Small Business Confidence Rose 0.4 Points
Small business confidence rose 0.4 points in August as five of the ten components of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Optimism Index improved during the month.
Empire State Manufacturing Grew at a Swift Pace September 2021
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its Empire State Manufacturing Survey for September 2021 and reports activity grew at a swift pace in New York State, according to firms responding to the survey. The headline general business conditions climbed 16 points. New orders, shipments and unfilled orders all increased substantially. Looking ahead, firms remained very optimistic that conditions would improve over the next six months.
US Raw Steel Production Up 0.9% from Prior Week
In the week ending September 11, US raw steel production was 1,882,000 net tons at an ACUR of 85.3 percent, up 0.9 percent from the prior week.
503 US Drill Rigs Running Last Week
There were 503 drill rigs running in the US last week, up 6 rigs from the previous week, up 249 rigs from one year ago. Meanwhile, Canadian drillers shuttered another 9 rigs, to 143, still up 91 rigs from 1 year ago.
Hudson, OH Teacher’s Questionnaire
The following questions are being asked of local high school students to gain college credit, provided to me by an employee:
- Describe a time when you wanted to orgasm but couldn’t.
- You are a brand-new suicide hotline counselor. Describe how you feel during the course of your first call.
- Write a letter from the point of view of a drug addict.
- Drink a beer. Write about the taste
- Write an X-rated Disney scenario
- You have a dream that you’ve murdered someone. Who is it? How and why did the murder happen? What happens afterward?
- You are a serial killer. What TV shows are on your DVR list? Why?
- Write a sex scene you would not show your mom
- Rewrite the sex scene from above into one you would let your mom read.
- You have just been caught in bed by a jealous spouse. How will you talk your way out of this?
These are high school students being subjected to the perverted whims of a “teacher.” This is not teaching anything of value to a young adult. In my view, it is subversive communist bullshit, aimed at destroying values taught by caring parents to their children. There is no need for this at any time in a child’s life. How about teaching Christian values instead?
“The essence of tyranny is the enforcement of stupid laws.” (mandates?)
I don’t know who’s quote that is, heard it on TV this morning and it sounded appropriate.
The Largest Tax Increase Since 1968
We are about to be screwed (as citizens) by the House proposal for “the largest tax increase since 1968“. This does not account for the Senate Finance Committee, which has floated a paper with multi-trillions in tax increases to choose from. Think of this as the all you can eat politician’s dinner at Applebee’s.
If Americans are successful, Democrats want to tax more of their income. The top individual tax rate will rise to 39.6% from 37%, as Mr. Biden promised but wait: The higher tax rate will kick in at a mere $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for married couples. That is down from $523,600 and $628,300 under current law.
This is a steep rate increase on two-earner upper-middle-class families. They may reach these income levels for a few years, but Democrats want more than 40% if you include the 1.45% Medicare payroll tax and the 3.8% Obamacare surcharge on investment income…the House proposal will hit small businesses that pay taxes through the individual code especially hard. They’ll pay the higher individual rates, including a new 3.8% surtax on small business income, and they’ll pay on more of their income because the Democratic proposal eliminates the 20% deduction on qualified business income. That deduction was designed to equalize the tax burden for passthrough and Subchapter S companies with corporations. Now it will vanish for individual business owners who make more than $400,000.
This will mean less hiring and fewer raises for the employees of these firms.
The death tax exemption would also be cut in half, which would also hit small businesses and savers who have built up a small nest egg. If Republicans don’t pound away on this assault on small business, they should retire from politics on grounds of incompetence (and a lack of balls-my words).
Corporations come in for a $900 billion fleecing, with the top rate rising to 26.5% from 21%. Add state and local corporate levies, and the 31% average rate will vault the US back to the US back to the highest in the developed world. Congratulations, we’re number 1. The higher rate soaks some $540 billion from US corporations and the bill snatches another $360 billion in a complicated grab-bag of levies on overseas income.
The sum of these corporate taxes would be a greater burden on US firms than even the global minimum tax the US Treasury is negotiating with developed countries via the OECD. The Europeans and Chinese must be astounded at this display of American economic masochism.
The political myth behind all this is that no one making less than $400,000 a year will pay more. But the economic literature is clear that corporations don’t pay taxes, they are merely the collection vessels for levies that are passed along to some combination of employees, consumers and shareholders. Much of the $900 billion will be paid in smaller wage gains for workers who are already paying a Biden tax from higher inflation.
And who do Democrats think will pay the $96 billion they expect to raise from higher taxes on tobacco and nicotine-the folks who summer on Martha’s Vineyard?” WSJ Review & Outlook 9/14/21
California Governor Not Recalled
On Tuesday the people of California had an opportunity to recall their useless governor Gavin Newsom, a real shill. Highest state taxes, rampant homelessness, rolling electricity blackouts, a lack of fresh water, wildfires due to incompetent forest management, rampant violence and crime. There is more…anyway, some 60% of the people voted to keep this clown in office. I guess things look different from behind the walls of gated communities. Only the common man will suffer from this-and for a long time to come.
