was able to pass a lot of his legislative agenda. According to both Democrats and Republicans he did that by working with the Congress. President Reagan would give them details about what he wanted and then he and his aides would work with Congress to draft legislation that would accomplish the objective and also address all sides concerns. Like I said the Democrats had control of the Congress.
Lastly I have a brief history lesson for the Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party. Democrats remember 1994, the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in over 40 years. They were able to accomplish that because the American Public was complaining about the growth and spending of the federal government, they felt that the Congress wasn’t listening to what they wanted. The people sent to Congress to represent their interests were putting Party interests ahead of the constituents. Sound familiar?
Republicans, remember what happened after you took control in 1994? You started off good, but then it seemed as thou you decided to make up for the past 40 years and spent, spent, spent. You lost touch with, and the confidence of the voters. Just like the Democrats you put Party interests ahead of the constituents!
The President, Democrats, Republicans and Tea Party need to stop worrying about the next election, stop worrying about their political career (Congress was never intended to be a career) and start worrying about today. Voters will tolerate a lot, they will forgive a lot (if someone says they’re sorry and asks for another chance they’ll give it), but they do reach a point in which they are so fed up they’re willing to throw the baby out with the bath water.
In case you were distracted by the metaphors and old sayings let me make this simpler. Stop acting like children on a playground trying to blame someone else for the bad and act like an adult. If you do that the markets and rating companies will calm down and stabilize. Otherwise the country’s credit rating won’t be the only thing tanking; your political career will be in the basement with the ratings.
First I believe that the President and Congress need to remember that there are a large number of Americans that weren’t here in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, they either weren’t living in the United States or weren’t born. Our leaders need to reassure the people that the country will survive, instead of saying that our economy is going to crash if the other guy doesn’t change, try reassuring that political differences are being set aside for now to develop a solution. To those reading this that weren’t around in the 1970’s take it from someone that was this country, you will get through this. As the saying goes, Been There, Done That! Like the saying goes those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it, so let me give the President and politicians a brief history lesson.
First, Mr. President if you’ve been conducting this as your advisors have recommended, you need to fire them and get someone else because they are failing you and the country. If you are not, maybe it’s time you tried doing so and see how it works. Next and I say this with all respect, unless you have something constructive, a specific detailed plan to announce to the country (and world) don’t go near a microphone. When the media, and critics, ask why we haven’t heard from the President your aides can say that you haven’t had time because you are working on this. Especially don’t go near a microphone in the East Room or Oval Office. Your giving a speech without citing specifics is part of what is causing the markets and rating companies’ serious concern about our economic stability. If you think I’m wrong just look at the market trends and compare them to the dates of your speeches and interviews.
The last two things I will tell you, for now are that you need to reconsider the speed in which you are doing things, as well as reconsidering your vision of what the government should be doing. I can prove my point very easily by taking a look at the budget you proposed for this current year. You proposed this year’s budget when the Democratic Party, your party, had control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. As a matter of fact there was a veto proof majority in the Senate and your proposed budget failed unanimously, not a single democrat voted for your budget.
The final thing I will say, and I believe if you heed this advice you not only will be reelected you will be more than a notation in the history books as the first African-American elected President. You like to bring up past Presidents; you talk about them as examples of our greatness. In keeping with that theme I’ll mention two Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan (who you’ve mentioned a lot lately). I lived through both administrations so I’m basing this on my experiences and not what I read. President Carter failed because he lectured the American people; the Sunday school teacher was scolding his class. Try talking with the American people, not to them; speak as if you were having a conversation instead of presenting a lecture when you were teaching.
This brings me to President Reagan. When he spoke to the country he didn’t talk about hope, he actually gave people hope. President Reagan reminded us of how great the country had been, still was, and could be continuing into the future. When people are going through hard times they sometimes forget that. Finally, and perhaps more important, you’ve been talking a lot about what President Reagan accomplished. What you need to remember is that during President Reagan’s term the Democrats were in the majority in Congress, yet despite that he was able to pass a lot of his legislative agenda. According to both Democrats and Republicans he did that by working with the Congress. President Reagan would give them details about what he wanted and then he and his aides would work with Congress to draft legislation that would accomplish the objective and also address all sides concerns. Like I said the Democrats had control of the Congress.
