Republican Reporter

America as Texas vs. California: Employment Version

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:27:00 GMT

(Thanks to brother Jack for this one)
By Mark J. Perry
March 10, 2010, 10:40 am

American Enterprise Institute resident fellow Michael Barone wrote an excellent column titled “Low-Tax Texas Beats Big-Government California,” where he highlights some of the major economic and political differences between our two most populous states, Texas and California. Some of those dramatic differences have also been featured on the Enterprise blog in recent months— see examples here, here, here, and here.

After experiencing similar employment growth between 2000 and 2007, the first chart below illustrates how significantly different the employment trends have been in Texas over the last few years compared to California. Following the onset of the recession in December 2007, Texas employment growth has been relatively flat, with small job losses in only seven of the last 25 months and job gains in the rest of the months. Based on BLS data released today, Texas started 2010 with a monthly job gain of 35,325 in January, the biggest monthly job increase in almost ten years, and it boosted the employment level in Texas to the highest level in history—11,094,500 jobs. In contrast, California shed jobs for 24 straight months between February 2008 and January 2010, at an average rate of 51,000 jobs losses per month, and it started the year with another 17,000 job losses in January. During the last two years, California has lost more than 1.2 million jobs.

The next chart shows that since the beginning of 2007, the jobless rate in Texas has been below the national average each month during the last three years, while the jobless rate in California has been above the national average each month during the same period. In January, the unemployment rate in Texas was below the national average by 1.5 percent (8.2 percent in Texas versus 9.7 percent for the U.S.) and California at 12.5 percent was above the national rate by almost 3 percent, driving the jobless rate gap between California and Texas up to 4.3 percent, just below the all-time record of 4.4 percent set in October 2009.

So while Texas experienced a relatively mild economic downturn over the last few years, followed by a complete recovery and record employment levels, California’s catastrophic job losses since early 2008 have brought its employment level in January 2010 to the lowest level since December 1999. That’s right—California started this year with fewer jobs than it had a decade earlier at the end of 1999.

By any relevant economic measure, the low-tax, business-friendly, right-to-work state of Texas has survived the recent economic downturn surprisingly well, while the high-tax, big-government, forced unionism approach of California has been a prescription for major job losses, high unemployment, and a net outflow of people and businesses. Unfortunately, as Michael Barone points out in his commentary, “the Democrats in Washington are trying to impose policies like those that have ravaged California rather than those which have proved so successful in Texas.”

We are just the little people here.....

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:05:00 GMT

Have you seen this video clip of Nancy Pelosi?

In it, she states, "We have to pass this health care bill so you can see what's in it."

That's right. It's no longer for us mere voters to know what's being passed. Just sit back and let our dear leaders concoct their secret plans.

They'll let us know the details whenever they think it's in our best interest.

Do we have a spending problem or taxing problem?

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:41:00 GMT

Newsweek columnist advocates for a VAT tax - Defusing the Debt Bomb. (thanks to Ted R. for sending it).
It would certainly encourage saving, but doesn't address the real problem....prolific spending by all levels of government.

The big disconect....

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:29:00 GMT

There is a growing disconnect between voters and advocacy groups, and never more so than in Illinois.

Teachers vs. Taxpayers - Teacher's unions are outraged at the slow payments for education funding due from the state of Illinois. Actually, they should be mad at themselves, as every elected official that teachers have endorsed for state office have been elected. Hence, it's their "people" that are causing the pain. But teacher's unions have created their own dilemma. The Illinois Education Association was successful in negotiating incredible contracts for their members. For example, most teachers have an automatic 4-6% wage increase built into their pay packages. Do you know anyone in the private sector that has averaged a 4-6% wage increase over the last two years?

More to the point, Teacher's salaries in most communities exceed the average wage, in those same communities, by 2-4 times. So the average "Joe" is being asked to give an even greater percentage of his wages so the teachers can increase theirs. That's a pretty hard sell. Teachers have reached a stage where their jobs are seen as sufficiently compensated (particularly with the automatic increases). Joe taxpayer no longer takes pity on their situation. Just ask him. Better yet, let him vote on it.

Taxpayers vs. Legislators - Legislators have avoided facing hard choices, as they could continue to borrow their way out of revenue shortfalls. But just like the homeowner that has tapped all the equity in their home, the state officials are finding it hard to "create" new dollars. So they face a hard choice. Increase taxes and get tossed from office. Or decrease spending and get tossed from office. You can believe that they will have all 10 fingers in the air trying to sense which political wind is least likely to push them from reelection.

