Huge problem

WASHINGTON – Tax Day is a dreaded deadline for millions, but for nearly half of U.S. households it's simply somebody else's problem.

About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and exemptions to eliminate their liability. That's according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research organization.

Perhaps this could be a good source of revenue to pay for the FREE MEDICAL CARE these people are going to be getting soon. Forget the medical care comment that was a cheap shot. How about just making everyone pay taxes? You earn, you pay. When these lower income workers go on Social Security and Medicaid they haven't paid any taxes so its just an entitlement. To counter balance that, if you are in the top 1% of earners in the USA you shouldn't be eligible for Social Security and Medicaid. I also believe you should pay those taxes but that's probably going to far.

And on the heals of this little gem you have some fun new coming out of the White House.

Acknowledging it would be a highly unpopular move, White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said Tuesday the United States should consider imposing a "value-added tax" similar to those charged in Europe to help get the deficit under control.

A value-added tax is a national sales tax that, like state and city sales taxes, would be collected by retailers.

The value-added tax suggestion was immediately met with outrage by Republicans.
"It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Obama White House would advocate a European-style tax to help finance their European-style government health-care plan," said Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Click here for more on this story from the New York Post.

There you have it...a way to pay for all the spending. If only we could do something to keep them from over spending in the future....Hmmmmmmm.

Molly Marines and their badass DIs

On November 10, 1943, the city of New Orleans dedicated the first United States monument of a woman in service uniform: “Molly Marine.” A local recruiter commissioned the statue to help recruit women during World War II. For female Marines, Molly represents the countless contributions female Marines have made to the Corps. She has become a symbol of esprit de corps for all women Marines. Just before graduation from boot camp, the female recruits are asked to name one woman within their platoon who best exemplifies esprit de corps. Here, we celebrate two of our newest sisters, Privates Singleton and Valdez, pictured with their drill instructors.

I saw this picture on the semi normal day to day life of a female Marine. I thought it was totally bad ass. Look at the attitudes of those Drill Instructors. Awesome. I promise you one thing, you have to practice in front of a mirror to look that bad ass. Click the picture to resize.

The actual Molly Marine statue.

First Pitch 2010

Even when he throws it goes left....heavy sigh.

Wilma Mankiller, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, dead, cancer

Wilma Mankiller, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, passed away this morning. Mankiller served 12 years in elective office at the Cherokee Nation, the first two as Deputy Principal Chief followed by 10 years as Principal Chief. She retired from public office in 1995. Among her many honors, Mankiller was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

Thank you Wilma for your leadership and your vision.