Ford Refuses Bailout Money, Makes Profit
Jan 28, 2010 Political
Ford Motor Company was the only US big three auto maker to trun down the government’s offer of a bailout. The company was in financial trouble just as Chrysler and GM were but decided against taking taxpayer money.
GM and Chrysler took the money and their companies became government property with labor unions owning part of them. Neither has shown a profit and they both continue to bleed money. It is hard to see how they will survive and how taxpayers will ever get their money back (well, the banks will have to pay for it with a fee).
Ford showed a profit of $2.7 billion, its first annual profit in four years.
The company took action in the tough market and worked on a business plan that allowed it to make money, on its own and without politicians, (few of whom have business experience) running the show.
This is what happens when the free market is allowed to work. Ford would have failed on its own or succeeded on its own and that is how it should be. No business is too big to fail.
[note]One could argue Ford benefited from the cash for clunkers program but all auto makers had equal access to that program[/note]
I don’t think that Congress will catch on and neither will the progressives because they do not care about success, they care about control.
I love my Jeep but will not buy another. I will not buy a vehicle from a company that took my tax dollars and I really don’t care if they go belly up. I will buy from a company that was responsible and did not take tax dollars.
Looking at the financial status of the big three, it looks like I am not the only one who feels that way.
Ford makes some nice SUVs…
[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]
Tags: bailouts, chrysler, ford, gm, government, taxpayers, unions
Government Adds Fees Because Taxes Are Not Enough
Apr 12, 2009 Political
Government is a scurvy little spider that eats at the fabric of society. Originally designed to be ruled by those governed, government has turned into a monster that has an ever increasing appetite for money and devises more creative ways in which to get it. All the ways they come up with screw those governed.
Those of us who pay taxes figure they go for essential services such as Fire and Police services. Well, our taxes pay for that protection and it includes protecting those who pay NO taxes. Now some places are charging fees when emergency personnel must respond.
After her sport utility vehicle sideswiped a van in early February, Shirley Kimel was amazed at how quickly a handful of police officers and firefighters in Winter Haven, Fla., showed up. But a real shock came a week later, when a letter arrived from the city billing her $316 for the cost of responding to the accident.
“I remember thinking, ‘What the heck is this?’ ” says Ms. Kimel, 67, an office manager at a furniture store. “I always thought this sort of thing was covered by my taxes.”
It used to be. But last July, Winter Haven became one of a few dozen cities in the country to start charging “accident response fees.” The idea is to shift the expense of tending to and cleaning up crashes directly to at-fault drivers. Either they, or their insurers, are expected to pay. NYT (via MSNBC)
Why should people pay this fee? Their taxes cover emergency response. If a person cannot afford this or if insurance pays it, will the increase in insurance rates cause a problem? I have heard that some fire stations in Baltimore are closing or consolidating because of budget problems. I always hear the outcry and demand for more taxes. Screw them, I have no sympathy for communities where fire stations close. I don’t care if cops have to start walking instead of riding and if people die because there are no paramedic services then it is not my problem. I don’t want to pay any more.
The article cites other sources of revenue like adding a surcharge to electric bills to pay for streetlights. Does this mean that people can demand they be turned off and not have to pay? What about people who live in areas where there are no streetlights? Will they be forced to pay so someone else has light outside his home?
There are fees tacked on to hunting licenses, professional licenses, number of livestock slaughtered, vehicle registration, driver’s license renewal, and any number of other things that some creative bureaucrat can come up with in order to make people pay more money.
We continue to get socked with fees and tax increases because government is inefficient and cannot control spending. And yes, there are tax increases. They hail $13 dollars more in paychecks and say it is a tax cut ignoring the fact that getting it back does not mean your taxes are lower. What will taxes look like when we file them and how will the tax tables be configured? They charge one fee after another in order to raise revenue while claiming to lower taxes on the poor.
It is the poor who pay the increase in cigarette taxes and those who mindlessly claim that smoking is a choice ignore two important things. One is that while it is a choice it is an addictive habit stronger than addiction to heroin and the success rate for people quitting is very low. Also, the taxes are to pay for children’s health care. If people quit then that money would have to come from some place else and that would be an increase in taxes. Government depends on the low success rate of tobacco cessation in order to make money.
The poor are hurt by the increase in insurance rates because of accident response fees. The poor are affected most by increases in licensing fees and other harassing fees imposed by government.
The bad part is the people affected most by these things are the ones who keep putting tax hungry Democrats in office. There are people in Baltimore who have had their electricity turned off for failure to pay the bill (bills that are higher because of government intervention in the market). Most cry that it is their right to have electricity and demand the bills be forgiven so they can have heat and light. There is a fund for these kinds of people and many of us use to donate to it to help people out.
No more. I don’t care if their electricity is turned off. I don’t care if they are cold or it is dark. I don’t care if they have no way to heat their food because they are getting what they asked for. They can sit in the dark and freeze to death while eating cold cat food. I do not care.
This is the kind of pain that they need to either wake up or die off and in either case it will be better for society as a whole.
I am tired of paying for the education of someone else’s kid. I am tired of paying for the health care of others. I am tired of being forced to support people in society who are not supporting themselves and I am tired of paying more in fees so that more services can be offered.
To hell with them.
I have stopped giving to some charities because of what and who they support. I have stopped doing things that will cost me any fees if I can avoid it and I have no intention of “helping” out as the many letters I get ask of me.
40% of wage earners pay no taxes and a ton of people do not work and receive benefits of those who do pay taxes. The upper bands of wage earners pay way too much in taxes and support most of the rest. It is a crime to make the to 20% pay for nearly everyone else.
People need to start paying their fair share and government needs to stop with all the fees. One day the working class will stand up and say enough is enough.
April 15th is tax day and the day of TEA parties. They are scorned by the liberal establishment of Kool Aid drinkers who see only benefits in anti war protests.
I have another idea for April 15th. Every person should avoid spending money in any store. Do not buy food, gas, or any other item. Get it all the day before. Let the country see what it would be like if we all stopped participating for just one day.
The only fee I want to pay is a green’s fee.
Is that too much to ask?
[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]
Tags: blood suckers, crime, Democrats, fees, government, liberals, poor, taxes, tea party
If Parents Were Like Government
Apr 4, 2009 Political
This video says it all. Imagine if your parents (or you as parents) acted like the government.
This is what is taking place but all boiled down to the basics.
So while you applaud the government’s insatiable appetite for spending remember that the bill has to be paid and it is our children and grandchildren who will be writing the checks.
If they still have a country.
[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]
Tags: children, debt, government
A Disturbing Trend In America
Feb 18, 2009 Humor
The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect US wildlife.
Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party… as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance.
This photo is of a Democrat black bear in Montana nicknamed,
[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]
Tags: animals, bear, democrat, government, handout
Will Government Employ Everyone? – Open Trackback
Dec 8, 2008 Political
Looks like Barack Obama is proposing a massive undertaking to provide work. He will employ people in his New Deal which will involve people working on roads and bridges as well as other projects.
Do you think this is smart or will it lead to greater problems?
Like Fred Thompson said, we can give the unemployed shovels and have half of them dig holes and half of them fill them in. Everyone will be employed and there is no limit to the number of holes we can dig and fill.
But is having government become the employer the answer? Those who pay taxes will foot the bill for this as well.
Feel free to trackback with your latest posts.
Tags: government, new deal, Obama, roadwork