Bush kept $1 trillion Iraq war debts off the books, passed TARP as he was going out the door, and Obama inherited $1.7 trilion in the deficit before he was even sworn in. Bush punted on the automobile mfgs, so all those people who were laid off then contributed to an even larger deficit.
We need JOBS – not TAX CUTS! geez

I just received from the Va Dept of Taxation a notice that I wanted to bring to your attention, not as much for my particular situation, which I prefer to work through normal channels if at all possible, but for the situation our commonwealth and nation are in.

First of all, a little background, though. My wife and I are both working full time jobs, raising a family of 5 children. We have met our obligations to the best of our ability through the recession, and intend to continue doing just that.

We own a rental property out of state. We had a primary residence out of state as well when we came back home to VA about 2 1/2 years ago. It took us several months to sell the primary residence. The rental property is currently rented, and still for sale. Since we have moved back to VA, we have made as much as 3 mortgage payments out of pocket, on time, many months over these years.

We have had to cash in my 401k to meet our obligations. There was some discussion by our elected officials about reducing or eliminating penalties for early withdrawal from retirement plans. As best we can tell, our representative government does not think we are having enough hardship yet. We have been assessed penalties for the early withdrawal from the 401k, and are working through the process of paying what we ‘owe’ the commonwealth and federal government. By the way, I cannot say that this would encourage me to reestablish any kind of retirement account with any government ‘help’ or strings attached to it. The cake looked and tasted good, but man, did it ever have an afterbite!

I am employed in the engineering and surveying field. Our industry has been hit very hard by the recession, as most of my peers can attest. Many firms are closing their doors and laying off staff. We have had a very limited workload, and could have probably justified closing the doors and filing for unemployment. I do not want to do that. I am able to work, and intend to continue doing just that as long as I am able. We had a nice garden this summer, and are doing all we can to be effective managers of all that we have been entrusted with. We also meet our obligations consistently, as our commonwealths tax records will show, among others.

Back to the notice that I mentioned earlier. This notice to my employer says that all my wages are subject to lien to pay my taxes assessed. I learned a saying when I was fairly young that I think you can apply to this situation. The saying goes ‘you can’t get blood out of a turnip’. You can assess all the taxes you want, but there really is a limited capacity to pay, at least here.

I look forward with great interest to your response, again, not just for my situation, but for the commonwealth and the nation.

Sincerely,

VA Engr

How could Obama have earned a Nobel Peace Prize? a) By apologizing to the people of Iraq for the calamity
of war the U.S. has brought upon then under his predecessor. b) By declaring the war in Afghanistan an unnecessary Bush war, and had started to disengage as soon as he was sworn in. c) Had asked Congress to approve humanitarian aid for Afghanistan to be funneled in though the United Nations, and reconstruction
funds for Afghanistan when a government that prevailed has settled down, and pledged no hostile intent against the U.S. d) Has pushed Israel harder for Middle East peace. e) Offer unconditional reconciliation talks with Iran, and not acted as a speakerphone of Israel’s objectives and diktat.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee may have thrown the Peace Prize to Obama like a bone to chew on and nourish his ego, or to coax him to become a peacemaker in the future. And Obama may have at first thought that he was worth the prize, and, according to reports woke up his daughters to brag about. But, as the rest of the world sees it, there is only disbelief, anger, and astonishment about his award. There is no doubt that there will be on orgy of ridicule in the comedy shows tonight, and the cartoonists will have a field day for months to come. And this Nobel Prize will not be an asset in the record of Obama, but a joked, maligned, and ridiculed crown that would probably tar his image, and depict his as an egomaniac who try to raise his status by accepting an award by a misguided committee that he doesn’t deserve, and, by doing so, depriving legitimate candidates -like Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangirai- to get the recognition they deserve.

Shame to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee that awarded the prize on Obama’s rhetoric on his future plans, not on any achievement on record, and shame again for awarding the Peace Prize to the only person in the world that carries on a War, and plans to continue it for another 10 years. I suggest that the comedians call the Nobel Peace Prize from now on “The Global War Prize.” Nikos Retsos, retired professor