Initiative: Fiscal Cliff, Part 2...A call to Congress

 

Congress:  “…we need a balanced, bipartisan approach…the new reality is that uncertainty = inaction…They need to get stuff done!” – Mayors Michael Nutter (D) and Scott Smith (R), during CNN interview after The White House meeting last week.

 

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, in divisible with liberty and justice for all.”

Patriotism…love or devotion to one’s country. Yes, the common denominator we have is love. I hope we all love our country and want what’s best for it. I realize that politicians and special interest groups take advantage of crucial situations such as the fiscal cliff to advance their own agenda. But if we all focus on actions that show patriotism, perhaps those actions may include making the right decisions for the benefit of our country.

Put aside selfish ambitions. Remember, authority of elected officials should depend on the consent of the people. We spoke when we voted you in to get the job done. That means coming together to strengthen our country.

Instead of results, we get GRIDLOCK.

As our representatives, instead of political posturing and bickering, please exemplify our “pledge of allegiance” to the world. Instead of selfish ambitions, promote a common agenda for the benefit of the country, pleasing in the sight of God.

Although we’re starting to see movement toward a compromise, confidence in your ability to avoid this country from falling off the tax cliff by year-end remains questionable for now. In an 11/26/12 Millionaire Corner article, nearly two-thirds (62.5 percent) of affluent investors surveyed do not believe a fiscal cliff resolution will happen before the deadline. A Gallup poll indicated public confidence in Congress recently decreased from 21 percent to 18 percent. Bruce Stokes, special to CNN World, indicated last week that “just over half of the public does not think President Obama and the Republican members of Congress can reach an agreement to avert going over the cliff.”

 

*********************************

Regardless of political debates and disagreements, let’s keep our eyes on the goal of strengthening our country, i.e., strengthening the weak. In this case, the disappearing middle class who now ranks among the “near poor.”

Pew Charitable Trusts reported findings of a brief from the Economic Mobility Project: “In many ways, families in high-poverty neighborhoods were already experiencing their own hard times before the official downturn, making any additional losses that much more harmful to their economic prospects. 

 

*********************************

Message to Congress: Understand the realities of how your decisions will impact ways to move this country forward. Work together for the good of the people…with liberty and justice for all.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

 

Initiative Thanksgiving

It’s about “we the people.”

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” -- William A. Ward, scholar, author, editor.

Listen to the words coming out of your mouth.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Fiscal cliff, Taxes, Capital gains, Dividends, Stocks, Cease fires, Resignations, Convictions, Bankruptcies, Unemployment…the never-ending noise!

This Thanksgiving holiday period, let’s pause and truly give thanks.

For just a few minutes, let’s put aside words that create differences…no wealthy, no middle class, no poor. No Democrats. No Republicans. No Independents. No red states. No blue states. Just us … “we the people” give thanks to God for our life, health and strength. He did not have to give us this gift of life, but He did. We thank Him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

Let’s appreciate what we have in common.

1. We all want to be loved.
2. We all want a strong economy filled with good paying jobs.
3. We all want peace, respect and happiness.
4. We all want good health.
5. We all have 24 hours in a day.
6. We all laugh, cry, hunger and thirst.
7. We all sleep.
8. We all get sick.
9. We all age.
10. We all die.

                                   

We all have a beginning and an end. It’s what we do in between that matters.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

Thank you. Amen.

Initiative: Fiscal Cliff?

“I think there should be a voluntary check box on the tax form that says, ‘if you would like to send in more, please do,'" said a surveyed affluent individual who took an anti-Buffet stance.  (Source: Wealth Report.)

Two-thirds of the wealthiest people in the U.S. added to their fortunes, boosting their average net worth by $400 million to a record $4.2 billion, according to Forbes. By September 2012 the top three included Microsoft founder, now philanthropist, Bill Gates who ranked #1 at $66 billion net worth; Warren Buffet, chairman, Berkshire Hathaway, ranked #2 at $46 billion net worth; and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison ranked #3 at $41 billion net worth.

 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

And guess who hit a record in this economy? Millionaires. These individuals, with $1 million or more in investible assets had a combined wealth of $11.6 trillion, up from $10.7 trillion in 2009. Their wealth assets here excludes their primary home, collectibles, consumables and consumer durables,” according to Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.

Kudos to the wealthy! Perhaps one day we can all learn how to invest and grow similarly.

 ~

Nevertheless, amidst all these wonders, I can’t help but to think about Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath and  powerless victims who remain in the cold.

This destruction symbolizes daily struggles for many because of a lack of jobs, lack of training to fill open jobs or because of being among the underemployed. No matter how hard they work or how many jobs they have, they still often come up short because of low pay or no pay. 

