Duh.............

Today when I look at Berlin, I see several things I never thought I would ever see. First is the “empty” mill site, empty but for the recovery boiler and stack. Second, Downtown Main Street, an “empty” shell of its former self. Gone is JC Penney, Woolworth, Berlin Drug, City Drug, Guay & Drouin, Evans Department Store, Lionel Furniture, Berlin Furniture and the list goes on and on. The latest on the “empty list” is the new Federal Prison. What’s truly amazing about this latest entry into our “empty list” is the fact that it didn’t even have a chance to open its doors. I believe that most residents of Berlin are standing around in disbelief over the events surrounding the Federal Prison. With this post I wish to focus on the prison issue in order to use it as an example of a Federal Government gone amuck and of a political movement that is threatening each and every one of us. The reactionary Tea Party and its simplistic followers are in the process of dismantling the social and economic fabric of middle class America. I’m personally tired of listening to these dimwits yelling “jobs, jobs, jobs” while doing nothing to put us back on a path to actually create jobs and improve the economy. Their political campaign consisted of their false “jobs, jobs, jobs” rhetoric which is now being replaced with “cut, cut, cut” citing the size of the National Debt, again a simplistic conclusion. If in your everyday life you were confronted with a wage cut, would you stop eating? If in your everyday life you faced a massive debt, would you stop sending your kids to school? Would you instead study where your money is really going and, then prioritize those things you can do without and cut those out? I think so, but these non-thinking morons are suggesting cutting everything that makes the everyday life of the middle class Americans possible. The reason this is happening is because we no longer have a representative voice in government. The corporations have their lobbyists and the rich camouflage their personal agendas in their corporate political strategies.  Cut Social Security, cut Medicare, cut college grants, cut, cut, cut, but give tax breaks to the wealthiest 1% of Americans! The Berlin Federal Prison is caught-up in this insane political process where we throw the baby out with the wash water and we should be learning some important lessons from what we see. For one thing we shouldn’t expect intelligent decisions from those who can only reduce every issue to its lowest common denominator. Yes Sarah, we know Russia is near your house, but even if you can see Russia from there, it doesn’t mean you know anything about Russia! Yes the government is broke and yes we need to cut back on spending, but that doesn’t mean cutting things that keep people alive. What about the Pentagon, why are they off the hook? How many wars do we need? The cost of a few military jets and missiles would make Social Security solvent for the next two hundred years! What we see here in Berlin is going on all over the country and, if we don’t wake up to its reality, the life you and I enjoy will soon go the way of JC Penney and Woolworth. The Federal Prison is the canary in the coal mine and we should heed its message which doesn’t simplistically mean to blow up the mine. Beware of those that have simple answers to complex issues for they have no clue what they’re talking about.

Comments

[wood burner]

A PRISON NOT OPENING SOON NEAR YOU!!!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42717207#42717207

[wood burner]

Rocky

Just out of curiosity why don't you run for office? Be it city or state? NOT being a wise guy just curious?

[Rocky]

I don't think I have what it takes. I don't think I would make a good policeman either.

[warren,]

Happy Easter to All!

[Tim]

The distraction of the left blaming the right and the right blaming the left is exactly what they want. As long as we are infighting we are not focused on the real problem. And that plays right into their hands as they continue to amass all the wealth. Who are “THEY”?

See here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPWH5TlbloU

How much do the top 1% make and pay in taxes, and why do some people want to steal their money and give it to others? I contend it is because people have turned their back on the US Constitution. But then its much easier to continue repeating simplistic rhetoric like “TAX THE RICH”, rather then defend the law they have sworn to uphold.

http://cdn.financialsamurai.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/toptaxes.jpg

http://www.financialsamurai.com/2011/04/12/how-much-money-do-the-top-income-earners-make-percent

I agree we are TEA = Taxed Enough Already. Not dimwits or teabaggers or morons, but rather people who see their government with 14 trillion dollars of debt and growing and want to stop heading down the path to socialism.

1. Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Accounting and Tax Preparation (cost to taxpayers $300 billion)
3. Accumulated Earnings Tax
4. Accumulation Distribution of Trusts
5. Activity Fee (Dumping Permit Fee)
6. Air Tax (PA coin-operated vacuums)
7. Aircraft Jet Fuel Tax
8. Aircraft Excise Tax
9. Alcohol Fuels Tax
10. Alcoholic Beverage Tax
11. Alternative Minimum Tax – Amt
12. Ambulance Services (Air Ambulance Services, SD)
13. Ammunition Tax
14. Amusement Tax (MA, VA, MD)
15. Animal Slaughter Tax (WI, others, Per Animal)
16. Annual Custodial Fees (Ira Accounts)
17. Ballast Water Management Fee (Marine Invasive Species)
18. Biodiesel Fuel Tax
19. Blueberry Tax (Maine)
20. Bribe Taxes (Pay If You Dare)
21. Brothel licensing fees (NV – $35,000 per year per brothel)
22. Building Permit Tax
23. Capital Gains Tax
24. California Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
25. California Redemption Value (Can and Bottle Tax)
26. CDL License Tax
27. Charter Boat Captain License
28. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee
29. Cigarette Tax
30. Cigarette Tax Stamp (Acts) (Distributors)
31. Compressed Natural Gas Tax
32. Commercial Activity Tax (OH – for Service Providers)
33. Corporate Income Tax
34. Court Fines (Indirect Taxes)
35. County Property Tax
36. Disposable Diapers Tax (Wisconsin)
37. Disposal Fee (Any Landfill Dumping)
38. Dog License Tax
39. Duck Hunting Tax Stamp (PA, others)
40. Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (E-Waste)
41. Emergency Telephone User Surcharge
42. Environmental Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
43. Estate Tax (Death Tax, to be reinstated)
44. Excise Taxes
45. Facility Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
46. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
47. Federal Income Tax
48. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
49. Fiduciary Income Tax (Estates and Trusts)
50. Fishing License Tax
51. Flush Tax (MD Tax For Producing Wastewater)
52. Food License Tax
53. Fountain Soda Drink Tax (Chicago – 9%)
54. Franchise Tax
55. Fresh Fruit (CA, if Purchased From A Vending Machine)
56. Fuel Gross Receipts Tax (Retail/Distributor)
57. Fuel Permit Tax
58. Fur Clothing Tax (MN)
59. Garbage Tax
60. Gasoline Tax (475 Cents Per Gallon)
61. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
62. Generator Fee (Recycled Waste Fee)
63. Gift Tax
64. Gross Receipts Tax
65. Habitat Stamp (Hunting/Fishing in some states)
66. Hamburger Tax (Ask Huckabee)
67. Hazardous Substances Fees: Generator, Facility, Disposal
68. Highway Access Fee
69. Household Employment Taxes
70. Hunting License Tax
71. Illegal Drug Possession (No Carolina)
72. Individual Income Tax
73. Inheritance Tax
74. Insect Control Hazardous Materials License
75. Insurance Premium Tax
76. Intangible Tax (Leases Of Govt. Owned Real Property)
77. Integrated Waste Management Fee
78. Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
79. Inventory Tax
80. IRA Rollover Tax (a transfer of IRA money)
81. IRA Early Withdrawal Tax
82. IRS Interest Charges
83. IRS Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax)
84. Jock Tax (income earned by athletes in some states)
85. Kerosene, Distillate, & Stove Oil Taxes
86. Kiddie Tax (Child’s Earned Interest Form 8615)
87. Land Gains and Real Estate Withholding
88. Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee (Occupational)
89. Lease Severance Tax
90. Library Tax
91. Liquid Natural Gas Tax
92. Liquid Petroleum Gas Tax
93. Liquor Tax
94. Litigation Tax (TN Imposes Varies With the Offense)
95. LLC/PLLC Corporate Registration Tax
96. Local Income Tax
97. Lodging Taxes
98. Lump-Sum Distributions
99. Luxury Taxes
100. Make-Up Tax (Ohio, applying in a salon is taxable)
101. Marriage License Tax
102. Meal Tax
103. Medicare Tax
104. Mello-Roos Taxes (Special Taxes and Assessments)
105. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (addition to hunting license)
106. Minnow Dealers License (Retail – For One Shop)
107. Minnow Dealers License (Distributor – For One+ Shops)
108. Mobile Home Ad Valorem Taxes
109. Motor Fuel Tax (For Suppliers)
110. Motor Vehicle Tax
111. Music and Dramatic Performing Rights Tax
112. Nudity Tax (Utah)
113. Nursery Registration (Buying and selling plants)
114. Occupancy Inspection Fees
115. Occupation Taxes and Fees (Various Professional Fees)
116. Oil and Gas Assessment Tax
117. Oil Spill Response, Prevention, And Administration Fee
118. Parking Space Taxes
119. Pass-Through Withholding
120. Pay-Phone Calls Tax (Indiana)
121. Percolation Test Fee
122. Personal Property Tax
123. Personal Holding Company (undistributed earnings)
124. Pest Control License
125. Petroleum Business Tax
126. Playing Card Tax (Al)
127. Pole Tax (TX – A $5 Cover Charge On Strip Clubs)
128. Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
129. Property Tax
130. Property Transfer Tax (DE, ownership transfer between parties)
131. Prostitution Tax (NV – Prostitute Work Permits)
132. Poultry Registered Premises License (Sales License)
133. Rain Water Tax (Runoff after a Storm)
134. Rat Control Fee (CA)
135. Real Estate Tax
136. Recreational Vehicle Tax
137. Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Fees
138. Regional Transit Taxing Authority (Trains)
139. Road Usage Tax
140. Room Tax (Hotel Rooms)
141. Sales Tax (State)
142. Sales Tax (City)
143. Sales And Use Tax (Sellers Permit)
144. School Tax
145. Service Charge Tax
146. Self Employment Tax
147. Septic And Drain Field Inspection Fees
148. Sex Sales Tax (UT, when nude people perform services)
149. Sewer & Water Tax
150. Social Security Tax
151. Sparkler and Novelties Tax (WV Sellers of Sparklers, etc)
152. Special Assessment Tax (Not Ad Valorem)
153. State Documentary Stamp Tax on Notes (FL RE Tax)
154. State Franchise Tax
155. State Income Tax
156. State Park Fees
157. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
158. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Fuel Tax
159. Stud Fees (Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Sex Tax)
160. Tangible Personal Property Tax
161. Tattoo Tax (AR Tax On Tattoos)
162. Telephone 911 Service Tax (some states)
163. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
164. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
165. Telephone Federal Surcharge Taxes
166. Telephone State Surcharge Taxes
167. Telephone Local Surcharge Taxes
168. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
169. Telephone Recurring Charges Tax
170. Telephone Universal Access Tax
171. Telephone Non-Recurring Charges Tax
172. Telephone State Usage Charge Tax
173. Telephone Local Usage Charge Tax
174. Tire Recycling Fee
175. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Consumer Tax)
176. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Dealer Tax)
177. Toll Road Taxes
178. Toll Bridge Taxes
179. Toll Tunnel Taxes
180. Tourism or Concession License Fee
181. Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation)
182. Transportable Treatment Unit Fee (Small Facility)
183. Trailer Registration Tax
184. Trout Stamp (Addendum To Fish License)
185. Use Taxes (On Out-Of-State Purchases)
186. Utility Taxes
187. Unemployment Tax
188. Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee
189. Underpayment of Estimated Tax (Form 2210)
190. Unreported Tip Income (Social Security and Medicare Tax)
191. Vehicle License
192. Vehicle Recovery Tax (CO, to find stolen cars)
193. Vehicle Registration Tax
194. Vehicle Sales Tax
195. Wagering Tax (Tax on Gambling Winnings)
196. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) Fuel Tax
197. Water Rights Fee
198. Watercraft Registration Tax
199. Waterfowl Stamp Tax
200. Well Permit Tax
201. Wiring Inspection Fees
202. Workers Compensation Tax