General Mark Milley
Have you been paying attention to the shenanigans of General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? The guy has committed treason, caught on tape in conversations with his Chinese counterpart in acts of subversion against the President of the United States. It is sickening. He is also largely responsible for the debacle in Afghanistan, yet he still sits on his high perch. He is a swamp creature and unfit to hold office. What are we allowing to happen to our country? Shameful
Vaccination Mandates
From what I am reading some 200 million Americans have already been vaccinated, some have died, some suffer a swollen heart in addition to other terrible side effects. Additionally, some 100 million Americans have been infected by the virus, many have died though most are the elderly and those who are immuno-compromised. Those who have had the virus have natural anti-bodies which protect them from further infection by Covid. So why all the excitement to vaccinate the unvaccinated when their natural immunity is stronger than that of any vaccine? If you add the two numbers (300,000,000), you are at, or nearly at the entire population of the United States. See where I am going with this?
A hospital in New York will cease delivering babies as nurses refuse to be vaccinated and quit their jobs in retaliation to Biden’s overreaching mandates. More to come, I am sure, as citizens begin to push back and stand up for their rights as Americans.
Two hospitals in Texas, Brownfield Regional and the Seminole Hospital have said enforcement of the vaccine mandates would likely force them to shut down as nursing staff would quit instead of adhering to the mandate requirements.
A Federal judge has blocked the New York State Health Care Worker Vaccination mandate.
To Boost or Not
It really is ridiculous: In Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal Opinion section there is an editorial by Allysia Finley, an editorial board member, titled “The Case for Boosters is Strong”…
Also on Wednesday the Epoch Times posted an article by Jack Phillips, which reads in part:
An international group of vaccine experts, including officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO), say there is no evidence to suggest that the general population needs Covid-19 vaccine booster shots.”
This is precisely why things are so screwed up. No one knows anything for sure. The virus is too new, the vaccines are too new. There is not enough data to make a reasonable assumption, so they throw darts in the hopes they will hit something worthwhile. In the meantime, the science changes with the wind…as is the nature of science. The more we learn, the less we know.
Constitution Day
Friday, September 17 is Constitution Day where we celebrate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. Additionally, September 17- September 23 each year is celebrated as Constitution week.
By Marissa Mayer posted on:
September 15, 2021
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
-Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
There is something special about the words “we the people.” When I read them or hear them spoken, I’m in awe of how three simple words can so aptly define one nation.
As the first three words of the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States America, “we the people” has special meaning. On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates from 12 of the 13 states signed the Constitution they had adopted to establish a unique, new form of government for the United States of America. The new government was limited in scope with all powers not specifically granted to the federal government retained by the state, and subject to “we the people.”
The Constitution is not just an old, outdated document sitting in a museum; it is a document that was written to guarantee the freedoms and natural rights you and I enjoy each day. While believers in Jesus Christ understand that the source of true freedom is from God above, this does not negate the importance of the Constitution and the responsibility we have as a nation.
Protecting our freedom does not begin and end with those who have given their lives to defend our country on the battlefield. While their great sacrifice is inimitable, each one of us also has a responsibility to defend the Constitution. If we don’t do our part, the freedoms the Constitution has secured will fall to those who wish to limit or redefine them.
It’s all too easy to take our freedom for granted. It’s even easier to take the Constitution for granted. But Constitution Day is a great reminder for us to pause and thank God and those who came before us for the Constitution of the United States of America. It is also a reminder that this framework of freedom upon which this nation has been built has endured for 234 years. But if it is going to continue to endure, it is up to “we the people” to defend it.
Biden’s Speech
It is Thursday afternoon, I am listening to the idiot in Washington make his speech on raising taxes with the routine claim of making the rich pay “their fair share,” which they do, and then some. In reality, who takes the hit? The middle class-as usual.
Then he went on to explain how the heavy rains in the northeast are caused by climate change. I suspect that is so, but the climate has been changing for 4 billion years, we do not control it, we will not stop it. We are wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on windmills, solar panels and electric cars along with the other nonsense they shove down our throats, which will only make their buddies very wealthy. He says he doesn’t want to punish anyone; that he is a capitalist. More HORSEHIT, he is a fucking thief.
I read today that it is expected our that our electrical needs will be 40% supplied by solar energy by 2030. HORSESHIT. I live in Cleveland; the sun does not shine here from November through May. Good luck with that! Windmills are another fallacy. Neither of these alternative energy scams can survive without government subsidy.
“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”
and
“KEEP AMERICA GREAT”
Have a great weekend…. God bless America!
Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.
By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907
In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
