Twisting the Truth: Obama's Tax Plan

With election day drawing nearer (thank God!), there is just so much misinformation out there and headline breaking news that I'm not sure where to start. I guess I'll start with taxes, since it's such a hot button with Republicans.

A Republican friend of a friend on Facebook was arguing with my friend over Obama's tax plan. She stated what McCain and the other Republicans have been saying for a year. They are purposely twisting what Obama has said to make it seem like we are all being fooled and lied to by Obama. Just ask Joe the Plumber...McCain used him as an example to skew the truth and downright lie about Obama's plans to tax him.

What they (Republicans) are saying about Obama's tax plan is this: Everyone, businesses included, that make over $250K per year will be taxed more heavily than those making less than $250K. Their argument is that a good percentage of small business makes over $250K per year, which is true. However, when asked point blank on Larry King Live a while back, and also clarified during the debates and on http://www.barackobama.com/, Obama made it clear that he only plans on taxing the PERSONAL INCOME of individuals and families that make over $250K per year. In other words, a business can make over $250K per year and be taxed the same as other small businesses. However, if the owner or CEO or anyone else working for that small business takes home a PERSONAL income of over $250K per year, he or she will be taxed higher.

Now...I would bet that over 80% of Americans make less than $250K per year. Obama's plan is that no one making under $250K per year in PERSONAL INCOME will pay ANY federal income tax! The richest of the rich have been getting off easy under Republican rule due to Republican's belief in trickle down economics, which has been proven not to work. Can anyone who listens to the news and knows what has been happening with Enron, Lehman Bros, AIG, Fannie Mae, etc., etc., etc., say with a straight face that they believe that CEOs and other executives at large wealthy corporations will be thinking about their employees first if they have a banner year probably due to not paying any taxes? Not a chance! They are going to give themselves a huge bonus including free trips, homes, cash, cars, executive vacations at 5 star resorts (known as business trips by AIG execs), etc., etc., etc. Obama believes that the middle class (those with a personal income of less than $250K) deserve a break for a change! I think he's right!

Baby Christian

Well...we just got back from a long weekend with baby Christian, my sister Christel and her family in St. Paul, Minnesota. Let me just say that Christian is the most beautiful baby I've seen since Shelbi was born! (See pictures) He's only two months old, so he is just starting to recognize people other than his parents and doesn't do much but sleep and poop, but he is starting to develop his own personality already. And he just LOVES his Uncle Alex! Just when I thought I would never want more kids of my own, holding Christian and seeing him respond to me (oh so slightly) makes me wish for another little one around! Hopefully, the feeling will go away when I don't see him for a while! LOL Having a girlfriend first could be an important step, however!

Let's see...other than spending time with Christian and the rest of the family, we went to the Mall of America for an afternoon. I bought a new pair of jeans that were size 34 waist! My size a month ago was 38! I also bought a large shirt which is a size smaller than before! So, that pretty much made my day and gave me even more incentive to continue watching my diet and exercising every day. We also went scootering around town with Christel's scooter and Paul cooked us an awesome meal of roasted pork one evening. They bought a new home when Christel was pregnant, and it is really beautiful in a nice neighborhood in South Saint Paul.

That's about it! Enjoy the pics!

Jealousy

What is it about jealousy that makes us so crazy? Why are so many people jealous and what makes us feel that way? I know jealousy is not considered one of the "Seven Deadly Sins" in the bible, but maybe it should be. It can be such a destructive thing.

I am not normally a jealous person, or at least I try not to let it show. I have tried to not let it destroy my relationships like it does so many people. Jealousy leads to possessiveness which can destroy relationships. I just hate it when the person you care for uses jealousy as a weapon to either hurt you or find out how much you care for them. I experienced some jealousy tonight and I just hated it! But I think the person that made me jealous did so on purpose, and that I dislike even more. Do people do that because of their own insecurities? I'm quite sure that you become jealous because you have insecurities either about yourself or about your relationship with that person or both. In my case, it has more to do with my insecurities with the relationship because I know the relationship is still very fragile. But I've decided not to let it bother me...or at least to not let that person know that it bothers me. Because (believe me) I am bothered by it! I had such a hard time getting what was said out of my mind that I started calling people to see if they could get me out of the house and take my mind off of it. But, alas, none was available. I did, at least, speak to a friend for awhile and that helped. But I've decided to try my best to not let it get to me. I was planning on texting or emailing that person who made me jealous to let them know how I felt, but I decided to not give them the satisfaction of knowing. But, sooner or later, if this topic continues to come up when we talk I'll have no choice but to let them know that I think it's innappropriate.