Lastly I have a brief history lesson for the Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party. Democrats remember 1994, the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in over 40 years. They were able to accomplish that because the American Public was complaining about the growth and spending of the federal government, they felt that the Congress wasn’t listening to what they wanted. The people sent to Congress to represent their interests were putting Party interests ahead of the constituents. Sound familiar?
Republicans, remember what happened after you took control in 1994? You started off good, but then it seemed as thou you decided to make up for the past 40 years and spent, spent, spent. You lost touch with, and the confidence of the voters. Just like the Democrats you put Party interests ahead of the constituents!
The Tea Party needs to remember Ronald Reagan as well. Like you, he talked about smaller government and more control on spending. He was able to accomplish a lot because he worked with others and compromised when necessary. I know you think government spending is out of control and that government has grown too big and more powerful than the founding fathers intended, welcome to the club. However, you may have to accept some change now, more next year, the year after that and so on without violating your principles. You may not like it but being extreme gives those that want to label you as nuts (and worse) an argument for attacking you, and it gives their attacks credibility in some people’s minds. It allows you to become the reason for any future hard times people suffer, when things are bad people always look for someone else to blame. You have good positions, however, not being willing to compromise could end up with your being voted out of office if things don’t improve. Why can’t the changes you want be implemented in two or four years.
The President, Democrats, Republicans and Tea Party need to stop worrying about the next election, stop worrying about their political career (Congress was never intended to be a career) and start worrying about today. Voters will tolerate a lot, they will forgive a lot (if someone says they’re sorry and asks for another chance they’ll give it), but they do reach a point in which they are so fed up they’re willing to throw the baby out with the bath water.
In case you were distracted by the metaphors and old sayings let me make this simpler. Stop acting like children on a playground trying to blame someone else for the bad and act like an adult. If you do that the markets and rating companies will calm down and stabilize. Otherwise the country’s credit rating won’t be the only thing tanking; your political career will be in the basement with the ratings.
That’s My Opinion, What’s Yours
Fiscal Catastrophe Avoided? (Part One)
(I first began drafting this on August 2nd)
Both chambers of the Congress finally passed legislation today that raises the debt ceiling and avoids a financial catastrophe, or so the public is told.
I’m sure there are those that are thinking that I’ve put my Republican hat on and am about to trash the President, again! Can’t I ever say anything positive?! OK, here’s something positive, elections are 15 months away and then we CAN AND WILL vote out the incumbents and elect new representatives of the people including the President!!
The fact is that there was enough money available to guarantee that the Social Security checks could be mailed, the government takes in 171 million dollars a month. Additionally, the last time I looked the Social Security Trust holds enough US Treasury Bonds to cover the checks. What I found interesting was the fact that in making the statement the President did he was admitting that there is no special/ separate trust fund for Social Security, that the monies comes out of General Revenue. In 2005 when President Bush wanted to make modifications to Social Security politicians kept talking about the separate fund for Social Security, a “locked box”. Well if there is a separate trust fund, a locked box, why couldn’t the President guarantee that the checks would go out?
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:HR01473:@@@R
I’m sure there are those that are thinking that I’ve put my Republican hat on and am about to trash the President, again! Can’t I ever say anything positive?! OK, here’s something positive, elections are 15 months away and then we CAN AND WILL vote out the incumbents and elect new representatives of the people including the President!!
I hadn’t written about this debt crisis during the past week because frankly I was sick and tired of all the so called experts that were spewing their “knowledge”. I was also tired of turning on the TV or radio for a statement from the President, only to hear him say nothing. He didn’t cite specifics he wanted from Congress, except that he didn’t want to deal with this issue again until after the next election. The President didn’t list specific proposals he had put forward, he didn’t even give a Pep Talk to the nation (the entire nation). All he did was (for lack of a better description) was give campaign speeches!
