Live Free Radio Keep Living Free

Quote of the Day: "Nothing is official, until it has first been denied." -- Jerry Hughes, radio talk show host, and a friend of Downsize DC

You probably have a fundamental disagreement with the politicians who represent you . . .

* They think your money is their money, and they determine what your "allowance" will be
* You probably think that you are not a slave, and that you work to fulfill your own dreams, not theirs

Consider -- If you had a choice, would you rather give your money to . . .

* The Department of Housing and Urban Development, or Habitat for Humanity?
* The Department of the Interior, or groups like the Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited?
* The Department of Education, or a local private school?
* The National Institute of Health (NIH), or St. Joseph's Hospital and the Shriner's Hospitals?

If you're like me, the NIH is the only bureaucracy that might spark a glimmer of interest. But I must wonder, if state-directed medical research is really such a great thing, why must it be funded at gun point?

Other State efforts provoke similar questions. And I can summarize my answers as follows . . .

There's nothing the federal government does that I value anywhere near as much as it costs. I would gladly choose a private, voluntary alternative for nearly every so-called "service" The State provides. I even think it screws up national defense, creating more enemies for me than it actually kills or constrains.

If I could fire my so-called government, I would. But I can't -- it's a monopoly protected by violence and intimidation, with the result that . . .

There doesn't seem to be any limit to how much of my money the know-it-all, busy-body politicians want to spend. They have no brakes. However . . .

Since the bond market does place a severe limit on how much money The State can borrow, there is more and more talk of raising taxes. In particular there's now a great deal of talk about a federal VAT.

VAT stands for Value Added Tax. A VAT is like a sales taxes except that the state and local sales taxes you're used to paying are only imposed at the final point of sale. By contrast . . .

A federal VAT is a sales tax imposed at EVERY STEP from production through distribution to final sale. In other words, the tax would be imposed at every point at which value is added to a product. That's why they call it a "value-added" tax.

We expect President Obama's current commission on the federal deficit to recommend a VAT. Now, the Obama administration has been quick to deny that it wants to impose a VAT, but we don't believe it. When politicians' move their lips, there's a considerable chance they're lying, and any denial is usually a prelude to confirmation. So you need to decide . . .

* Do you want to pay more taxes, or do you want the politicians to cut spending?
* Are you going to tell them what you want, or will you sanction what happens by remaining silent?

Resistance is simple.I just sent a letter to Congress, using DowsizeDC.org's "cut spending" campaign.

You can copy or borrow from what I said in my letter . . .

You are spending too much, and borrowing too much. This must end. You must balance your books. And you must do it by cutting spending -- NOT by increasing taxes. Please pay special attention to the following -- NO Value Added Tax!

END LETTER

Remember, Congress cannot hear what you do NOT say.

You can send your own letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

Please forward this Dispatch to others, and ask them to also send letters to Congress opposing a Value Added Tax.

Perry Willis
Vice President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. This Downsizer-Dispatch was made available to you courtesy of our monthly pledgers. Please consider joining them by starting a monthly, credit card pledge. Here's our secure contribution form: https://secure.downsizedc.org/contribute/

IN THE NEWS

OBAMA NATION

Obama 'amused' by Tea Parties
http://bit.ly/axtlZg

Obama seeks court nominee who backs women's rights
http://bit.ly/9uCzr0

White House: Obama to visit Iowa, Missouri, Ill.
http://bit.ly/bD0Njc

OBAMA CARE

Oklahoma lawmakers to sue over federal health reform
http://bit.ly/c3XrpN

Democrats seek greater control over health insurance rates
http://bit.ly/dszsbT

Health-care mandates could be 'null and void'
http://bit.ly/ameex0

Man died after medics missed disease six times, inquest hears
http://bit.ly/aUTDSr

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Pedro Espada Jr. looted $14M from non-profit
http://bit.ly/bLuHTU

Judge Andrew Napolitano Speaks on Natural Rights and the Patriot Act
http://bit.ly/9KQ0wq

Problems with multiculturalism unveiled
http://bit.ly/ccdjhX

Could Tea Party Rhetoric Lead to Another Oklahoma City?
http://bit.ly/8ZtV3h

There's a New AIG Story. I Was an AIG Exec. Here's the Deal.
http://huff.to/9W57T0

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

'Mark of the beast' idea back on the table
http://bit.ly/da1xd7

Digital Photocopiers Loaded With Secrets
http://bit.ly/9hmmcS

Real ID Licenses Will Now Be Optional
http://bit.ly/dwRHh6

POLICE STATE NEWS

Crime Prediction Software Is Here and It's a Very Bad Idea
http://gizmodo.com/5517231/

ECONOMIC NEWS

Job seekers too picky?
http://bit.ly/bPOyJJ

L.A. County's Revenues Are $17.5 Billion A Year
http://bit.ly/9hP1jM

California leads in borrowing for jobless benefits
http://bit.ly/dl5YIg

America’s Crumbling Infrastructure
http://bit.ly/9yX4Ni

Paulson Says All He Wanted Was To Short Hell Out Of Crappy Borrowers
http://bit.ly/cbLnmE

Vacant Detroit homes where crime thrives the first to go
http://bit.ly/cTy7Pu

HEALTH NEWS

FDA plans to limit amount of salt allowed in processed foods for health reasons
http://bit.ly/dBfroC

Judge sides with activist in raw milk dispute
http://bit.ly/dodPIO

The 10 biggest health care lies in America
http://bit.ly/95c2BJ

MIT Student Develops $3 Cutting-Edge Healing Device
http://bit.ly/aSjF3Q

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Cyberattack on Google hit heart of its system
http://bit.ly/bFnlAz

PUBLIC EDUCATION

School lunches called a national security threat
http://bit.ly/aCYlkU

District admits to webcam spying
http://bit.ly/amKwTO

Pay Cut For All School Workers
http://bit.ly/ajVSFg

ECO FRIENDLY?

Couple sue for £380k after being driven out of home by noise from wind turbines
http://bit.ly/94w8Al

Beached whale in Seattle had wide range of human garbage in stomach
http://bit.ly/ai83ER

MORAL DECLINE

Man accused of exposing buttocks in incidents at Target stores
http://bit.ly/bzPxZU