Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
GOP Lost its Way
> Since the election, the GOP has been racking their brains asking what did we > do wrong. The main theory seems to be: We Lost Our Way. So I have a few > theories of my own about how they lost it.
How the Republicans lost their way:
1. False belief that their way is the only way even when it's proven not to > work.
2. False belief that Free Markets will take care of everything and everyone.
3. False belief that if one works hard, they'll earn enough to feed and > clothe their families.
4. False belief that US has best healthcare in world, when we rank # 26th in > the industrialized world.
5. False belief that everyone should be responsible for themselves.
6. Being more interested in personal gain than being a servant of the > electorate.
7. Refusal to change their diehard beliefs of tax cuts and poor economic > theories.
To say that " We became just like the Democrats in terms of spending, as well as on personal and political ethics.", Priscilla Rakestraw; as a reason for losing; just shows how the GOP can't accept its own failures. The problem isn't that you did not get your message out! You got it out and it was rejected at the polls.
The Message is always about helping business and cutting taxes for the well off. All meaningless words for the poor and hungry. When will you see that we all must care for the elderly, the widows, the > downtrodden and the children, as any civilized country should and as required by the religions of the world. What happened to the Golden Rule? Maybe the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do to you) could be the next GOP mantra
Alice Hanke, Milton DE
How the Republicans lost their way:
1. False belief that their way is the only way even when it's proven not to > work.
2. False belief that Free Markets will take care of everything and everyone.
3. False belief that if one works hard, they'll earn enough to feed and > clothe their families.
4. False belief that US has best healthcare in world, when we rank # 26th in > the industrialized world.
5. False belief that everyone should be responsible for themselves.
6. Being more interested in personal gain than being a servant of the > electorate.
7. Refusal to change their diehard beliefs of tax cuts and poor economic > theories.
To say that " We became just like the Democrats in terms of spending, as well as on personal and political ethics.", Priscilla Rakestraw; as a reason for losing; just shows how the GOP can't accept its own failures. The problem isn't that you did not get your message out! You got it out and it was rejected at the polls.
The Message is always about helping business and cutting taxes for the well off. All meaningless words for the poor and hungry. When will you see that we all must care for the elderly, the widows, the > downtrodden and the children, as any civilized country should and as required by the religions of the world. What happened to the Golden Rule? Maybe the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do to you) could be the next GOP mantra
Alice Hanke, Milton DE
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sandra Spence Member Focus
Brief Bio of Sandra Spence
Since moving to Delaware six years ago from Washington, DC, Sandy Spence has served as Board Secretary, Treasurer and Housing Advocate/lobbyist for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. She also chaired the Coastal-Georgetown AAUW Women's Issues/Action Group. For the past two years, she has served as Vice President for Membership for the LWV of Sussex Co. and LWVDE Treasurer. She is a registered lobbyist in Dover for the League of Women Voters and currently serves on the Delaware Housing Coalition board as Vice President.
In Washington, DC, Sandy served on the DC Habitat for Humanity Board and was Board Secretary. Sandy was a registered lobbyist during her career with the National Association of Counties, the California Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) and others. She co-founded an association management company that gave her the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of ACT and others. She then served as full-time Executive Director of the Society of Glass & Ceramic Decorators before retiring in 2000.
As Executive Director of ACT, she lobbied for six years to secure an amendment to the federal Tax Code to allow employers to provide tax-free transit passes, as well as carpool and vanpool benefits. That law is now used widely throughout the nation to secure private/employer subsidies for commuting benefits.
Since moving to Delaware six years ago from Washington, DC, Sandy Spence has served as Board Secretary, Treasurer and Housing Advocate/lobbyist for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. She also chaired the Coastal-Georgetown AAUW Women's Issues/Action Group. For the past two years, she has served as Vice President for Membership for the LWV of Sussex Co. and LWVDE Treasurer. She is a registered lobbyist in Dover for the League of Women Voters and currently serves on the Delaware Housing Coalition board as Vice President.
In Washington, DC, Sandy served on the DC Habitat for Humanity Board and was Board Secretary. Sandy was a registered lobbyist during her career with the National Association of Counties, the California Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) and others. She co-founded an association management company that gave her the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of ACT and others. She then served as full-time Executive Director of the Society of Glass & Ceramic Decorators before retiring in 2000.
As Executive Director of ACT, she lobbied for six years to secure an amendment to the federal Tax Code to allow employers to provide tax-free transit passes, as well as carpool and vanpool benefits. That law is now used widely throughout the nation to secure private/employer subsidies for commuting benefits.