In Illinois, 45% of our spending goes towards Medicaid and Food Stamps. Read that sentence again. By 2020, it's estimated that 60% of our state budget will go towards these two programs. I've recounted the abuses in this system extensively. Here are the several laws that have been proposed to rein in the spending in this category:
    1. Restrict the foods that can be purchased with Links cards to prevent the Soda and Chips epidemic that has ensued.
    2. Require citizenship for participation in either program. That's right, we are currently paying for thousands of illegals to access these programs.
    3. Require a photo id on the card to curb fraud and abuse
    4. Require drug testing of recipients to curb abuse.

    All these bills have been presented. And yet, not one can be voted on. House Speaker Michael Madigan and Rep. Barbara Flynn Curry have held up every bill in the Rules Committee so that it can't see the light of day.

The state legislators have kicked the can of state problems down the road, always putting off solutions till another day. The can cannot be kicked any further. It's time to face the music and the voters.

Game On!

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:25:00 GMT

It's official - Bill Brady has been certified the winner of the Illinois Republican Primary election for Governor!

While runner up, Kirk Dillard had threatened to mount a recount, the word is that he will, in fact, concede today.

As a friend pointed out this morning - the delay in the certification has given Brady some free air time over the potential recount.

Now, attention will turn to next week's address by Governor Pat Quinn has he presents his state budget.

Quinn's speech will be like the captain of the Titanic, sitting in a life raft, and explaining how he should be named captain of whatever rescue ship picks them up!!

Climate Change

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:14:00 GMT

As the month of February closed out, Illinois recorded a change of temperature of more than 20%!!
That's pretty alarming.

The average Illinois temperature in the month of Feburary is 25.1 degrees, as recorded by the USDA.

February 2010 showed an average termperature across the state of ..........................20.1 degrees, a drop of 5.1 degrees, or more than 20%.

Should we ramp up our carbon output now?

Middle East

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:57:00 GMT

Effingham's Rotary meeting featured a fascinating speaker, this week.

Dorthy Drummond is an adjunct professor at St. Mary of the Wood's College and Indiana State University. Her most recent book on the Middle East "Holy Land Whose Land?" offers a fascinating historical perspective of how an area the size of Indiana has caused global tensions for decades.

Her speech was a primer on the political and geographical issues that make a resolution so difficult.

She laid blame on all sides, including Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab street. But she specifically pointed out that Yasser Arafat and his cronies lined their pockets (and Swiss Bank accounts) with BILLIONS of Western and Arab dollars, while doing little to move the peace process forward.

There are two positives that point to the possibility of peace in the future. First, former Senator George Mitchell is the US envoy to find reconciliation in the region. While his task might seem fruitless, it was Senator Mitchell that brought peace to Northern Ireland in the 1990's. And Mitchell has stated that he will only remain at his post as long as he believes peace is a possibility.

Second, Palestine is starting to enjoy some level of economic prosperity. It's no Silicon Valley. But, for decades, Arafat and his cronies had little reason to bring peace, as it would end their money train. AND, peace in Palestine would reveal that the state had no sustainable economy. Terrorism persisted.

Now, many of the same elements that resolved the long standing Northern Ireland debacle, offer hope that the Middle East could enjoy the same reward.

Three unconnected items.....all coming together

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT

ITEM ONE

On Monday evening, I was privileged to attend an event in Champaign where Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunnus spoke. Dr. Yunnus was a young economist in impoverished Bangladesh in the 1970's, when he developed the concept of micro-lending, essentially loaning small amounts of money to poor people so that they could start their own business.

Specifically, Dr. Yunnus was driven to give opportunity to the poor women of Bangladesh by making them entrepreneurs. A loan of less than $25 allowed a single woman to purchase a used sewing machine, so that she could make clothes to sell. Similarly, women were offered a small loan to purchase a rudimentary oven to start a small bakery.

Dr. Yunnus' concept worked. Today, his bank, The Grameen Bank, makes an average of $1.2 Billion in loans every year. The average sized loan? $20!! And millions have been lifted out of poverty.

The first part of his journey was the creation of his incredible bank and opportunities for the newly minted entrepreneurs. The second part was equally fascinating.

Dr. Yunnus recognized that many of his borrowers were escaping generations of poverty. But to insure that escape, he promoted education, with both a carrot and a stick. First, he required, that to remain eligible for a loan, the children of his customers must stay in school.  (Call that the stick). And, children graduating from high school were then eligible for Grameen Bank student loans (the carrot). The results were incredible.