Additional cutting from the middle class will create more societal problems instead of solutions.

 

October 2011 –George Walper, president of Spectrem Group, a market research firm specializing in wealth and retirement markets, released survey results: “What this tells us is that there are a number of wealthy folks who said: ‘Gee, we need to increase taxes to stimulate the economy. No one likes to be taxed more, but the reality is maybe it has to be done.’” (68% of millionaires supported Warren Buffet’s tax on the wealthy. Those who disagreed felt penalized because of their wealth. One commented, “I think there should be a voluntary check box on the tax form that says, ‘if you would like to send in more, please do." Source:Wealth Report.

What a difference a year makes...

 

September 2012 – George Walper, president of Spectrem Group, a market research firm specializing in wealth and retirement markets, released results from a June/July survey of individuals with an average net worth of $25 million.“There are a lot of unknowns. Tax law changes could impact them professionally and personally. A lot of these people are entrepreneurs, and if a sizable portion of their income is going to go to taxes, that’s a part of their income that they can no longer count on to invest,” he said. (Source: Forbes)

When asked what is the biggest threat to achieving their current financial goals, Affluent investors said the economy and the partisan political climate, which they believe is impeding the progress of the economic recovery. (Source: Reuters)

As Former President John F. Kennedy said during his 1961 Inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” Luke 11:17

…pray for all men… and all who are in authority…1 Timothy 2.  Don't hurt us. Strengthen us to stand on our own.

Initiative Vote! (Series 3 of 3)

For those who still choose not to vote, please remember…

Jesus gave His life for us so that we may be saved. With that same God-given spirit, many fought the “overcome battle" with blood, sweat and tears so that we can vote. Now, all citizens—races and genders--of the U.S. can vote. So vote on November 6, 2012.  

“We the People” – affirms that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.

Preamble to the U.S. Constitution 

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution that address voting rights:

14th Amendment – All persons born within the U.S. are citizens and guaranteed rights and privileges (1868)

15th Amendment – No citizen denied the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (1870) - gave freed slaves the right to vote (Jim Crow laws started)

19th Amendment - No citizen shall be abridged of their right to vote based on sex.

(1920) - gave women the right to vote

24th Amendment – No poll tax is allowed or failure to pay any other tax shall prevent a person from voting (1964) - eliminated some of the Jim Crow laws

Voting Rights Act of 1965 - barriers to vote were lifted for minorities

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.” Lyndon B. Johnson, 36^th President of the United States (at signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965)

26th Amendment – All persons 18 or older shall not be abridged of their right to vote (1971)

Initiative Vote (Series 2 of 3)

Why Vote?

If the right to vote no longer existed, the U.S. would no longer survive as a democratic nation. By not voting, you give away your right to influence the government overall. Plus, not voting takes away the will of the majority of people who govern this country. Remember, “We the people” vote. Be led by God.

Please don’t sit on the sidelines. Exercise your right to vote. Too many people have fought for you to vote. Too many have marched for you to vote. And too many have died for you to vote.

24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of U.S. citizens to vote for someone or something that reflects their overall views.

“For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Hurricane Sandy

In the midst of the whirlwind called #Hurricane Sandy, the Lord whistled. The antique iron gates surrounding the corner of 80-year-old Trenton Central High School at Greenwood & Quinton Aves. in Trenton, NJ were disfigured on Monday (10/29/12).

More than 2.5 million people in New Jersey, 8 million overall, lost power in a matter of minutes that day. Power outages increased by the hour. My family was one of them. No electricity, no heat, no cooking, no phone service and no internet. In the thickness of the night, we sat together around candlelight, appreciative of every flame. We used flashlights to navigate our way from room-to-room. (Made me wonder what people did before there was electricity. Maybe that’s why families were much larger in those days. J)

     (Deep tree roots barely seen fed the tree that pulled a piece of the road off when it fell. No more parking under the shaded tree.)

   

I was shocked at the widespread thick darkness in the neighborhoods with unmanned flashing traffic lights and sometimes no flashing lights at all. “Free-for-all” driving through intersections were filled with near misses. 

Standing tall, facing 400 Chambers Street in Trenton, the stately Trenton High is one of the largest and most expensive high schools built in the country. Stretching broadly for almost 1000 feet, nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall, the high school remains as one of the showplaces of Trenton. Perhaps that is why Hurricane Sandy’s toppled tree became a tourist attraction throughout the week.

Good news for those with restored power, but many victims remain without power surrounded by downed trees and power lines. Power companies continue to work feverishly.

Please help make a difference for storm-ravaged victims. Donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund (redcross.org).

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given. (Proverbs 19:17)

By Darlene Womack