Page Nine

Government Represses Economy

The lamestream media told you:

Most Americans believe the presidential candidates need to take a highly aggressive stance on the economy, the number one issue for most voters, which must be true because virtually every news outlet in America has reported the same thing.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Smart Americans understand that the economy is a function of the private sector and not the government, and that most government involvement with the economy adds baggage, is costly and drains energy from the world of business that finances everything.

Understanding this, the nation's Founders provided for very tiny government involvement in the business of the people. Those principles have evaporated, or been declared illegal by the government itself, according to industry experts.

Government produces no wealth at all, it merely saps wealth from the private sector that produces it. Every dollar spent by government is a dollar taken by force through taxes from the capitalist economy that produces the products, services and profits the government leaches off.

Government programs and regulations cost the people money, and redistribute wealth from those who earn it to those who use it in a generally parasitic way. Some uses are easy to justify when they are for the common good, such as road building. Others are a total bureaucratic drain on the economy, such as huge legal and accounting industries designed to manage the incomprehensible burden of 17,000 pages of federal tax rules. American bookkeeping, which used to be a management tool for running a business, is increasingly a tax management and accounting tool for government, to keep armed tax agents away from a business' door.

For a candidate to truly have an aggressive stance on the economy, the platform would have to include massive reduction in government interference, regulation, redistribution, social management and general spending. No such candidate could be reached at press time.

The major-party candidates all propose gigantic increases in government spending, (with accompanying tax and debt increases), as a way to "boost" the economy, vigorously encouraged by sycophants who expect to get the money for themselves. The idea is so outlandish and regressive, our language lacks words to describe the insanity. No lamestream reports address the problem, preferring instead to promote aggressive presidential "action" on the economy.

Indians Screwed Again

The lamestream media told you:

American Indian plaintiffs, who had sued the U.S. government for unpaid back royalties on natural resources extracted from their lands, were awarded $455 million by a federal judge, a fraction of the $47 billion they sought, according to Mary Jalonick, writing for the AP.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Reporters and editors, who are known to have little command of math, recognized that the award to American Indians was a fraction. The fraction is less than one one-thousandth of the unpaid fees the tribes had sought. That's a small fraction. The original demand had been for $100 billion.

American taxpayers needn't worry however, because the court didn't decide who should get the money, meaning it will not be paid for a long time, if ever. The back payments are as much as 121 years overdue. Taxpayers did however get the benefit of the oil, gas, timber grazing and other resources which they got by promising to pay, without actually paying.

The half million Indians in the class action suit would get $910 each, for the unpaid royalties since 1887, if the award is divided equally. Because this is a number that requires use of a calculator, it was not reported.

Tags: royalties, American Indians, natural resources

Unexpected Tax Cuts

The lamestream media told you:

Green activists, environmental pundits, anti-foreign-oil interests and many in Congress and state legislatures have been clamoring for significant increases in gasoline taxes, to reduce use and force research into energy alternatives, renewable energy, higher mileage cars, and to disrupt our dependence on foreign oil.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Now that gasoline is at $4 per gallon and rising, all the green anti-growth fuelists are getting their wishes fulfilled, but unintended consequences are dogging them.

With gas prices high enough to slow consumption and encourage switching to low use vehicles like unsafe tiny cars and motorcycles, government revenue from gas taxes have dipped dramatically, causing politicians to sweat profusely.

Hard pressed for funds from gasoline taxes to build roads, infrastructure -- and multiple uses that have nothing to do with gas or driving -- cities, states and the feds are desperate for cash and not sure what they will do. Unalterable commitments to road building and various programs and entitlements were made and locked in before the revenues were generated, in typical government style.

Now that they can't squeeze more dollars out of reluctant consumers, they're in a bind and appear dissatisfied. Government generates no money of its own, forced by design to live off the backs of those who work and do produce goods and services.

The greens are thankful, though, since they can't be blamed for the problem, since they were unsuccessful in artificially boosting prices to the point where it would have the "desired" effect.

Tags: gasoline taxes

RKBA Escapes Recession

The lamestream media told you:

Recession raised its ugly head again, and global economy faces disaster, as oil hit a record high, unemployment rose, food prices are skyrocketing and the stock market dipped against a backdrop of a weak dollar, home foreclosures, growth in China and global warming.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Defying incessant gloomy reports proliferating from "news" outlets, and curiously missing from lamestream financial "news," overall firearm sales increased by nearly 11% in the last quarter of 2007. Retail sales were up over 10% in May 2008.

Reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, growth was led by a 23.6 percent increase in ammunition sales, a 5.9 percent rise in handgun sales and a 4 percent increase in long gun sales, according to statistics from the latest federal excise tax collection report.

The Pittman-Robertson excise taxes provide precise business measurements, and are earmarked solely for state wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs. This makes gun-and-ammo sales one of the leading conservation forces in the nation, unreported by lamestream outlets for reasons that remain unclear.

During the quarter, $74.8 million was generated for conservation, compared to $67.4 million in the same period in 2006. From October through December, $16.2 million was collected for pistols and revolvers, $31.4 million for long guns and $27.1 million for ammunition. The latest tax collections suggest overall sales of $694.4 million, not including markups for final retail sales. For the entire calendar year, a total of $303.2 million was collected in excise taxes, up 21.2 percent from the $250.1 million in 2006. There are no current plans to end the taxes, and allow the businesses that generate the money to keep it.

In other news, also covered by NSSF but overlooked somehow by the networks and all other routine "news" outlets, the FBI's NICS background checks show 886,183 checks were made in May, a 10.3 percent increase from 803,051 reported in May 2007. Adjusted state figures show checks up 8.8 percent during the month. Year-to-date figures show a total of 4,831,693 background checks reported by NICS, on track to reach 10 million for 2008. http://www.nssf.org/share/images/BP061608_NICS.jpg

Tags: National Shooting Sports Foundation

Papers Hide Mismanagement

The lamestream media told you:

Like cities nationwide, "Drastic cuts to hit Phoenix city services" says a screaming page-one headline in Gannett's number two (after USA Today) newspaper, The Arizona Republic, on March 7. Emotional images show "victims" of the cuts, including seniors playing cards, a two-year-old in a pool and a library building.

The story however says, "Disastrous holiday sales will force Phoenix to slash more from its budget than planned... eating further into services provided by Police, Fire," and other city services. The lead says weak holiday sales are the problem.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Following a discredited financial model that could bankrupt any ordinary business or family, cities continue to get into hot water by spending money they don't have, hoping their revenues will increase in the future. Setting budgets based on guesswork about future taxes is called "insanity" by some experts.

Complicit in the corrupt accounting methods, "news" media identify the problem as weak consumer sales, and warn of threats to two-year-olds who use taxpayer-funded swimming pools and government-run senior centers. The most egregious deception, experts say, is the near constant alarm that essential services will be cut for fire, police, 911 and emergency medical services.

By accusing consumers of spending too little the blame is placed on the public instead of on politicians and city planners where it belongs. No mention of the problem of spending money you don't have is included in the stories. That's why they're called, "stories."

Politicians, refusing to go on the record, privately admit that you eliminate new carpeting, painting, building expansions, entitlement giveaways and salary increases before cutting police and fire services. "Essential services are cut last if ever," said one high-ranking official on condition of anonymity. Reporters were apparently unable to obtain such information, instead threatening cuts to fire and police on page one.

In other news, the entire state approved a spending freeze, "as a way to move along sluggish negotiations on bridging the current-year budget gap." The state finds itself in the same mess for identical reasons plaguing cities -- they've planned to spend money they don't have.

"The action in the House and Senate came on party-line votes, with Republicans voting for it and Democrats denouncing it as a waste of time." The governor will likely veto the bill, with no mention of where the non-existent money might come from.

Remington Acquires Marlin

The "news" covers all sorts of business acquisitions, but here's one they missed: Remington will acquire the Marlin line of firearms in a friendly takeover. A family-run business since 1924, with more credits than I can list, they made the favorite exhibition-shooting rifles for Annie Oakley.

Tags: Marlin , Remington

Friendly Gasoline Tax

The lamestream media told you:

"Would you pay an extra 66 cents a day -- on top of soaring gas prices -- if it meant less rush hour traffic, better public transit and fewer people dying on the highways?" writes Hope Yen in a lead sentence for the AP. A special commission "is presenting a choice something like that," Yen says.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:

Trying to sell the government's interest in raising taxes, using hollow appeals the government hands you, is not the proper role of a reporter, but no charges are expected to be filed.