One quick story he noted was of the illiterate mother who used a small loan to build a small business enterprise. Because of Dr. Yunnus' carrot and stick approach, the illiterate mother's daughter is the community physician just one village away. From illiteracy to medical doctor in just one generation, simply by requiring responsibility from those receiving a loan. Pretty remarkable.

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ITEM TWO

Berkshire Hathaway is one of America's largest companies. It is run by the genius investor, Warren Buffet. Mr. Buffet produces an annual letter for his shareholders that is always a fun read.  (Full disclosure: I am NOT a shareholder. Although, at $122,000/share, I would be well satisfied owning only a couple dozen shares) In this year's letter, Mr. Buffet credits his success to the fact that he "had terrific parents who insured he got a good education".

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ITEM THREE

Driving to work, the radio news described the sorry state of affairs in Illinois (and across the nation) concerning the alarming drop out rate among high school students. Of course the drop out rate is an early indicator of future felons and state burdens. It looks to be increasing at an even faster rate.

Taking advice from Mr. Buffet and Dr. Yunnus, education is certainly the most critical element to eliminating poverty. But Dr. Yunnus, properly applies responsibility for education to the parents.  In fact, he conditions that responsibility as part of his lending practice.

The United States Government and our state politicians provide enormous relief for victims of poverty in the form of welfare checks, food stamps and other programs. But what responsible action do we require of the recipients?

What if we added a simple requirement for our welfare recipients? If you receive a welfare check or food stamps, your child cannot miss more than a certain number of days of school.  Illnesses excepted, if your child misses too many days, the amount of money in the welfare check begins to reduce.

Thus, the only responsibility we are asking of the recipient is that they begin to act like a parent. It doesn't seem to be that much to ask.  Education, insured by his parents, helped Warren Buffet succeed. And forcing parents to act like parents, is a program that's proven to work by the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize.

Little things add up.

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Your faithful Republican Reporter doesn't normally provide consumer economic advice. But over the weekend, a lesson in savings, from long ago, was reinforced to me. It resulted in a 11% savings, just this weekend

It was probably 25 years ago that my sister Jane and I drove to Colorado to visit our aunt and uncle, who lived there. As we made the 1,200 mile journey, we stopped at various eateries along the way. At the conclusion of each meal, my sister would scan the bill like a tax auditor.  And she called out the waitress when we were overcharged.

It was, frankly, a little embarrassing. When I challenged her on the practice, Jane said, "Okay, let me check the bill at the next two stops, if they are both accurate, I'll stop. But, if they have overcharged us for an item at either stop, I get to continue." Agreed.

In fact, our next two stops at diners both resulted in a bill that had an extra item or two, or a miscalculation (always in the business' favor). She convinced me of the need to be vigilant. In fact, for the remainder of our journey, we were overcharged nearly 50% of the time.

On Sunday, I accompanied my wife to a national retail chain. Our purchases came to a little more than $120. LIke my sister, my wife is diligent on making sure the charges at the register reflect the prices on the shelf. WOW! Was I stunned.   For two minor items, the shelf price listed $5.99.   At the register, one was correctly scanned at the $5.99 price, while the second was scanned at $8.99. (A 50% increase over the listed price!)

For a larger purchase, a $105 listed item was scanned at the counter for $115. Another $10 mistake. When we pointed out the discrepancies, the clerk gladly made the correction. But the lesson was learned. In just seven items, we were overcharged on two of them by $13.

Pretty shocking. In my one rare trip for shopping, more than 25% of the items resulted in overcharges. Little things add up.

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My recent article on unions, prompted this response from an Illinois reader:

Found your article about unions interesting and wanted to share a local one with you and why the State is broke. I was at the State Garage and it was after hours with a mechanic working on a snow plow. His supervisor was also there. I asked the supervisor why he was still there. He told me they can't have a mechanic working without a supervisor on duty. That is overtime for a supervisor also. The "CMS" Central Management Services animal is huge. Most state workers call it the Central Mafia Services. Little things like that add up.

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During the 2008 Campaign, I had several Obama supporters lecture me on the horror that was the Patriot Act, signed by President George Bush. This bill was the overreach that proved that Bush was a dictator for this nation. So said Obama's supporters.

Quietly, last week, guess what President Obama extended for another full year? Tha's right! The Patriot Act!

