February 14, 2013 Page 3 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion With a stretch and a yawn, Rip Van winked driving on them. Where are the cars?” Said National Security: More than By Gerry Chong and bridges are beautiful, but no one is at the sun and slowly got to his feet. He had the old man, “Energy Secretary Chu revealed Using Weapons been sleeping for four years and was a little the Obama goal was to bring gas to $10 per hungry, so he slowly ambled down the hill to gallon, which he did. Now since we earn $9 the tiny village below. On his walk, he stared and gas is $10 a gallon, do the math. No one By Cristian Vasquez Office CBO, based on current tax rates in wonder at the new highways and bridges, can afford to drive, so the air is pristine and Since 9/11, the Republican Party has been and spending, military spending is going with air and water as clear as the days of the roads never need maintenance, shrinking very efficient at portraying the Democrats as up over the next 10 years. The President’s Adam and Eve. The only things missing were our budgetary deficit.” weak on national security and quick to cut $480 billion in military spending “cuts” in people! At the village, he encountered a very Shaking his head, Rip went on. “What has military spending. The political landscape reality mean that he is reducing the proposed old man and asked what had happened since that done to our relations with the rest of the that was born after the terrorist attacks was spending on the military for the next 10 years he fell asleep in early 2013. world?” The old man replied, “Well, Canada one that labeled anyone who questioned rather than actually taking money from the military spending as unpatriotic and a current military budget. Current spending “Not only that, but remember those 46 million people risk to the safety of our nation. Since 2008 will remain unaffected. Future expenditures when the Democrats took over the White will be better balanced and more efficient. living beneath the poverty line? They don’t exist anymore. House, attempts to label the party a risk to So what’s the problem? The poverty line is now so low, no one could snake beneath it.” national security have remained constant. The opposition is really angry that military However, the truth is that President Obama’s spending will continue but at a slower “Well,” said the oldster, “after the collapse is now a province of China. When we rejected administration is not taking a soft-sided rate. For a group that preaches fiscal of the Republican Party, President Obama the Keystone pipeline, China bought all their approach to defense spending. responsibility, it would seem that they gained everything he had asked for. So today, oil and the land over it. Since that included all The truth is that under the current would appreciate an approach that reined we are all financially equal.” of Canada…well, you get the picture. administration, military spending has gone in wasteful spending, even from within “Wow,” said Rip, “how did he do that”? “As to the Middle East, Defense Secretary up. In November 2012, military spending our national defense budget. The argument Replied the oldster, “He did it logically. He Hagel dismantled our military, as required by went up by at least 10 percent even as troops that this budget will weaken our military started with the average family income of sequestration, so our foreign policy consisted were being withdrawn from Iraq. If anything, is nothing more than a childish temper $50,000 and directed the tax code and IRS of a full-scale retreat. Despite our trying to buy defense spending has continued to steadily tantrum by representatives such as Howard to play Whack-a-Mole with anyone earning friends with foreign aid, Arab countries banned rise--$287 billion in 2001 compared to $530 P. McKeon (R-CA) who labeled the alleged more than the average. Then working from oil sales to us, so we’ve been reduced to wind billion in 2013, and that does not account cuts dangerous and irresponsible. the other end of the financial spectrum, the and solar--but that’s a challenge too, since the President raised the minimum wage up to $9 Chinese control all solar panel technology. “The truth is what is dangerous and irresponsible is the idea that in order to an hour, since he decided that’s what we need “Nevertheless, we who voted for the most to live on. So by slapping down the wealthy transformative President in history proudly protect our country, the nation’s leaders must indiscriminately spend money and lifting up the poor, he brought us all to rejoice because his objectives have been on the military, even if there is no proof that the money is necessary.” $9, making us all equal. Not only that, but met. The rich now pay their fair share, we remember those 46 million people living are all financially equal, we have eliminated for both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The truth is what is dangerous and