Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

There Goes Your Tax Cut

How’s the price of gas these days? How’s the price of diesel? We pay nearly 3 dollars a gallon or more at the pump. Especially for diesel. Republicans always talk about lower taxes. Not Trump. The president wants at least a 15 cent per gallon increase in the federal gas tax. Find out why in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

What The Lord Giveth, He Taketh Away

Most noteworthy is the existing 18 cent federal tax on gas and almost 25 cents a gallon for diesel. Even more, most state lawmakers want increases in their state gas taxes.

Drunken Sailors Fighting on The Dance Floor

Sure they take in a lot of money in Washington and the state capitol. In contrast states and the federal government actually spend piles of money. Not to mention your local town or city. For information about that, click here.

Bonding Bonding Bonding

I live in Minnesota. They’re not supposed to, but here politicians throw in bonding packages in just about every legislative session.

You Can’t Get There From Anywhere During ‘Construction Season’

The result? Bonding on bonding. Some projects fully funded, haven’t even been started. Even more, there’s so much construction people are tearing their hair out trying to get to work.

Gas Taxes – Not Just For Highways Anymore

Stadiums. Light Rail. Train Stations. Bus Lanes. Bike Trails. Subsidized bike rentals. Running paths. Signs. Talking Traffic Lights. Roundabouts. Federally compliant intersections and curbs. Sometimes projects finished a couple of years ago are torn up and redone. Notice there are no highways or roads in that list. We still need more money for all those highway projects too. Add Trump’s airports and bridges and it means tax increases. Corporations aren’t going to pay for it.

Five Floors of 1800 Dollar A Month Rentals and a Starbucks On Every Corner

Moreover subsidies for ‘affordable’ housing projects which are really five story condos and 1800 dollar a month rentals with a Starbucks on the ground floor everywhere. Funding for these projects are cobbled together from Federal Transit Authority money.

Thanks Taxpayers!

That is, your money. Learn more in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

Republicans Love Lower Taxes, More Spending and Ballooning Deficits

Finally, as republicans ballyhoo their 2017 tax cut and campaign on lower taxes, they keep spending. In Minnesota they passed a five hundred million dollar bonding bill and a 48 billion dollar budget last week and they think they did a great job. This year the federal budget is 4.4 trillion. That’s a trillion more than Barack Obama’s average. The US Budget Deficit this year will be more than a trillion dollars. Our total debt is estimated at 22 trillion.

Buddy Can You Spare 67 Thousand Dollars?

The raw dollar amounts these governments take in will make you sick. Especially relevant is the fact that every American is on the hook for 67 thousand dollars in federal debt alone, and counting. Because despite the revenue, they keep spending more and more, whether they have a D or an R in front of their name. Sooner or later the piper has to be paid. Spending, whether it comes from tax collections or bonds, always ends up as a tax.

The Man Who Lost Billions Wants You To Pay For … Another New Airport

And here comes the man who built skyscrapers and lost billions doing it, Donald Trump. He wants to put his name on airports, subways and bridges we don’t need, and make us pay for it.

What would Ben Franklin say to the woman about our government today?

“It’s a Hypo-cracy Madam. If you can keep it”.

Why would you want to?

Sponsored by John D Scott of JDS Injury Law and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

Plan Beats No Plan-Bob Davis Podcast 828

Political Winners Need A Plan

The 2020 presidential campaign is already underway. Democrats are already touting their plans from free health care to free college. Thing is, a plan beats no plan when it comes to politics these days. We’ll talk about it in Plan Beats No Plan-Bob Davis Podcast 828.

Calling Someone A Socialist Is Not A Plan

Certainly this week attention has been focused on the president’s statements regarding unions. Meanwhile lesser known state and local ‘conservative’ republicans attack democrats for being ‘socialist’.

The US Is Already Socialist

Especially relevant is whether this approach will work.

Come to think of it, doesn’t the United States increasingly have a “controlled market economy” meaning the government already ‘controls the means of production’?

