For a while the world seemed crazy. But now it seems to be regaining equilibrium.
For example, all of the original talk about the Ryan Plan and the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) seemed crazy and upside down. Mr. Ryan said his plan was aimed at helping “society’s most vulnerable" and was based on Christian values. Of course it was exactly the opposite. It would have a devastating effect on seniors, the poor, etc. (i.e. “society’s most vulnerable”.) Yet at the start no one seemed to be challenging his assertions.
Similarly, with the Obamacare the original attacks were direct, savage, and strange. Obamacare is a program that was originated in a conservative think tank as a response to Hilary Clinton's 'liberal' health plans, it was proposed by Republican Senators, and it was implemented by a Republican Governor in Massachusetts. (In fact Romney most recently praised a similar system in Israel.) Yet Republicans, like Rep Chris Smith (NJ 4th District), viciously attacked it saying, for example, that it is "the most misguided, unfair and radical health care restructuring law ever"... and "a blatantly unconstitutional policy." Again the original response seemed weak.
But now the Ryan Plan, which is tightly bound to the Republicans' Norquist pledge to never approve any increase in revenues, has been identified for what it is - unchristian like and fiscally unsound. Even Nuns, our most mild manner citizens, have taken it on the road (or on the bus!) against this plan. Simpson Bowles and other studies point out the impossibility of solving the nation’s debt problem without, at some point, increasing revenues. And retiring Senator Coburn admitted that the Republican’s 'starve the beast' strategy was a 'disaster' and their so-called ‘tax cuts’ were actually a “tax increase on the next generation”- since they simply increased the national debt.
Prompted by the initial public reaction to attacks on Obamcare, Republicans rushed to the Supreme Court with full confidence that their appointed conservative majority would deliver the goods. They were shocked when the SCOTUS coalition didn't hold. Its conservative leader conservatively decided that the constitution and the other branches of government deserved respectful deference and that political disagreements should be solved at the ballot box. Almost as interesting was the coalition that rallied to support Obamacare. Virtually every healthcare, senior, and women's organization supported the act against, essentially, big business. Once the legal dust had settled people began to focus on the realities of the Act and have slowly come to understand and appreciate it.
Most recently prominent financial executives have spoken. The ‘father of megabanks’, Sanford (Sandy) Weill, and other financial industry executives admitted that banks had in fact become too big to fail. They grudgingly suggested that the legislation (e.g. The Gramm-Leach-Biley Act of 1999) unwinding the 1933 Glass Steagall Act was a mistake. My opponent, Rep Smith, was one who voted to repeal Glass Steagall.
I knew Sandy (and some other prominent financial industry executives) slightly from my days at American Express. At the time Amex owned Shearson Lehman which Sandy ran. He was a strong, smart, driven, and accomplished executive with a clear vision of growth for the business. Of course that didn't mean that vision was good public policy.
Sometimes the world still seems crazy. Over the years Rep Smith has voted for multiple wars, financial deregulation, and discredited fiscal plans. He has proudly voted against women's rights and healthcare reforms many times- and even against a resolution to free Nelson Mandela! So it does seem crazy that someone could have been so wrong, on so many big things, so many times, for so long, and still be re-elected. But there is another election coming and, as I said, the world seems to be regaining it equilibrium.
Sincerely,
Brian Froelich
Candidate for Congress (NJ, 4th Dist.)
Not only did the President and his partners in Congress take $716 billion out of Medicare to pay for Obamacare, but they also raise taxes by $836.3 billion to pay for it, with $36.3 billion hitting Americans in 2013 alone. Here’s the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation‘s (JCT) updated cost of the Obamacare tax hikes and penalties.
a) You forgot to mention that Obamacare will reduce the deficit and the Republican plan to repeal it will increase the deficit. b)Of the $800 billion tax/revenue increase about $300 billion comes from a tax on payrolls amounts over $250K (like the little people pay), $100 Billion tax on Cadillac (expensive) health plans for executives, $100 billion on companies that don't provide health insurance,and $55 billion tax/penalty on individuals that don't buy health insurance. Which part makes your eyes tear? c) The $700 billion "out of medicare" come from suppliers (not individuals' benefits) like the excess profits of insurance companies on Medicare Advantage, and lower hospital reimbursement (since they will be getting more fees from the fact that more people will have insurance who didn't before), etc. These are the same savings that Paul Ryan claimed in his plan and, FYI, the hospital associations supported Obamacare. Also some of the money went back into better Medicare benefits- like no copay exams- that will produce better and lower cost health. I hope you are now a little less frightened and can go back to sleep.