beneath the poverty line? They don’t exist 46 million in poverty, our air and water are However, under President Obama there is a irresponsible is the idea that in order to anymore. The poverty line is now so low, no clean, and our highways and bridges meet 21st significant change that does not jeopardize protect our country, the nation’s leaders one could snake beneath it.” Century standards. the ability our military to protect the nation. must indiscriminately spend money on the Amazed, Rip inquired further, “The roads “What more could we ask?” • The President and his administration are military, even if there is no proof that the simply not spending at the same accelerated money is necessary. The President’s budget rate that the previous administrations fueled. for the next 10 years will ensure that current Military spending will increase during the military spending remains intact, despite the next seven years, at least. Yet, those opposed many areas of wasteful spending that should to the President and the Democratic Party in be addressed, while ensuring that future We are now a Registered eBay Drop general have been clever in disguising this spending doesn’t take bankrupt taxpayers in Off Location. reduced rate of spending as a cut in military the name of national security. The sad thing We sell your antiques & spending. A cut in military spending would is that for some people, fiscal responsibility Collectibles for you on eBay. consist of discontinued programs due to lack only applies when trying to help the poor of funding and that is not happening. but it flies out the window when it involves First bring your item in. According to the Congressional Budget weapons of mass destruction. • If it is worth $100 or more, we will: Answer Buyer Questions From the SourcePack & Ship Sold Items Research, Photograph & List it on eBay Write you a check Free Appraisals Anytime Political Q & A Bring your items to: Bring your items to: 401 E. El Segundo Blvd. By Gerry Chong a two-year legislative session, and that cap337 Richmond Street or (Pat’s Tire Bldg. @ Arena) This week, we asked State Senator has been reduced in recent years.Or call 310-416-1233 Or call 310-416-1233 Roderick “Rod” Wright and Assemblyman “You would hope that people electDAILY 9-5:30 www.studioantiques.com Al Muratsuchi their views on the question representatives who will set out to do goodDAILY 9-5:30 www.studioantiques.com of the week: for their community through this office. Those Each year the California Legislature passes representatives should have the ability to more than 1,000 bills--the vast majority of introduce a bill when they have identified a which are signed into law. Is there such a real problem and a legitimate way of dealing SEND we control their volume? with that problem.“In the same vein, those representativesthing as too many laws? If so, how should BOUQUETS “California needs more common sense and when a bill is unnecessary or poorlyshould be ready and willing to vote ‘no’Assemblyman Muratsuchi responded: FOR ANY and work with. However, not every problem important issue may be written in such awritten. Even a well-intentioned bill on anless laws. Obviously we need laws to live OCCASION Industry, I will be conducting public hearings supporting bills of this nature, which haveway that it does not get to the root of theproblem. There is often strong public opinionneeds another law. For example, as Chair ofthe Assembly Committee on the Aerospace SAVE% anniversary | birthday | just because to focus on how to improve the state’s leadership requires those who have read thebeen described as some great panacea, butto get state policymakers and industry leaders* 20 retain good jobs.” lacking to vote accordingly. It is easier tofine print and found the proposed ‘solutions’business climate so that we can attract and Senator Wright said: “I don’t know that send the bill’s author back to the drawing you can determine in advance what number board, or back into negotiations, than it is Hurry! Flowers from $19.99+s/h of bills should be allowed in a given year. to unwind Constitutional gridlock caused by Visit www.ProFlowers.com/colorful or call 888.470.3075 There are legitimate state issues which must unnecessary laws.” be addressed. In some years there are many. Herald Publications thanks both gentlemen *20% off discount will appear upon checkout. Minimum purchase of $29.00. Does not apply to gift cards or certifi cates, same-day or international In others, few. for their contributions to our understanding delivery, shipping and handling, taxes, or third-party hosted products (e.g. wine) and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Discounts “As it stands, we do have a cap on how of the important issues of the day affecting not valid on bulk or corporate purchases of 10 units or more. Offer expires: 11/15/13. many bills each legislator can introduce in South Bay residents. •
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