"With mountains of money already poured into Washington by taxpayers, and much of it grossly wasted, asking for more to provide essential services is a brutal slap in the face," says The Uninvited Ombudsman, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Justifying the increase by pointing out the tax hasn't gone up in 15 years, and that the Minneapolis bridge collapse was caused by an inadequate design, adds insult to injury. Repeating a commissioner's claim that the cost is "less than the price of a candy bar," is an affront, and hopelessly deceptive if you do the math and see the estimate is actually $240 per year per person, forever.

Tags: Hope Yen, gasoline tax

$3 Billion Guntax

The lamestream media told you:
Nothing.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that the 15-year total excise tax on guns and ammo, which is dedicated to conservation measures, has just topped $3 billion. The incredible achievement was missed by lamestream news outlets everywhere. State wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs get the money, the single largest source of conservation funding.

Gun-tax collections by the Treasury Dept., paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers and passed on to consumers, was a whopping $76.6 million in the second quarter of 2006, up 36% over the same period a year earlier. The reason the stunning increase was missing in "news" reports was unknown, but maybe they lacked space, one expert suggests.

Although the tax increase is huge, it is also a sign of robust health in the gun industry, a fact that lamestream reports keep hidden from people who don't receive Page Nine reports (or info from NSSF), both of which are free.

"Strong handgun sales, up 44.8 percent, long-gun sales, up 37 percent, and ammo sales, up 29.2 percent," lead the surge, reports NSSF. "It is projected that $715.5 million in sales was generated in the quarter, not including retail markup or final retail sales." In other news, people are still fighting over Anna Nicole's baby.

Tags: National Shooting Sports Foundation, gun taxes

Cutting Essential Services

The lamestream media told you:
With state legislatures wrapping up their sessions across America, budget cuts and reduced spending may lead to reduced fire, police, roadwork and other essential services. Legislators who have worked hard on tax rebates, tax reductions and lower government spending may have hurt the public at large with ill-conceived spending cuts.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
Although reporters are highly prone to repeat empty statements about cutting police, fire and essential services in hard financial times, there appears to be no logical grounds for doing so, other than a mindless lapdog mentality pervasive in the "news" business.

The obvious top choice for cuts when funds are short is bureaucratic waste, not the fire department.

This is followed by agency redundancies, worthless regulatory programs, burdensome funding of pork recipients and other gross governmental waste. Even a moron knows you cut police and fire last, not first. Because that's less sensational and would not instill a sense of fear to increase spending, it is ignored, and the media faithfully promotes the government's agenda.

Newspapers and network TV viewership continue to decline.

Tags: budget cuts, tax reductions

Gasoline Prices Rising

The lamestream media told you:
Gas prices have gone up at least twenty cents everywhere, the AP reports with a straight face in a story with no byline.

"Concerns over falling gasoline inventories from decreased refinery production and fewer imports have boosted oil and gasoline prices lately," they say. The government reported that gas inventories dropped by more than analysts had expected, AP says in a brief squib.

The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
Anyone who drives, walks or rides public transit can see the big signs with big gas prices getting bigger, so saying the price went up hardly qualifies as news, unnamed analysts say.

"The bafflegab about 'concerns' and 'refinery production' do little more than hide any semblance of news, and sounds like old-world communists managing the public with mindless verbiage," critics point out. "Wheat production is up in sector four," while the public starves.

To qualify as news, the report would need to tell who has these concerns, who is in charge of raising the prices everywhere (a complete mystery to American "news" consumers), and why the people in charge imported less oil and refined less gasoline, deliberately forcing these increases. Prices, as people know, do not increase themselves. The rumor that imports were lowered so prices would rise could not be confirmed at press time.

"We're being soaked, and the media is hiding the culprits," says one gasoline user who owns a pickup and an SUV.

The AAA, often quoted when fuel prices rise, is a private consumer club of drivers and has no direct connection to fuel prices, oil giants or the perpetrators. "But the publicity is good for the club," one AAA member noted.

Why the government would report gasoline inventory numbers, when private industry manages the supplies, refining, inventories and pricing, was unexplained by the AP, as usual. In the interest of fairness, it should be explained that reporters are encouraged by their bosses to rely on official sources.

Tags: gasoline prices, gasoline