Even though nobody wants to admit that socialism is the only solution to America’s economic problems, people are now talking about the “Value Added Tax”.   The problem with VAT is it hits the lower income people the hardest as it is a bigger percentage of their income.  It is regressive and not progressive like income taxes.  Everybody who makes less than a living wage cannot afford to pay VAT.

Republicans will object to the VAT because they object to all taxes.  However, the VAT is the closest thing the Republicans will ever see to a flat tax.   In fact, the Republicans would have been better off abandoning income taxes and letting it be replaced with VAT a long time ago.  But, Republicans are so greedy that it makes them stupid.  If the U.S. was already using VAT then everybody would pay the same national sales tax on consumption.  It would also tax lower income people higher which has always been a goal for Republicans.  This is exactly the opposite of the present income tax and would let rich, greedy Republicans keep more of their money.

It would be better to have a progressive VAT that goes up as a person’s income increases.  This could be implemented with a national credit card.  The country already has much of the infrastructure it needs for such a system.  In fact, the U.S. already has major interests in many of the largest banks.  Unfortunately, the U.S. should have nationalized the banking system which has been advocated on this blog many times.

No matter how you slice it, taxes are going up in America — way up.  They have to increase because jobs are being destroyed.  Unless American wants to let  people starve in the streets, taxes are going higher.  This is the path toward socialism which is inevitable.  Unfortunately, it is moving too slowly, most people are still in denial, and the true extent of America’s financial problems are still be covered up.   As a result, there is going to be lots of pain for 95% of the population.

America is doomed.

America’s only solution is SOCIALISM — redistribute all the wealth.

Today, I read an article in Newsweek about how Social Security and Medicare are destined to go bankrupt — they advise, let them go bankrupt now instead of later.  It is interesting to note the article doesn’t suggest any solution to the problem of the aged (who have paid social security their entire lives) or the sick (most everybody will get sick before they die).

No fear — the answer is SOCIALISM.  It is the ONLY answer out there. That is, take all of resources available and employ all the people with living wages.  Remember, as a country we can define money however we want.  In fact, we can eliminate money if necessary.  Just figure out a way to provide housing, food, and basic necessities.  Keep reducing the hours people need to work until everybody is employed.  Nobody starves.  Everybody gets health care.  Plenty of food.  Lots of education.  The country and the citizens can exist without capitalism and people will be happier — happier because they won’t have to worry about basic necessities.   Happier because everybody will have roughly the same.

Forget about Capitalism, it is dead, just not buried yet.  But, clearly dead.  I didn’t kill Capitalism — it was a suicide.  Capitalism is about greed which results in optimizations and efficiencies.  Greed is the motivation but efficiency is the result.   Efficiency always leads to destruction.  For example, think about anything that you can do more efficient that you use to be able to do it.  Anything.  The result is that less time needs to be spent on the activity.  If you translate that into jobs which pay wages, then either your wages have to increase or you make less money being more efficient.   Each time companies are merged it results in lay offs and efficiencies.  Continue the process over and over again and there is only one company left employing just a small fraction of the original.  Efficient?  Yes, but where did all the jobs go?  This is the basic problem with capitalism and the reason it is doomed.

Did you ever see The Jetsons?  Remember George flying to work, throwing his feet up, pressing one button, and then going to sleep.  That was certainly efficient and what is exactly the purpose of George hitting the button?  I’m pretty sure that one person could go around and hit all the buttons for a hundred Georges, maybe even a thousand.  In fact, maybe the boss has one super button that when press, activates the buttons for all of his employees.  Yes, capitalism is efficient but it doesn’t pay the bills.  Plus, as capitalism puts more and more people out of jobs then there is no money to buy products from employees of the yet to be laid off.   Capitalism = Destruction.  Marx predicted it and America is showing that he is correct.

America is doomed.

I was in Texas last week and saw a man with a sign “Abortion is Baby Murder”.  What an ignorant person who apparently cannot read.  He clearly doesn’t even know what the bible says about when live begins.

Let’s examine what the bible says about when life begins: It is at BIRTH, not CONCEPTION.   Proof?  Genesis 2:7

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.  (NAS)

Notice when man becomes a “living being” — when the man starts breathing into his nostrils — not at conception.  Conception is the beginning of being formed but the process takes many months — possibly even years in the case of frozen fertilized eggs.  Also, this verse clearly distinguishes between when man is “formed” and when man becomes a “living being”.   This verse shows that life begins at birth, not conception.   Furthermore, one can only murder a “living being” not a entity that is being formed.  Pretty straightforward and simple.