Trade Protection and Government Built Infrastructure – Capitalist right?

Moreover President Trump touts trade protection, and lately government appropriation of 5G wireless technology. It’s also a republican president pushing for ‘infrastructure’ development. Republicans even have their own ‘Single Payer‘ health plan where big insurance companies implement the federal program. This is capitalism? Learn more in Plan Beats No Plan-Bob Davis Podcast 828.

…People In Glass Houses

State republican representatives and senators who are real estate agents, housing developers, doctors and lawyers find themselves voting for ‘socialist’ ideas from MAO Clinic funding to laws regarding how you use your cell phone while driving.

Moreover from TR to Trump, republicans have been advocating for ‘progressive’ and socialist policies. Would you believe German Socialists actually supported Abraham Lincoln back in the day?

GOP Voters Hate Democratic Socialists But Don’t Take Their Social Security Away

In addition rank and file republican voters rely on government pensions, social security, ObamaCare, Medicare, Veterans Benefits and all kinds of tax breaks for their businesses. Good republican ‘capitalists’ take every legal tax benefit they can get from real estate to Tesla’s in the driveway. Rural farmers who voted for Trump love their subsidies. But socialism? God no!

Capitalism Is Radical

Seems to me that a real Capitalist Agenda would be seen as quite radical these days. Most Americans haven’t experienced true Capitalism. The means of production, from stock trades to light rail, have indeed been controlled by local, state and federal governments for a long time.

Where’s The Plan, Stan

Finally if republicans are against socialism they’d better get busy designing a capitalist plan.

Name Calling and MAGA

In conclusion, sadly a republican capitalist plan will never emerge. Much easier to call democrats socialists and shout ‘build the wall’.

That’s a plan, right?

Sponsored by John D Scott Personal Injury Attorney and Reliafund Payment Processors

Plan Beats No Plan-Bob Davis Podcast 828

 

Reforming Your Town-Local Issues-Part 2-Bob Davis Podcast 803

When it comes to reform, local issues are often overlooked these days. Jason Bradley and Andrew Richter join me for the second half of our interview to talk local. Click here for part one. Learn more in Reforming Your Town-Local Issues-Part 2-Bob Davis Podcast 803.

Most Towns Have Similar Issues

I joined Andrew and Jason for the 100th Community Solutions MN podcast recently. In that podcast Andrew and Jason made the point that they’ve discovered the most pressing local issues in Minnesota are surprisingly uniform.

Unelected Government Pushing Its Agenda

Moreover what it comes down to is increasing control of local communities by state and federal government. Bike trails. Light Rail. Unelected boards and ghost written city plans. Roundabouts. Higher property taxes and local costs. You’d be surprised to see opposition to these plans from politically unpredictable sources.

Great Ideas Hidden Costs

Certainly some there are some supporters for this kind of development. In contrast support begins to fade when locals learn how much these great ideas cost. Find out about it in Reforming Your Town-Local Issues-Part 2-Bob Davis Podcast 803.

Unsuspecting Locals Forced To Accept National Will

Moreover national groups and sponsors of social initiatives often go around state and federal legislatures to force their will on unsuspecting and weak local residents. Andrew and Jason have called it the death of rural America.

Second Amendment Infringements

Especially relevant here are local infringements on second amendment rights. While state legislatures and the US Congress struggle with firearm legislation regulations are being forced on local communities.

Work Sessions To Avoid Community Action

Community Solutions MN also points out a most noteworthy tactic. Often local councils and boards will use ‘work sessions’ to debate and decide, and have a useless public hearing to take questions at the last minute before levies and initiatives are about to be imposed.

Robbing Us Blind

Finally what about subsidies and costs? Taxes? Levies? Fees? The average american has only five hundred dollars cash in reserve. Financial burdens on the middle class from local governments are more significant than you’d think.

In conclusion everyone focuses on the circus in Washington DC. However local governments are robbing us blind.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating, Metro wide from Saint Paul

Reforming Your Town-Local Issues-Part 2-Bob Davis Podcast 803