Ax the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction?

FOR THE RECORD:   For more  letters and essays  …visit  my blogsite at: www.geoblograpy.com  

I surely hope that the President’s Deficit Reduction Commission is not given the unchecked opportunity to morph into a partisan political tool …a liberal launch platform upon which to leverage  an approach to the up-coming 2012 general election season.

Until then, you may be certain that concerned citizens will not be holding their breath …nor I, my ink.

What a fine kettle of fish it would be …if it were the case that Americans become content and complacent to a growing list of progressive, state-sponsored, self-serving disservices?

Well, it’s time to wake up, because …this is exactly what is being pushed at America by  liberals … in the name of freedom …packaged for  “…We the People …”to swallow, hook-line and sinker.

But America can ill-afford to allow Herself to be duped and trampled under foot with a   pretext which begs Her to make such an unwarranted painful sacrifice …especially at a time like this when such an opportunity lost would come with certain unavoidable opportunity cost loses.

The elimination of the mortgage interest deduction is being disguised and packaged as an egregious lie. Such as it is, it is an irresponsible choice just to make such a shallow call for its elimination.

First of all, the call is unwarranted. Its means are unwarranted and misguided …founded in pleas which leverage emotions …making use of urgency to cover the call’s ulterior motives.

It pains me to have to witness a pleas which attempts to call for public support of such a   lame and unwarranted misplaced sacrifice.

Don’t get me wrong, sacrifices are needed, but just not in this context.

Unmistakably, such as its pretext is presented below …such a call to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction must be understood to be of no good service at all.

Deficit Reduction Commission? Indeed!

This one aspect of the President’s commission is one example of a lack of consideration for “…We the People …”

And …it is neither one to be taken lightly …nor lying down.

As such, such an alarm should   serve to make a call to exercise the highest level of due diligence. We needs must then be alert and remain on guard.

After today, can anything that comes from this commission ever be taken for granted?

Deficit Reduction Commission, indeed! On guard!

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Stimulation vs. Depression

One moment it’s a move to stimulate; the next it’s one which would depress and further suppress housing …one only all to certain to negatively impact employment as well.

So, what’s next; still more uncertainty?

How in the world could such a move  possibly be construed to be seen as benefit either housing and employment?

The answer is; it can’t logically.

And this is the subject of today’s blog which is directed squarely at CNBC which covered the subject.

CNBC; you people just can’t seem to make  consistent calls which otherwise might indicate that you are supportive of moving the more viable private sector solutions forward.

What side of America’s Lady Liberty and her protected freedoms are you guys on; the individual’s or Big Government …or, what?

If the President’s Commission moves forward …armed with such bias as is so prevalent in the stronghold of CNBC’s liberal encampments, then it’s Katy-bar-the-doors ….and head for the hills!  

Yet, today was no different, and CNBC was true to form …consistent throughout this morning’s fixations …centered upon projections and bated   predictions that the President’s Commission would most certainly call for the elimination of the home mortgage interest deduction.

In this, CNBC was certain that the tax deduction’s elimination was indeed nothing short of eminent.

In all of this, CNBC’s call failed to promote  a single,  viable, practical or otherwise mention of a valid solution  worthy of  its viewers’ considerations.

Such as it were, such rants border along the lines of fear mongering.

CNBC’s morning’s discussion of  this single aspect of the  President’s Deficit Reduction Commission  (doing away with …or AXING the home mortgage interest deductions) furthermore …smacks of all of that which lacks the luster of hope …and prudent change. The segment failed to mention anything which held promise for the betterment of America’s domestic interests.

And instead,  CNBC’s dribble …promoted the needs of the state.

My take away is to pity our nation’s weakened leadership’s which is making seemingly desperate and emotional pleas and calls.

But for all its attempts, this administration has chosen to move forward …with a belligerent spirit …continuing to obviate and pass    over the opportunities of    free enterprise …and individual rights …namely, one’s right to  private ownership.

What is the significance of the needs of the state by comparison with those of the state? Do the state’s needs outweigh those of the individual …by a measure which would …or which otherwise have been made  to overshadow those unalienable God-given to  the individual …as recognized under the Constitution of this great nation’s chartered original intent?

Since when did relative perceptions of truth …supplant the absolute standard?

Which came first; the individual or Big Brother? To answer that, one needs must first have an esteem for truth.

Egg on your face CNBC! Give the other (private sector) side of the argument …or leave the room.

Your demise is come in your short-side presentations like this mornings’ which chides America’s better interests.

Again; which came first; the state …or Lady Liberty’s People?

Read the constitution if you can’t answer this basic question …without hesitation.

I don’t know; but, the last time I checked …the government was ordained and established to serve the needs of its people.

I should know! I’ve lived in a few countries where the worker existed to serve the interests of the state …mostly without a single shred of consideration which promoted the rights of individuals’  freedoms such as the right to enjoy …private ownership with incentives and ample rewards thereunto.

