Living in the sea of abject poverty

President Obama is more than likely to realize by now that his 2008 motto “Yes we can” has wilted into “it takes more time.” He uses his default position, speeches, with astonishing faith in his persuasive powers. Sadly though, every speech, especially of late, has been refuted by evidence to the contrary, demonstrating that he doesn’t have rhetorical powers to snow job his failed stimulus program.

Against the heavy tide of 9-plus percent unemployment and the predicted slow economic recovery ahead, no wonder he now covers his failed plans with “it takes time.” His plan to tax the rich more, asserting a political spin that they pay less in taxes than the middle, was soundly refuted by the IRS. Why would he suffocate the rich folks whose businesses actually create jobs when it’s jobs he needs to encourage at this point?

This leads into a related matter that basically depicts life across the country today: It’s a news item quizzing if you are poor. It’s a quiz for folks across the country, many of whom are under SNAP as a result of work hour reductions and unemployment. Yet each family must still pay for house rentals, family car, and piles of assorted taxes:

“The mean salary in America is just about $50,000. But if you live in Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco or New York, earning 50K means you’re poor. The cost of living in most urban areas is now so high that a $250,000 salary is middle income. President Obama might not understand this, but we, the people, do.

“Let’s take the situation in New York State. New Yorkers like me pay federal income tax, state income tax, New York City income tax and property taxes if we own a home. In fact, per capita property tax in the Empire State is about $1,900 a year. Sales tax per capita, another $1,700 per year.

“Gasoline tax in New York: 45 cents a gallon. Cell phone tax and fees of 23 percent are added to your monthly bill. There are also tolls, and taxes on your driver’s license, cigarettes and alcohol. The hits just keep on coming.

“The only relief for New Yorkers is: tax situation is worse in New Jersey.

“All over the USA, working folks are bleeding take-home pay. Obama says he wants to extend the payroll tax cut, and that’s fine. But that’s a proverbial drop of water into a bottomless well.

“Folks just don’t have much money to spend. So how on earth is the economy going to improve? Who’s going to buy stuff? With so much money being taken from everyday Americans by their elected representatives in Washington and in the state capitals, there’s simply not enough cash being spent in the marketplace to return the nation to economic prosperity.

“Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that read: “Taxes buy civilization. Progressive values are American values.” Well, balderdash. Taxes are strangling working Americans. They are creating a society not of self-reliance (almost unaffordable), but of dependence on institutions we can’t control: banks, credit card companies, government-generated handouts. Now the feds have seized control of the health industry. That will mean even more taxation down the road.

“Obama made a bet that his big-government vision would create jobs and prosperity. It has not worked. It never works. Ask Cubans and Venezuelans. Americans now find themselves struggling to pay the bills and utterly dependent on whoever is paying them a salary.

“Upward mobility? Please. Most Americans are just trying to survive. This is not what the pursuit of happiness is all about.”

Hey, hey, hey! Try our situation on “our island” where nothing works. Leave fuming and hopping mad elsewhere. Must see the humor in our special ability to slam our foot into our mouth. We’re getting used to it in a land where there’s dystopia-where nothing works-plus we’re getting used to living in abject poverty as the governor goes through his “Banzai in Shanghai!

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‘Where have all the flowers gone?’

On the last day of summer camp, Joseph grabbed his guitar and started singing Day Is Done, bids adios to fellow campers then headed to the beach, alone.

There he stood jovial as he focused his binoculars on the darkening sunset. He started jumping up and down, yelling, “There’s a ship named ’investment’ out there. Or maybe an entire fleet ready to enter the Tanapag Harbor.” Hours passed without a ship approaching the shores of our tiny paradise.

“Maybe they are headed elsewhere nearby!” he exclaimed.

Said another camper, “It’s Taiwan! The country has set up industrial complexes for Japanese investment, you know, those destined to make it to the greater market in China.”

Interjected another, “What about the NMI?”

Said Joseph, sadly, soberly, “Ours is a dead venue for investments and for a long, long time to come.” As his fellow campers heard him, they all cringed at the prospects of a very gloomy opportunity to enjoy their economic freedom.

He continued singing, only this time he belted a familiar folk song, Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

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We have due process rights regardless of PL 17-51. So what’s the point of seeking for a TRO? More legal eagles milking the Fund’s scarce resources and padding their wallets while we mull the fate of retirees? Nothing can be further from the truth!