[Rocky]

Very good comment Tim, however I wish to challenge your assumptions that all government is bad, taxes are bad etc. Let me use the analogy of an automobile and its many parts. So your car breaks down like our government is broken, it no longer does what it's supposed to do. In response to my broken down car I list all the parts of the damn car and I say if it wasn't for all these parts that are broken I wouldn't have this problem. Yes there are parts that are no absolutely necessary and you may want to chuck them (Like a sunroof or adjustable seats), but they're nice if you can afford them. You listing all the taxes is a useful inventory of all the "parts", but it's an incomplete picture of what we're dealing with. The money from most of these taxes goes for doing something that you and I (collectively)wish to be done for us. Now I agree that we want our government to do too much and we need to address that issue, but on a whole we want these things, roads, schools, safe food, flood control, police, fire etc. My list could be as long as yours Tim. My point is that we need to examine all these "parts" and decide what's absolutely necessary by prioritizing their needs and their costs and making intelligent decisions about what stays and what goes. We need to get rid of the sacred cows that suck us dry through loopholes, special contracts etc. Shouting the list of taxes is no different than shouting "jobs, jobs, jobs, it's rhetoric that's meaningless unless there's a vision and a plan on how our society will function without all its "parts". You and I curse the car that broke down, but we fix it, we don't roll it down over a cliff and get a horse, which is what the dimwitted Tea Baggers are suggesting.

[Tim]

Simple, my list begins and ends with what the US Constitution permits. Everything else is illegal. End of story. I don't ask for anything else and I don't want anything else from my government. If that brands me with one of your names, so be it. As I see it I am in good company with the founding fathers, on the side of liberty. It is the socialist agenda that is costing me and future generations more then we can afford and straight over the cliff. Socialist won't be happy until it all comes crashing down, not that they can see it coming. Then they will have no choice but to admit they were wrong. And history repeats itself.

[Rocky]

With all due respect Tim, I'm no more impressed with people who use their interpretation of the Constitution to justify their political views than those who use the Bible to justify their moral position. Both are important documents to be taken seriously, both are often misunderstood and both should be viewed as living documents, not as pronouncements cast in stone for eternity. In my opinion, it's the Tea Baggers that might bring the country down, at least a segment of the society (the rich will be ok)because of their simplistic understanding and solutions to very complex issues. As they yell cut, cut, cut, or down with the government they have no clue as to what will replace what they cut. Saying "nothing" (will replace what was cut) is not an answer, it's a cop-out because something will, it's just that they haven't thought it through.

[Tim]

And therein lies the problem and what I believe will ultimately be shown as the cause for the collapse of the country. Guess there is no sense in continuing this conversation. I will continue supporting the views of this generation since they seem to be the last best hope.

http://studentsforliberty.org

At least they understand the importance of liberty.

[Rocky]

Liberty without the necessities of life is but a philosophical point of view. I cherish our liberties, but it comes with a cost and a responsibility. This generation will discover like other generations that came before them that, LIBERTY WITHOUT JUSTICE IS NOT LIBERTY AT ALL.

[Tim]

The necessities of life without liberty is slavery.

[Rocky]

Our argument Tim and the malaise in the country is fundamentally over the issue of justice. The poor are getting poorer, the middle class is joining the poor class all while the large corporations are making record profits. My fear about the emotion of the country is that in the process of trying to level the playing field we'll end up with a two class society much like third world countries. You may believe the new generation has the answers, but were talking about a generation that never experienced deprivation and who generally always had what it wanted. I believe those conditions are about to change and I'm not sure how they will handle not having all they want or maybe need.

[Wing Nut]

God bless you Tim! You've summed it up well and I couldn't agree more. Happy Easter my friend and keep the faith.

Take care,
WN

[Antonio Andolini]

Because PSNH and Northeast Utilities know what's best for us (?)
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Couple%3a+Northern+Pass+kills+land+value&articleId=8ffc73a0-51b5-4c86-abc9-69d980e945d8

[warren,]

Tim is Correct, It's all in a Book called "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by a man called Griffin. The founding of the Federal Reserve in 1913. A Year when The Income Tax ( ONLY for the Rich of Course! Lol! ) was Enacted, The 16th Ammendment. AND the 17th Ammendment, also in 1913
Allowed for the DIRECT Election, by the People, of Senators.
America has gone Progressively More Socialist ever since.
A Great Documentory on this Subject was made by the Late Aaron Russo called "America, Freedom to Fascism".
Rocky, You may be a Nice Guy to have a beer with and maybe listen to the Classic Rock n' Roll, but You will never Understand this Due to Your Ingrained Political/ Worldview Belief System. Socialism and "Fiat" Currencies have always ended Badly. So too have "Democracies" Look to Greece and Athens. America was Founded as a "Republic".