Does that make Obama a dictator too?

I am the Tea Party Leader

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:08:00 GMT

On Friday, I wrote about the local event in which area residents went on camera to claim, "I Am the Tea Party Leader". This is in response to the news reports that leading Democrats have made it their mission to discredit the Tea Party Leadership. So, across the country, filming parties have broken out, where citizens have stepped forward to claim their leadership. (Essentially saying, "If you want to investigate someone, INVESTIGATE ME!!")

Here's the web site for the collection of videos

And THIS is the web site for the Effingham video.

Enjoy! Congratulations to John Perles for organizing such a wonderfully fun event.

Friday, February 26

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:49:00 GMT

Health Care Reform

    I've written in the past about the city of Duluth, MN. They had recently hired an actuarial accountant to assess the future budget needs for the city. The city was concerned that health care costs were spiraling out of control due to the generous packages offered to the unionized work force. How generous? Well, city employees were given nearly free universal coverage. AND, free coverage was also given to every city employee's child until they reached the age of 26!
    The report from the actuarial came back. Unless drastic changes were made to the benefits package, the city would be spending EVERY dime of revenue on health insurance premiums only. There wouldn't be any funds available for incidental things like SALARIES, Capital improvements, facilities, supplies, etc. Of course, Duluth had to take dramatic steps to avoid the disaster.
    Why do I bring this up?

    Well, a key provision of President Obama's latest proposal is to provide free health care coverage for every working American's child until they reach the age of 26!   See anything similar here?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arnold Schwarzenegger predicts Tea Party Demise.
    The Governator suggests that the Tea Party movement will likely fade in the near future. Maybe the Tea Party recruiting efforts aren't that strong at the Kennedy compound, but last nights event here in Effingham certainly disproves Arnold's predictions.

    John Perles (a Republican Reporter Team Member) had recently read that President Bill Clinton and James Carville are planning on attacking the Tea Party leadership structure, in an effort to undermine the effort. In response, national tea party leaders are taking a slice from the 1960 film, "Spartacus", in which Spartacus and his legion of soldiers have been captured.   Their captor is unable to determine which soldier is Spartacus among the thousands of prisoners.   And so he offers to release all the soldiers if they will just turn over Spartacus. In response, Spartacus (played by Kirk Douglas) stands to correctly identify himself as Spartacus. Then, slowly, each soldier stands and declares, "I AM SPARTACUS", thus defeating their captors intent.

    Tea Parties around the country have conducted events to film individuals stating "I am the Tea Party leader". The videos will be uploaded to YouTube and presented on various tea party sites. Well, John Perles put together an event last night, here in Effingham. With only 24 hours notice, he sent out an email, asking area residents to participate. More than 50 people showed up to declared themselves the Tea Party Leader. It was a festive event, and a tribute to the fact that the California Governor is likely wrong.

    Interestingly, and to the dismay of Democratic leaders, the groups of Tea Party participants that I have witnessed are not angry, but rather, they are very very determined. They are not going away anytime soon.

They appreciate your support!!!

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:56:00 GMT

If you go to apply for a new job today, it's very likely that you'll be required to submit to a drug test. Drug testing has become standard practice among employers to prevent bigger problems down the road.

Major sports leagues also use drug testing to screen for both performance enhancing drugs and other illegal substances being used by players.

Now come Joe and Sally (I've changed their names, but they live here in Central Illinois). This 30-something couple are enjoying the good life. By working the system, they live in government housing, enjoying monthly food stamps, free health care, and a $1,600/month welfare check. Life is good. So good, in fact, Joe and Sally are also able to enjoy a fairly active recreational drug habit!

That's right! The responsible citizen, who wants to work (and pay taxes) is enduring a drug screening test, so that he/she has the privilege of paying for Joe and Sally to access those same taxes while enjoying their illegal lifestyle.

Brian Millville, downstate IL tea party organizer, was on a recent debate panel among politicians, when he asked, "Should we require random drug testing among those citizens who are receiving government aid?" From those at the event, I'm told, the politicians were doing everything they could to exit the stage.

I think it's a legitimate idea. From Joe and Sally, it is apparent that we can no longer ask for some level of responsibility. It's time we started demanding it.

Until then, Joe and Sally are really appreciating your support!

Texting while Driving

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:43:00 GMT

The state of Illinois recently enacted a law that makes it illegal to text (on a cell phone) while driving.