Ted Ferragut Member Focus
Ted Ferragut is the President of TDC Partners, Ltd, a DE based corporation working in the transportation field. Ted has over 40 years of experience working on new and innovative technology and policy issues in the transportation field, working for government and the private sector. In 2008, Ted and his wife Donna moved to the Lewes area from Northern Virginia.TDC Partners, Ltd, has a diverse portfolio of work, from national transportation policy issues with the construction industry to land use development guidelines for older drivers. Ted is active in many national associations and organizations but looks forward to working more in Delaware as an engaged businessman and citizen.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thomas Jefferson on Education
Government's Responsibility to Educate
"And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people. This last is the most certain and the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. (Forrest version) ME 6:392
"It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that, too, of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1786. ME 19:24 --
"And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people. This last is the most certain and the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. (Forrest version) ME 6:392
"It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that, too, of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1786. ME 19:24 --
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Avoiding Investment Fraud
Visit the following website and see "Protecting Yourself Against Fraud"
www.sipc.org
SIPC: Securities Investor Protection Corporation
Investments not covered: commodity futures, fixed annuity contracts, currency nor investment contracts such as limited partnerships not registered with the SEC.
**Don't do business with a brokerage firm unless you see this: Member Securities Investor Protection Corporation
www.sipc.org
SIPC: Securities Investor Protection Corporation
Investments not covered: commodity futures, fixed annuity contracts, currency nor investment contracts such as limited partnerships not registered with the SEC.
**Don't do business with a brokerage firm unless you see this: Member Securities Investor Protection Corporation
AARP Government Watch Program
This program includes issue briefs and a "Key vote Summary" that shows how members of Congress vote on top issues.
www.aarp.org/governmentwatch
www.aarp.org/governmentwatch
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Financial Times
Here is the website of the Financial Times. You'll see all kinds of interactive blogs in the right column. The Times is running a series on the Future of Capitalism, which you might be interested in. Their Economic Editor, Martin Wolf, was on c-span this morning. A very interesting conversation. You can watch it on c-span's website after it gets posted.
http://www.ft.com/home/us
http://www.ft.com/home/us
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Taxable Income and Household Income Levels
HOW ACCURATE ARE THE QUOTED PERCENTAGES ON TAX ISSUES
On the IRS website, I looked up a table of 2006 (latest numbers) tax returns filed and taxes paid. After a few calculations, we came up with some percentages close to those being thrown around in the News.
Mainly, the tax on TAXABLE INCOME.
NUMBER OF TAX RETURNS OWING TAXES: 42,402,081
91% of all tax returns with taxable income reported less than $200,000.
9% was tax returns with taxable income over $200,000.
The tax being quoted on $250,000 or above is on TAXABLE INCOME.
A total of 2,957,282 were filed with taxable income between $200,000 and $500,000.
That’s 6.9% of all tax returns with taxable income.
TAXABLE INCOME: $4,109,723,394,000 (trillions)
Of the total taxable income reported , 50% was reported by taxpayers with less than $200,000 and 50% was reported by taxpayers with more that $200,000.
TAXES PAID: $837,277,177,000 (billions)
Of the total tax paid, 38% was paid by taxpayers with less than $200,000 taxable income.
(38,554,840 tax returns)
62% of the total tax paid was by taxpayers with more than $200,000 taxable income.
(3,847,241 tax returns)
TAXABLE INCOME RANGES
The IRS table ranges for taxable income , start with Under $5,000 and adds $5,000 to each level until it hits $100,000 of taxable income. Then the range goes to ($100,000 to $200,000),
( from $200,000 to $500,000) and then adds $500,000 to each new level up to $2,000,000, and ending with $10,000,000 or more. Yes there were tax returns filed for the $10,000,000 or more range, 15,710 of them.
OVERALL REVENUES
2006 total revenues: $2.4 Trillion with social security/medicare tax
2006 total outlays : $2.6 Trillion with social security/medicare tax
Deficit: $248 Billion
2006 revenue without social security/medicare tax: $1.8 Trillion
2006 outlays without social security/medicare tax: $2.2 Trillion
Deficit: $434 Billion
2007 INCOME DISTRIBUTION BY HOUSEHOLD-BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
80 % of Household income for all races, is below $100,000.
20% is above $100,000. (12.2%-$100,000 to $149,000), (4.4%-$150,000-$199,999), (1.7%-$200,000-$249,000)
***2.1% of Household income for all races is above $250,000.
http://pubdb3.cesnsus.gov/ CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY
On the IRS website, I looked up a table of 2006 (latest numbers) tax returns filed and taxes paid. After a few calculations, we came up with some percentages close to those being thrown around in the News.
Mainly, the tax on TAXABLE INCOME.
NUMBER OF TAX RETURNS OWING TAXES: 42,402,081
91% of all tax returns with taxable income reported less than $200,000.
9% was tax returns with taxable income over $200,000.