[warren,]

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

And President Obama Raised the Debt Limit....George Soros Says We ( The U.S. ) Can Take on More Debt...and so it goes, Day and Night. Every Minute, Every Second. The Inexorability of Socialism!

[Wing Nut]

I agree with Rocky on one thing. There is a political movement that is threatening every one of us and it is called the "Progressive Movement" and it is being led by the Obama Administration with the help of a lot of money from George Soros and the Unions. Let's hope they are stopped before this country ends up in the toilet bowl of history.

Take care,
WN

[wood burner]

Too late WN already there!! Thanks to the Obama Administration!! Half way to the treatment plant already!!!

[warren,]

I'll let Johnny Say My Last Word on The Prison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgja26eNeY

Rocky, Any Comment on the State Funding Issue for Berlin's Community College? Isn't the Funding through Tuition Fee's and Grants from it's Students not enough? Was Anyone Locally Hopeing It would become a State College? Therfore Berlin would somehow be more like Plymouth N.H.?

[Tim]

I agree, “the fix is in”, a conspiracy against American citizens by some corporations and the Fed/big bankers who now control most of the American wealth. It Wasn’t hard to do once they bought many of our politicians.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A

What they don’t completely own yet is our ideas or our votes.

There is a choice.

“There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit [or monetary] expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of voluntary abandonment of the further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved.” -Mises

http://mises.org/daily/5223/Charting-the-Course-to-7-Gas

[warren,]

Tim, Do You really think there is a "Choice" left? I mean as regards Elections. No Serious Candidate who would Abolish the Fed, let alone withdraw U.S. from the U.N.!!! would be Allowed to Run. The Order of events would be Media Blackout, ie No Coverage. Then Ridicule by the Media if the Candidate still did Well, Then Insults by the Media ( We have seen this Play Out with TEA ) and finally, I believe...if the Candidate were about to Win...Assasination.

[Wing Nut]

Rocky,

Do you know what I really think this is all about? The Federal Government has been giving to the American people and supporting them for so long that they've forgotten how to take care of themselves.

My grandparents who were members of the "Greatest Generation" lived through the Great Depression and WW2. I was told that to survive they had to keep their own livestock and grow their own vegetables. In fact, back then that is what most families had to do. In those days friends and family helped one another to survive (not the Federal Government) because they had no choice. These first generation Americans worked hard in school, got an education (including College) and worked hard in their careers for their entire lives to make a better life for themselves and their families. They didn't complain and they certainly didn't expect the Federal Government to take care of them. They knew that as Americans if they worked hard they could achieve anything. And that is exactly what they did.

The same holds true today. If you work hard in school, get a good education and then work hard in your career you can still achieve great things in this country. The problem is that nowadays too many Americans believe that the Federal Government is supposed to do the hard work for them. People have become lazy and dependent upon the Federal Government. I have news for you. This is not how the founding fathers intended the Federal Government to operate and I can assure you that when they created this great country they had no idea that "Progressive Democrats" would pervert the Federal Government into the monster machine it is today (slowly destroying this once Great Nation by eroding our ability to take care of ourselves and by attempting to "socially redistribute" the wealth of hard working Americans who have achieved success through their own hard work).

You and those like you (Obama, Pelosi, Reid, George Soros) who believe that the Government (and not the Individual) is the solution to the problem are the very reason we are going to hell in a hand basket. The Federal Government is no longer the answer. In fact, the size and power of the Federal Government is quite clearly the problem.

Let's hope more people realize that before it is too late (we may already be past the point of no return).

Take care,
WN

[Tony]

Somebody's pepped up on some Sean Hannity. Haha!
Good luck, guys.

[Tim]

Wrong, who are you "pepped up on" Tony? Please do tell.

[warren,]

Tim, It's just the Old, Stale GOP vs. DEM Shell Game...No matter who You Vote for, You'll never find the "Pea". Bet some folks think WWF is For Real too!