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Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 20:00:29 PM EDT
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| As we prepare to celebrate our freedom, this upcoming July 4th, our thoughts are also with the soldiers and their families who are unable to be together and enjoy the day too.
Even though the Iraq War does not enter most people's minds, on a daily basis, you should think about the many ways it does affect your life.
We are currently spending $12.5 billion a month in Iraq. "Add in long-term factors, such as the care of veterans and interest on federal debt incurred as a result of the war, and the cost piles up to $25 billion a month nowadays." That is according to a recent Christian Science Monitor article. In that same article in goes on to explain how the war spending compares to other government programs.
"Scott Wallsten, (an economist at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy in Washington) and graduate student Katrina Kosec have compared the cost of the war to the US Treasury of $415 billion in the years 2003-07 with approximate amounts spent on other federal agencies over that same period: Education, $370 billion; Transportation, $310 billion; State Department $64 billion; Corps of Engineers, $35 billion."
Consider how the cost of the Iraq War and the interest that we are paying on the National Debt is affecting what the Country can do domestically. You can click on the link to see the latest numbers www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
Think of how that $415 billion dollars could have been spent to help the country. Here is how true trickle down economics works. When the Federal Government makes cuts, that means less money to the States. When the States make cuts, that is less money for County Governments. When the County Government makes cuts, that's less money for Cities. Who gets the most blame? Your local officials do. They are easily accessible; they may even be your neighbor. You can complain to them and they have to listen. John Mica, George Bush or John McCain do not. That is one of the reasons Charlie Crist and the Florida State legislature supported Amendment One. They knew that the local governments would have to make the cuts. They will get blamed and Charlie can just smile and follow John McCain around.
If I may coin a phrase, " Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" How has John Mica improved your life? It now costs you $50.00 to fill your tank, teachers are being laid off, schools are being closed, milk costs $5.00 a gallon, people are being laid off or they are finding it increasingly difficult to find a job. It seems that everyday there is more and more bad news about the economy. Consumer Confidence is at a 28 year low. 80% of the United States thinks the Country is moving in the wrong direction. John Mica helped put us on that negative course. We need Faye Armitage to take control of the wheel now, to help turn the economy around in a way that benefits the middle class.
No one likes to pay taxes, but as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society." We complain but we like to have paved streets, public schools, parks, libraries, firefighters, police officers, clean water, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. When people who care about making government work and are competent are put in charge- guess what Government works. When you elect people who want to starve government by giving no-bid contracts to their buddies, privatizing agencies so that you can't track where your tax money goes, putting horse lawyers in charge of FEMA and a 22 year-old in charge of the Iraq stock exchange, then guess what? Government doesn't work.
John Mica is not on the side of the average Floridian. Here are a couple of recent bills he voted against:
H.R. 6346 - Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act (Rep. Stupak - Energy and Commerce)
Failed in the House by a vote of 276-146, because the bill was brought under suspension of the rules, requiring a 2/3 majority to pass. Bush threatened a veto.
H.R. 6251 - Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act (Rep. Rahall - Natural Resources)
Failed in the House on Thursday by a vote of 223-195, because the bill was brought under suspension of the rules, requiring a 2/3 majority to pass. Bush threatened a veto.
Mica voted NO on the Medicare Improvement Act, which passed the House on a vote of 355-59
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll443.xml
If John Mica is not doing anything to help Floridians now, why does he deserve your vote in November? He is part of the reason our Country is in this current mess. He has no long term plan to improve the lives of you or your children.
Change will not come with Obama alone. He needs a Democratic Congress and Senate to help turn this Country around.
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| Kimw :: Thoughts on Freedom and Independence |
| www.fayeforcongress.com
www.actblue.com/page/fayeforcongress
Faye Armitage for Congress
P.O. BOX # 600812
Jacksonville FL 32260-0812 |
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