I am not writing this as a staunch Republican, or a Tea Party member (I am not). This is a voter that is fed up with the status quo, and also angry at what I witnessed over the past week and a half (of course another word comes to mind to describe my anger)! I am fed up and angry with the status quo, scare the hell out of the elderly and threaten not to pay the military and put the country’s safety in jeopardy.
You say during an interview that you cannot guarantee that Social Security checks will be mailed if you don’t get your way, this scares the elderly. They can’t figure out how they’ll survive until a solution to the debt crisis can be reached, they have health issues and a lot don’t have any other source of income. Now that they think they won’t be able to get their medications or buy food they’ll put pressure on Congress to agree to whatever just so they can be reassured that the check will arrive. If I seem angrier than maybe I should be there’s a good reason. I remember when my mother’s health had reached a point that I moved her into my house because she couldn’t live alone anymore. I remember sitting with her at the dining room table periodically to do the bills and balance the checkbooks. As we went through that ritual I remember realizing that with her health issues things were tight, after paying several hundred dollars for prescriptions (sometimes nearly $1,000.00) she only had a couple of hundred dollars left to pay rent, utilities, bills and gas for the car to get to the doctor appointments. Even after she moved in with me, and my working, sometimes things would get tight.
On those occasions when she got sick and had to go to the hospital I began to notice a calm, peace that seemed to come over her. I finally asked my mother about it and she told me that her being in the hospital meant that she wouldn’t use her medications and she could go a little longer before needing to buy a refill. A senior living with her working son was thinking this, imagine the seniors that don’t have a family member to live with or get help from. And the President has the audacity to make the statement in an interview that he can’t guarantee that the Social Security checks will be mailed out on time for the month of August. SHAME ON YOU MR. PRESIDENT! But, the President isn’t alone in this; I didn’t hear anyone in Congress say he was wrong.
The fact is that there was enough money available to guarantee that the Social Security checks could be mailed, the government takes in 171 million dollars a month. Additionally, the last time I looked the Social Security Trust holds enough US Treasury Bonds to cover the checks. What I found interesting was the fact that in making the statement the President did he was admitting that there is no special/ separate trust fund for Social Security, that the monies comes out of General Revenue. In 2005 when President Bush wanted to make modifications to Social Security politicians kept talking about the separate fund for Social Security, a “locked box”. Well if there is a separate trust fund, a locked box, why couldn’t the President guarantee that the checks would go out?
Also, am I the only one that remembers in April of this year the President and members of Congress told us how they avoided a financial catastrophe by passing a continuing resolution that fully funded the country through the rest of the fiscal year (ending Sept. 30)? Were they lying in April or last week?
Speaking of my mother, she always told me that you shouldn’t write and send things when you’re angry. You could write and get the anger out, BUT don’t submit or mail what you wrote (press send for those of you that don’t remember a time before computers). I decided to take her advice and wait until the weekend, that’s why this wasn’t posted sooner (I had a chance to go back and come up with a better way to articulate my thoughts i.e. clean it up). As I sat down this evening to finish my draft and post it the announcement came that S&P was lowering the US credit rating from AAA to AA+. This wasn’t supposed to happen if the legislation passed earlier this week.
Now the blame game will start all over again. It’s the President’s fault because he went to Chicago to celebrate his 50th birthday at a fundraiser, it’s the Republicans fault because they gave in to the Tea Party, and it’s the Tea Party’s fault because they don’t support the status quo.
I’m not going to fault the President for celebrating his 50th birthday, it’s a milestone and unless you believe in reincarnation it only happens once in your life. I’m not going to blame him for the fundraiser, trust me if I had found someone that was willing to pay $35,000 dollars to have dinner with me when I turned 50 I’d have been there with bells on! That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to fault him for this downgrade, because it is his fault, and the Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party.
(end of Part 1)
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