To diminish these is to promote the state’s interests over those of the individual.

Feed me Seymour! Feed me! (An allegory which references a common line taken from “Little Shop of Horors.”)

CNBC, since when did the servant (or state) become the lord here?

Since the advent of Obama?

Make no mistake about it; I do not work or live to serve you (…CNBC) either!

In today’s CNBC’s discussion there was not even the slightest mention of the private incentives’ and rewards which make home ownership attractive. So, where in CNBC’s discussion is this side of the conversation gone hidden?

Me rather thinks that CNBC deliberately, blindly …or otherwise …stuffed this more meaningful other side of the discussion into a little black box …carefully hiding it in the obscurity of a dimly lit back room?

Hmm?

Make no mistake …the answer which would serve the private sector with many a better solution …most certainly does not lay in a public solution whose consideration lay in self-service to itself …far and away above the considerations intended to be reserved for service to the individual.

Does giving equate to receiving …or does taking equate to receiving?

But in as far as …so much potential as the private side of the equation has …why have the other (still bigger government and its needs) grown so as to  overwhelm the interests of “…We the People …?”

Why then has this lop-sided conversation’s considerations continued unchecked along such a detrimental line?

So, rather than continue to be blind-sided; I must ask ….

So, who’s on your side? Who’s got your back? Whose interests are being served here in this lop-sided discussion?

What’s to loose?

Is it the individual who is losing …or is it a beleaguered ,,,self-serving government …hell-bent on establishing and moving its socially engineered, new liberal order forward …at any cost …by any means which suits its socialistic inclinations?

Can you say; “Lame Duck?”

Huh?

To America, in regard to Her …The Deficit Commission …I say;

Beware, and do not become the administration’s next …New Whipping Boy.

Do not become the next to go up …given upon the chopping block’s alter of the administration’s so-called social calls for reform.

Single sided as they have been …the liberal calls continue without so much of a consideration for what would actually serve to move freedom forward efficiently.

Alas; the demise and power of private enterprise …is threatened to go up in smoke in favor of the interests of the state …ahead of   those of the people..

For a prime example of the impact of taxation; see the causes of   “The Great Depression.”

Wednesday, January, 1^st, 2010

Today, several CNBC Correspondents were adamantly discussing the president’s Deficit Reduction Commission’s agenda.

Curiously, how  the center of  their discussions revolved around a  contemplation of a single, most controversial consideration …the eliminating of the individual home mortgage interest deduction.

This one single deduction has long since been the heart of that which has benefited and served to both promote and provide incentives which rewarded private home ownership.

This tax deduction is one which has significantly contributed the lion’s share to promote and make home ownership what it is today.

It is principally what has allowed most Americans to save and retire in greater comfort …especially at a time when pension benefits and retirement programs are all but a thing of the past in the private sector.

Taking this away is just down-right unjust, cruel and unusual punishment.

In addition to aiding and enhancing the wealth of private individual home owner’s …the flourishing rise in personal wealth associated with making home ownership affordable has also directly favored and benefited many other industries of our economy and society …principally due directly from this tax deduction.

Prior to the slump in the economy …the devastated  home builders  industry…and its trades’ labor pools  …as well as a whole host of other inter-related ancillary industries have  enjoyed a long and successful history in which they have made  their own robust contributions …sharing significantly  to the rise and expansion in a healthy  economy.

This translate directly into employment.

To overlook this powerful private sector potential is boneheaded beligerance which would immeasurably hinder a tenuous economic recovery.

This morning,  CNBC financial news personalities discussed  the issues surrounding this  crucial tax deduction in the light that it would likely be strongly considered …as a first item to be sacrificed upon the chopping block in the president’s Deficit reduction Commission’s consideration’s …in a broad range of discussions and contemplations which would leave no aspect off-limits.

How ludicrous would that be? This is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Kind of like repeating; “Should I stay …or, should I go?” …over and over …without choosing a direction …for lack of a better understanding which would have otherwise taken up a single clear-cut path in decisive action …in clear view and well founded service to favor a more true and honest hope to manifest honor in a reason that is just in priorities’ order to obtain the mark of one’s full extent in making the reach.

In short, we ought to know better. We ought to know the difference and exercise discernment in seeking to pursue better judgments.

In short we should be doing. …going in one unified direction …especially at a time like this.

But, no!

One moment it’s stimulation; and the next thing …it’s depression …

 Since when did it become P.C.  to attack housing ( …or labor …for that matter) …as if the hopes of liberal causes should be made to  rest upon  making  housing its  next whipping child.

Be wary of  any attempts which seek  such an ill-thought-out, anti-social direction …especially those which do so in such a blatantly  irresponsible  wreck less manner.  

I shudder to think of this  …a cause …one gone terribly off course …one left desperately grasping at straws for any lame opportunity which might …or could be made to look as an excuse to be worthy to validate service worthy to America  beyond 2012.