Jo Jo

We lost our dog Jo Jo today. He had been very sick lately and had spent the past few days at the veterinary hospital. It became evident that he was only getting worse and so my mother and father made the decision to put him to sleep. I know how hard of a decision that was for both of them as I know they loved him very much. We all did. He was as much my dog as he was theirs. Twelve years ago, Jo Jo came walking up to me in my front yard without a collar, without a home. We had recently lost our last dog, Nina, (whom I also found as a stray), and Mom wasn't ready for another dog. But Jo Jo melted her heart immediately and he's been part of our family ever since; as much a part as any one of us. It still hasn't sunk in. I have yet to shed a tear. I think I'm in a state of shock and denial, really. I'm sure when I come over on Sunday for lunch and he's not there to great me at the door or by running to my car to say Hi, it'll become real to me. We love you Jo Jo and will miss you so much!

The following was a tribute to Jo Jo written by my father.

He was with us for fourteen years. They were

wonderful years and wonderful memories of walks

in the neighborhood, frolicking on a Florida

beach, or just sitting near us as he looked at

the world outside our glass front door. He was a

wonderful and close companion who gave us

unconditional love and trust, even during the

difficult last few days of his life. With deep

sadness we had to let him go. As difficult as

it was for us make the decision, it was not fair

to him to let him suffer any longer.

His name was JoJo. We will miss him terribly, for

he was more than a pet--he was our beloved friend.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness. We've heard about it since we were little kids. We've been taught forgiveness at church, from our parents, from our teachers, and yet it's still such a hard thing for people to do. To TRULY forgive someone (to me) means that we are able to stop feeling resentment or anger towards someone for something we feel the other has done to harm them and to FORGET about what happened and go on with your life. To truly put aside any feelings of illwill towards the other person for that offense. To forget about that wrong and go on without feeling that resentment.

That's the hard part, isn't it? To forget. I'll admit, it's been very hard for me to forgive some people in my life. Many people say they have forgiven others, but have they forgotten enough to be able to go on with their lives as if the offense didn't happen? When they see that person again, do they still have those lingering feelings of anger or resentment? Do they still bring it up occasionally when something happens that reminds them of the incident? I can be accused of that and I was wrong each time I did it. But why do some people have such a hard time moving past those things and going forward with their life? Life is hard enough without harboring old resentments and anger.

I don't know the answer of how to forgive and forget. But I know that Jesus forgave his persecutors that hung him on the cross. I will try my best to truly forgive all those who have hurt me. I hope those who feel I have hurt them will let me know how they feel, and then try their best to forgive me.

One week to go!

Well...one week to go on my purification diet! Woo Hoooo! I'm not sure exactly how much I've lost to date because I haven't checked since last Wednesday. As of last Wednesday, I was down to 190 which means that I had lost 9 pounds after 10 days on the diet. My hopeful guess is that I am at about 186 now, but that may be a little optimistic. I've cheated a few times this weekend...mostly by drinking alcohol. But I still feel great and am getting a lot of complements on my weight loss. Even Shelbi's friend told her today that she didn't realize what a good-lookin' dad she had! She told me when I came out to her car that she thought I was Jordan! Funny!

The downside is that I've started smoking a little. I've been a little down lately regarding some issues with my ex-girlfriend and that evening she just happened to call and we got into an argument. As I was already feeling pretty crappy, that made me even more depressed and I bought a pack. Well...one cigarette led to another and I'm smoking about 5 a day now....more when I go out. I'll tackle quitting smoking as soon as this diet is over. One goal at a time!