Brian Millville is alerting his readers that one Illinois legislator wants to ban cell phone conversations (while driving), as well.

        He points out that at one time, radios were considered too dangerous for cars, too.

Read his article. As always, it's excellent.

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(Via Jason W.)
    Today, the CEO of Toyota is being compelled to testify before Congress over his car company's recent quality issues.

    Can members of Congress actually have a hearing on Toyota?
    In the business world, conflicts of interest are a touchpoint for ethical violations.

    How can members of Congress, that now oversee General Motors, not have a conflict of interest in holding hearings on Toyota?

    What would you think if a member of congress had an interest in a company, and brought a competitor to the house chamber to chastize them for safety violations, clearly benefiting his own interests. It's the same thing here.

Obamacare

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:34:00 GMT

I've been with some visitors from Spain for the past several days. Ironically, one visitor was the son of an orthopedic surgeon from Madrid. Spain, of course, has socialized medicine.

The visitors commented that Spain's health care is atrocious, but has improved dramatically. Up until recently, most surgeries required a wait of several months, up to a year. But now, the average wait time is only 30 days! They seemed pleased with this.

I asked how the government was able to increase accessibility and they responded, "Well, the surgeons are now having to work 12 hour days." The family of the surgeon is wanting their father to retire, as he is 65 years old. They are convinced that the seventh surgery he performs each day, is not as good as the first!

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Obamacare version 2.0 has now been introduced. Here's the easy test of how good the program is:

Does the new plan apply to Congressional members?

Um, the answer to that question would be "NO".

I don't think American voters need to know too much more to realize this one should also be rejected.

Imagine........

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:16:00 GMT

The Economy is getting tough. How would you like to work for the following organization:

    1. The entity is so late on paying bills that some suppliers are refusing to do business with it.
    2. The entity has so many past due accounts that other suppliers will only work on a COD basis.
    3. When the firm offers work up for bids, many former suppliers are refusing to bid.  For those bids that are received, submissions are priced 30% higher, than a year ago, to compensate for the late payments.
    4. Hotels, that used to provide rooms for the firms employees, through a "voucher system" are now refusing rooms to them, unless they pay with cash or a credit card.

   Which business is so poorly run that they have to pay 30% more because of their poor business practices?

                                              The state of Illinois

    The above stories were related to me from a supply company, a large retail establishment and hotel operators as evidence of the sorry condition that is the State of Illinois.

    And yet, Governor Pat Quinn is telling Illinois shareholders (voters) that he should remain on the job for another four years.  It is outrageous that because of his party's policies, we (as voters) are now paying 30% more for items, than what we are paying as consumers, simply because the state has mismanaged their affairs so badly.

    If Illinois were a business and you were a shareholder, would you rehire this CEO for another 4 years? Of course not!

    By comparison, I have a friend whose business lost more than 1/2 of their revenue from 2008 to 2009. This is a multi-million dollar manufacturing firm! A diligent business owner, he got tough on expenses and overhead.  Because of his responsible approach he was able to keep the doors opened and even remained profitable (although much less so) in 2009.

    I'd say it's time for a new CEO at the helm of the entity we know as the State of Illinois.

They have to change the story to fit the agenda

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:37:00 GMT

Climate zealots have pointed to nearly every unique weather pattern in the last 20 years as evidence of global warming.

Even the recent record snowfall in the Mid Atlantic region is being proffered as proof of man-made global climate change. This week, I heard a CNN host (with no climate credentials) opining how the snowfall in the east was caused by climate change, as the Great Lakes, normally frozen, are warmer than normal and thus are putting more moisture into the atmosphere.

Great theory. But of course, it's not proven out by the facts.

The CNN commentator must be frustrated when she reads headlines like this: Lake Erie frozen over for first time in 14 years.

But, alas, they aren't interested in debating the facts, or the Climategate scandal that's being fully covered in the European press. Rather, the zealots continue to cling to a belief system in which they've invested too much to ever concede defeat.

Failure to connect the dots......

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:50:00 GMT

The Obama administration is desperate for banks to start lending again. The only problem is that banks, because of their recent loan writeoffs, are challenged with having sufficient capital.

In particular, the FDIC, which oversees (and shuts down) banks, is requiring banks to increase their capital levels to 10% - 12%. (7-8 used to be the norm). Banks can increase their capital by selling stock to new shareholders, which many are trying to do.