 So? What’s it going to be ….still more uncertainty for America?

That’s a sure confidence builder …now, isn’t it?!!!

Crime’a-nently!!!

Has not America spoken with one voice?

Then, where is our vision? Our direction?

Where is our leadership?

Are all buried in the back room …locked away in some black box?

I don’t know, but  the irresponsible suppositions and assumptions made by CNBC personalities make my head spin like a top.

Of what is CNBC’s gene pool comprised? The educated, the business-savvy, the talented achievers, the success-oriented, conscientious individuals?

Or is CNBC merely a cesspool of liberal, left-wing, radical, yippee-dippy hippies …and wanna-be media groupies?

Come on CNBC! Get objective for a change …would you?

Could you make up your minds?

One moment; it is a stimulus and the next moment it is a depressant.

That’s right. Losing such an important key-incentive would be a down right bummer-downer …like a depressant. After all, NIX-ing this deduction would have a most certain widespread …far-reaching net negative impact.

If, the home mortgage deduction were to  …go away …we might as well just shoot ourselves in the foot and head where? For the hills? Where would we live? In caves?

Go figure. But I rather think that the adage applies;  “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

And without this crucial single incentive ….all falls apart …uncertainty …certainly not withstand.

So, be careful for what you ask for CNBC, because you just might get it.

But, in the meantime,  if I could come through my television set …I would slap each one of you CNBC hosts and the like …yep, right up side the head …shouting; “Wake up …you silly geese!”

To this  end …and for the benefit of this bunch of New York/New Jersey apartment dwellers …those of you who  obviously do not own your  own homes; I offer the following …a simple lessen in taxation explained.

Drink it in  …and let it soak to the bone  …and do so in remembrance of your ignorance and disdain for such a coveted  privilege …the right of  private ownership and what it means to the liberty such has contributed to make strong …safe …secure and affordable.

I sure hope you are intelligent enough to get it.

Until then …enjoy your  frivolous free ride.

For, in the mean time …I shudder for the likes of your misguided collective  liberal mind-sets.

For, if …the aim of the likes of your  cavalier comments is meant to depress rather than stimulate and support private ownership …and if you do not stand in favor of the property rights of private individuals …then for what good purpose do you stand and serve?

Apartment dwellers’ rights …or what?

A:   Is the CNBC liberal misguided agenda …deliberate …or otherwise an innocent naive one-off blunder!

At any rate, do America a favor. STOP! …LISTEN! THINK! Yes, please think about what you are saying and doing before flapping and moving the lips.

Please stop ….first and think before speaking foolishly.

PLEASE!!!

This morning’s discussions were not even cute.

In either case …if these comments were …with deliberate intent or, with sophomoric naivety …regardless …in either case, they both are equally misguided damaging blunders of gross proportions.

Think about it.

If it must be noted that you and your colleagues are  pushing a bad position which is detrimental to the overall better interests of  your viewers …it just might be worth noting how CNBC’s content is received.

After all an individuals rights in due diligence …includes exercising the option to make the move to choose another more worthy …more appealing alternate content provider.

In the mean time good luck contemplating the coveted keys which have made our  great country the fruitful land of liberty She is.

Therefore:     I offer instead …a  basic lesson in taxation is obviously more than warranted.

Note:   This lesson is a lesson to build up …not to lessen …or to weaken and break down.

And from this lesson below, I hope it raises your level of situational awareness closer to a mind-set which deliberately is purposed in intent to build up and promote private ownership.

After all, rather than tear, break down and dismantle America …what a wonderful opportunity we have to make contributions to form and make into a better place to live.

Unity of purpose is in a positive …not a negative. And ownership has and will continue to be a viable …most-natural efficient solution …one which rewards with incentives…rather than punishes without impunity.

It’s what works best …especially when it is promoted in unity for the good of all.

The following …then, is a basic lessen …an excerpt which comes from David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. who is a Professor of Economics at the University of Georgia.

Soak it all in …and have a good laugh at the covetous nature of man.

Our Tax System Explained:  Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100.   If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would
go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.   ‘Since you are
all such good customers,’ he said, ‘I’m going to reduce the cost of
your daily beer by $20.’   Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected.   They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men …the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33.   But if they subtracted
that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each
end up being paid to drink his beer.

So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s
bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts
each should pay.
And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).

The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
‘I only got a dollar out of the $20,’ declared the sixth man. He pointed
to the tenth man,’ but he got $10!’
‘Yeah, that’s right,’ exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved a dollar, too.
It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I got!’ ‘That’s true!!’
shouted the seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back when I got only
two?   The wealthy get all the breaks!’
‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four men in unison. ‘We didn’t get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’
So ….feeling unjustly maligned, the nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they
discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between
all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is
how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most
benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being
wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might
start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics

University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.