While we are at it, let’s consider the two verses that the anti-abortion crowd love to use to argue that life beings at conception.

First, Psalm 139:13

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. (NAS)

Notice this verse is about being formed — it says nothing about a “living being”.  Of course, a human being has to be formed (just as Genesis 2:7 says) but it doesn’t mean they are a living being until they can live outside the womb.  Also, notice it is about a particular person — in this case, David.  This verse is not about all of mankind — “my inward parts” — first person.

Or how about Isaiah 49:1

… The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me.

Here is a special case where the Lord called “Me” — not everybody — but this one person.  He named him.  Fine.  But, again, this person became a “living being” when he was born, not when he was conceived.

Remember, bible crazies, you believe in a god that knows everything.  So, this god must know who is going to be born and who is not going to be born.  Thus, he knows  who will be a “living being” and who will not.

There are other problems with arguing that life begins at conception.  For example, miscarriages are murder, perhaps unintentional, but murders nonetheless.  This problem goes away if you use the bible definition of “living being” in Genesis 2:7.

Also, consider eggs that are fertilized and then frozen.  This is a common practice today and many people are born using this procedure.  If life begins at conception then this procedure is an example of resurrection.  This is no three day resurrection, this might be months or even years.  This is a big problem for people who think Jesus was the only resurrection.  Damn, it is common place today.  Again, this problem goes away with Genesis 2:7.

Clearly, life begins at birth, and specifically when the “living being” begins to breathe.

Keep in mind that I don’t believe the bible is the inspired word of god or any other comparable bullshit. I am just showing that bible readers ignore what it actually teaches.  It just amazes me that people use this book of mythology to blow up abortion clinics and stand on the street with “Abortion is Baby Murder” signs.

However, let me tell you what murder really is.  Murder occurs every day when people cannot be treated for sickness because they do not have any health care.    Yep, that is murder.  They are murdered by the health insurance companies who deny treatment.  No different than if they were shot in the head.

America is doomed.

America losing its AAA rating on its debt is no surprise to readers of this blog.  In fact, America is headed for total financial collapse.  This is not a partisan comment because it wouldn’t matter which party was in power.  No doubt, the Republicans will blame it all of Obama, but they blame everything on Obama.  Ironically, it has been the Republicans who put America on the path to total financial destruction, starting with Reagan’s under taxing, overspending, and voodoo economics.

Now, the reason for the financial collapse is jobs; namely, the U.S. cannot create enough living wage jobs for everybody who needs them.  So, the U.S. either has to let the people die or provide some basic assistance to them.  As this number continues to grow, the burden for the U.S. will be greater.  In the end, there is no alternative other than default on the national debt, collapse of the U.S. dollar, and define a new socialism.

I have been advocating for an early default on the national debt in order to avoid the forced default that will come in time.  In addition, there needs to be a continued socializing of basic services and industries.  Every person needs to be provided a living wage job in something they are capable of doing.  If they need skills, they should be provided with education.  If they cannot be employed then they should just be provided for until a living wage job can be found.  It is the humane thing to do and it is the only thing that is going to work.

Recently, there was a study of the happiest peoples.  Interestingly, the happiest peoples came from very high tax countries.  Countries where the taxes are as much as 70%.  The reason these people are happier than the people in the U.S. is because basic necessities are provided for.  They do not have to worry about housing, food, education, and health care.  If they lose a job they will not be homeless or without the ability to be treated for sickness.  In a word, these countries are socialistic.  They have evolved out of the selfish, greed based capitalism that is always destined to fail.  Always.

America is doomed.

I am so tired hearing about torture.  This is like debating slavery.  Not only is torture wrong, but anybody who defends it on any basis is morally bankrupt.  I don’t care if torture works.  I don’t care if it keeps us safe.  It is like saying slavery keeps prices low because labor cost so much less.  I don’t care.  Slavery is wrong. Torture is wrong.

Why is it that religious people defend torture?  Religious people are just cowards.  It is probably why they cling to their religion because they are afraid of dying.  The entire point of most religious belief to to avoid torture — hell, whatever.  Yet, the same religious people are all for torture to keep them safe.  Cowards, for sure.  If there is any justice in the universe, then everybody who defends torture in any way, should die a long and painful death.

The simple fact that the news has been inundated with non-stop torture is a huge indictment on America.  It is like having a debate about the pros and cons of slavery.

Torture is just another example of America’s culture of destruction.

America is doomed.