Ah, but just as banks are going out trying to raise capital by selling stock, Obama announces that, in his new budget, the tax on dividends will be raised from 15% to as high at 35%.

While many might applaud the taxation of dividends as a "wealth tax", in fact, the prospect for a higher dividend tax makes buying bank stocks that much less attractive for investors.

And if the banks can't sell the stock, they can't raise their capital - which means lending won't free up anytime soon.

Unfortunately, Obama and his minions are not connecting the dots.

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Bayh's announcement -


Yesterday's news was filled with the retirement of Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. The two-term Democratic Senator, has more than $12 million in his campaign coffers and is leading in the polls. Speculation is rampant on why he departed.

    Evan Bayh was the moderate leader of the Democratic Party. His departure, I believe, has consequences well beyond the loss of a single senate seat for the Democrats.

    The Democratic party is built on a wide coalition of interests - from the far left liberals to the Reagan Democrats. When moderate Democrats became concerned about the left tilting leadership of Nancy Pelosi, there was always the calm beaming presence of Senator Bayh to remind moderate Democrats that they were represented by the party. But no longer.

    Who is that moderate voice to keep Reagan Democrats in the fold. Who, in the Democratic caucus, offers confirmation that the party has not completely gone to the left?

    With Bayh's departure and the looming 2010 election, the Democrats need to find that answer.......and fast.

A million little inconvenient truths.......

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:24:00 GMT

(Kudo's to my sister-in-law, Laura, for this suggestion.)

Do you remember the book from the Oprah Book Club entitled, "A Million Little Pieces"?

The book was an autobiographical portrait of the author's efforts to overcome various substance addictions. As a national best seller, it was celebrated for its raw stories of tragedy and triumph. Oprah gave the author, James Frey, national acclaim when she named him to her "book club". The only problem was the book was pretty much a work of fiction. The author had made up nearly everything in the story.

Oprah was outraged. Author Frey appeared on her show. It was one of the few times that a couch has been used for a crucifixion.

What's little known though is that the author and his publisher were actually sued, in a class action lawsuit, over the book. Under terms of the settlement, author and publisher were required to refund the purchase price of the book to consumers up to a total of $2.35 million.

Where am I going with this?

In 2006, a documentary film was foisted upon the American people. More than $40 million in tickets were sold for the documentary. It's now been discovered that the "factual" piece was based on exaggeration and outright fraud. Just like the book "A Million Little Pieces", the film, "An Inconvenient Truth" was a fiction.

Al Gore's film about global warming was filled with innuendos that had little basis in fact. Further most of the statistical information has now been debunked.

Using the "Millions Little Pieces" lawsuit as the road map, it sure looks like the hucksters behind an "Inconvenient Truth" should also be sued, and refunds remitted to people who were defrauded.

When fiscal conservatives blinked........

bob@republicanreporter.com (Bob Schultz) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:40:00 GMT

Many political pundits are discussing the historical similarity between 1994 and 2010. But it's also a reminder, of just when Republicans took their eye off the ball.

In 94', as you may recall, the Clintons were stymied in their effort to create the largest of government bureaucracies in the form of Hillarycare.

Through the Contract with America, Americans were rallied to fiscal conservatism in our government. President Clinton, who was counseled that the 94' election would not be "that bad", was stunned by the incredible mandate he was handed. Americans did support a more responsible government. His quick move to the center, helped secure his re-election two years later.

In early 95', with their new majorities in place, Republicans were quick to enact many fiscally responsible measures which helped restrain the growth of government. But in late 95' a budget impasse resulted in the temporary shut down of government for several days. It was then that the Republicans blinked.

Clinton, and a compliant news media (Fox News wouldn't be created for another year) crucified the Republicans for shutting down government. Each night the network news, unchallenged by competing news channels or the internet, were able to provide wrenching stories on the impact of the shutdown. The Republicans blinked.

They capitulated to Clinton's demands. It was the turning point for his return to popularity. Unfortunately, Republicans abandoned those fiscally conservative principals that got them elected. Even through the Bush years, Republicans kept the check book open.

But times have changed. Today, information is available through so many more channels, allowing for a better dissemination of information and mobilization. It's amazing to realize that the Tea Party movement was started one year ago this month!

As the Tea Party movement begins its second year, I think they remain a critical factor in reminding politicians and voters that the demand for accountability and fiscal restraint is what a majority of Americans want.

The Republicans might have blinked in 1995, but in 2010, the Tea Party movement is doing everything to insure that Americans keep their eyes wide open.