First, Do Harm?

With 125 million households, spending averages $46k, regulations $13k, tax system $6k and excessive legal costs $5k, totaling about $70k. The median (half below, half above) is probably closer to $45k because of lower tax brackets, less complex returns, mandates, regulatory and legal burdens, but it's no wonder why income is so stagnant and why we borrow so much, government and private.

How much spending is wasted? Cato's survey of economists finds about 23%. The Office of Management and Budget has reported that 17% of federal spending has "results not demonstrated" plus 3% completely "ineffective". Citizens believe it's more like 40%, according to Gallup, which is unlikely.

Total waste per household? $1 trillion of spending is $8k. $700 billion for the code is $6k. $600 billion of wasted legal is $5k and $400 billion of regulatory is $3k, totaling $22k. Compare that annual loss to the one-time Enron loss of $70 billion and the media time spent on each. Why is the GDP not at 5-6% growth, why is there so much unemployment and underemployment and why is it too expensive to manufacture domestically if labor costs are not the problem? The capital is legislatively mandated away from more efficient investment by people elected by voters who are uninformed and mislead by the media.

We've placed ourselves into this semi-socialism under the banner of "fairness". Along with a "pro business" claim, the result is that every day we send $840 million net to China- $740 for products and $100(?) for loan interest, funding its communist-run military that sees us as the #1 threat. At $100/barrel, we sent $130 million to Venezuela (1.3 million barrels per day) and by being the largest purchaser in the world, we drove up profits on Venezuela's $100 million of sales to other nations and Iran's sales of $280 million, none to us (EIA). Our "government" ('to steer') is pro-actively harmful.

Energy Priorities

1- replace heavy and medium vehicle purchase and energy use deductions with lower tax rates
2- create $4 pump price with a revenue-neutral decrease in income/payroll taxes. June '08 national average hit $4, demand down 7% (EIA Petroleum Navigator). Decreased traffic will also save 3 billion gallons and 7 billion hours annually (Texas Transportation Institute) plus reduced infrastructure wear.
3- $75 tax credit for each 1 MPG over the fleet average of 22 for all vehicle types, uncapped number of vehicles
4- lower annual registration taxes for higher MPG vehicles
5- use tax credits to convert some of the 20% oil use in buildings (EIA)
6- reduce plastics, which total 5% of all oil use (EIA). Oil deductible to the manufacturer as is plastic to retailer.
7- drill the 1 MBD in the 1002 area of the Alaska coastal plain- not legally designated as "wilderness"or "refuge", just 2,000 acres or .0001% of the 19 million acre ANWR, which Alaskans support (passed in 2018)
8- open some federal lands
9- reduce other code costs, spending, regulations and legal costs
10- allow more private van/bus commuter services. Will reduce traffic, too.
11- convert 18 wheelers to natural gas, saving 2 MBD (Pickens plan) and increase rail
12- reduce livestock consumption, which causes 9% of world greenhouse gases (Ken Caldeira, Carnegie), by ending any subsidies/deductions
13- encourage local food production
14- increase enforcement of the 65 M.P.H. speed limit in non-rural areas

About Obama and Biden:

- near lowest fiscal ratings by National Taxpayers Union, National Journal, Citizens Against Gov Waste
- no comprehensive tax simplification plan
- favor 47% total top tax rates (Tax Foundation), plus state and local- will ship more jobs overseas
- middle class statutory tax rates 10-15% higher than under a simple optional code
- $290 billion additional annual spending (NTU), $430 billion with regular increases (CATO)
- no reduction in C corporate rates- 34% applies above just $75k- ships jobs overseas
- voted for 2009 budget resolution containing expiration of tax cuts for $41k incomes
- no significant drilling increase on federal land
- will support a more expensive cap and trade on emissions than McCain- $200 billion annually (Heritage Foundation)
- no interstate choice of medical insurance except for large interstate companies
- against $2.5k credit or voucher per adult to buy insurance
- no limits on tax deductions for the wealthy to buy insurance
- fines for those who don't buy insurance, more employer mandates and increases in other regulation costs
- oppose additional needs-testing of government programs
- oppose school choice outside the government monopoly or increased choice in other programs
- oppose decentralization of power from D.C. to local governments
- oppose work requirements in programs
- oppose legal reform
- oppose Federal Reserve limits
- support increasing union membership- will increase prices and ship more jobs overseas

Change the media can believe in?

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