The tax being quoted on $250,000 or above is on TAXABLE INCOME.
A total of 2,957,282 were filed with taxable income between $200,000 and $500,000.
That’s 6.9% of all tax returns with taxable income.
TAXABLE INCOME: $4,109,723,394,000 (trillions)
Of the total taxable income reported , 50% was reported by taxpayers with less than $200,000 and 50% was reported by taxpayers with more that $200,000.
TAXES PAID: $837,277,177,000 (billions)
Of the total tax paid, 38% was paid by taxpayers with less than $200,000 taxable income.
(38,554,840 tax returns)
62% of the total tax paid was by taxpayers with more than $200,000 taxable income.
(3,847,241 tax returns)
TAXABLE INCOME RANGES
The IRS table ranges for taxable income , start with Under $5,000 and adds $5,000 to each level until it hits $100,000 of taxable income. Then the range goes to ($100,000 to $200,000),
( from $200,000 to $500,000) and then adds $500,000 to each new level up to $2,000,000, and ending with $10,000,000 or more. Yes there were tax returns filed for the $10,000,000 or more range, 15,710 of them.
OVERALL REVENUES
2006 total revenues: $2.4 Trillion with social security/medicare tax
2006 total outlays : $2.6 Trillion with social security/medicare tax
Deficit: $248 Billion
2006 revenue without social security/medicare tax: $1.8 Trillion
2006 outlays without social security/medicare tax: $2.2 Trillion
Deficit: $434 Billion
2007 INCOME DISTRIBUTION BY HOUSEHOLD-BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
80 % of Household income for all races, is below $100,000.
20% is above $100,000. (12.2%-$100,000 to $149,000), (4.4%-$150,000-$199,999), (1.7%-$200,000-$249,000)
***2.1% of Household income for all races is above $250,000.
http://pubdb3.cesnsus.gov/ CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ted Ferragut Comments
Having bought property on Gils Neck, I am learning first hand about how land use changes can seriously impact on your 1) investment and 2) quality of life.
Several quick suggestions:
1) Any purchaser of land should be afforded the best information at the time as to zoning in and around the property they are going to buy. This should be provided by the real estate agent. This would help control arbitrary changes if land owner had a better idea of who their neighbors were going to be. (Changing from Ag/Res to Bus/Res and potential huge malls on Kings Highway near the Cape Henelopen High School is outrageous.)
2) Environmental ‘cuteness’ with the description of wetlands and ownerships begs the question as to being environmental responsible.
3) Council members with vested interest in land use and commercial business, such as lumber, concrete, and the like, should recuse themselves from voting on land use changes that have the appearance of personal gain.
4) Transportation issues must be resolved prior to approval of any land use changes and that means more than just the infrastructure costs, but the impact on the community.
5) Cities and local jurisdictions should have vision statements, architectural goals, stated community values, and the like to help form county decisions. The vision should not be limited to just city limits but include surrounding country side as well.
6) Open land should be preserved to the maximum extend possible.
7) Hamlet/village type approaches should be explored (Kent County).
Being in the transportation consulting business, I hope to be able to spend some time working on these issues.
Ted
Ted Ferragut, PE
TDC Partners, Ltd
35083 Zwaanendael Ave
Lewes, DE 19958
302-827-2137 Phone
202-744-4175 Cell
703-995-4699 Fax
tferragut@tdcpartners.com
Several quick suggestions:
1) Any purchaser of land should be afforded the best information at the time as to zoning in and around the property they are going to buy. This should be provided by the real estate agent. This would help control arbitrary changes if land owner had a better idea of who their neighbors were going to be. (Changing from Ag/Res to Bus/Res and potential huge malls on Kings Highway near the Cape Henelopen High School is outrageous.)
2) Environmental ‘cuteness’ with the description of wetlands and ownerships begs the question as to being environmental responsible.
3) Council members with vested interest in land use and commercial business, such as lumber, concrete, and the like, should recuse themselves from voting on land use changes that have the appearance of personal gain.
4) Transportation issues must be resolved prior to approval of any land use changes and that means more than just the infrastructure costs, but the impact on the community.
5) Cities and local jurisdictions should have vision statements, architectural goals, stated community values, and the like to help form county decisions. The vision should not be limited to just city limits but include surrounding country side as well.
6) Open land should be preserved to the maximum extend possible.
7) Hamlet/village type approaches should be explored (Kent County).
Being in the transportation consulting business, I hope to be able to spend some time working on these issues.
Ted
Ted Ferragut, PE
TDC Partners, Ltd
35083 Zwaanendael Ave
Lewes, DE 19958
302-827-2137 Phone
202-744-4175 Cell
703-995-4699 Fax
tferragut@tdcpartners.com
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