I am wondering if your reply to "Dentss" was accidentally misspelled as "Dense?" Also, where in his/her post did he/she mention anything about insomnia? This is not trivial. I do not like insulting and demeaning posting behavior from anyone, much more so from a political candidate who we all want and need to try to trust. Such insulting posting behavior, I believe, kills or at least maims potential for illuminating and valuable, educational conversation.
That revocation will be immediate based on ACCUSATION, not CONVICTION. What the heck kind of due process is that? If you think I am making this up, I will be glad to supply the exact law information.
A new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee minority staff estimates up to 16,500 new IRS personnel will be needed to collect, examine and audit new tax information mandated on families and small businesses in the ‘reconciliation’ bill being taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend. ...
Re the passport issue, I believe you are talking about a bill passed by the Senate but not yet the House, not an executive fiat. In addition you have to be deliquent on a debt of more than $50,000 (a lot of insurance!), have been served a levy or lien (whose collection has not been suspended pending a due process hearing), and not have requested relief etc. In total, there is a proposed administrative process and it doesn’t seem a particularly unreasonable regulation.
Your support of these Obama healthcare laws laws and related pending bills is very alarming to me. Obama declared the healthcare plan was not a tax -- the Supreme Court said otherwise. I knew better because I read the bill -- he didn't fool me. The IRS enforcement provisions were there from DAY ONE. Obama and his minions knew this was a tax from day one. The power to tax is the power to destroy. Considering the Obama Administration is silent on the Department of Homeland Security buying 1 BILLIONS rounds of bullets that are banned under the Geneva Convention -- and has asked for 16,000 MORE IRS agents -- what am I to believe? I believe it will be enforced by the threat to use armed federal agents. If Obama is williing to violate the legal use of Excutive Orders in an unconstitutional move to "legalize" the children of illegal immigrants, then I can expect him to do that same if he is denied his Pelosi-sponsored IRS legislation. You're a businessman -- you could have easily have lien of $50K and not be a criminal -- but under the provisions of the bill, the IRS can seize your passport? What ever happened to due process??? (See: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2012/04/07/forget-travel-if-you-owe-the-irs/)
As for your specious claim: the recent redistricting of congressional districts was NOT the one favored by the Republican delegation that presented its case to the New Jersey Redistricing Commission.(http://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/default.asp) As far as "great Congressmen" go -- if you are claiming someone like Rush Holt is/was a "great Congressmen", your definition of "great" must mean you expect little to nothing from a congressman (as in Holt). Like I said before, I have nothing bad to say about Mr. Brian Froelich. He's a smart businessman and did a lot of good things for people in this area. I just find it hard to believe that Mr. Froelich, a man who gained so much from being a businessman in New Jersey, would support people that want to raise taxes and restrict our liberty. So in the marketplace of political ideas, I can't support Mr. Froelich political ambitions. I certainly wish him well in his business pursuits. RE: "ASimon 10:53 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 We can't re-elect Smith if we didn't elect him to begin with. Many of us in Middletown have lost a great Congressman after the Congressional map was gerrymandered to favor Republicans"
Thank you for being interested, involved, and concerned about our government and our people.
If I am 100% wrong about Republicans winning the redistricting battle, I have alot of company, including every newspaper and blog (left leaning or right leaning). I urge anyone with doubts to do their own research and draw their own conclusions. But I do agree that as a Monmouth County resident I feel "punished" in facing the probablity I will have Chris Smith as a Congressman if residents reflexively pull the "R" level this November. BTW Mr. Froelich, I have seen firsthand the mailer Chris Smith sent out with that over the top language about the Affordable Care Act. For some reason, he chose not to mention, HR-3 and his use of the words "forcible rape" in that legislation which he sponsored. . It's hard to understand why Rep. Akin of Missouri is being pressured to bow out of his race by the Republican party when similar words and thoughts about women's rights are tolerated right here in NJ.
ASimon -- Chris Smith is punishment??? How about the two do-nothing Congressmen like Pallone and Holt who have done Z-E-R-O for the Monmouth/Middlesex/Ocean county area?? Name ONE THING Pallone or Holt did -- and not just an opinion -- a DIRECT cause and effect relationship -- name ONE PIECE of legislation they sponsored or co-sponsored that they did to: * INCREASE federal dollars to New Jersey; * DECREASE federal taxes; * SUPPORT the Constitution with respect to the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendment (there all important -- but the horrible record they have will speak volumes in my next post).