Saturday, September 20, 2008

Updates

Sorry there have not been regular posts lately. My daughter was sick and than my mother came for a visit and we have been traveling. I will update the site as time permits.

I must say I am in awe of those bloggers who have the ability to write regulary and with such eloquence.

Cathy



Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Teachers Unions Amass $1,503,705 War Chest to Defeat Our Ballot Initiative to END the state income tax

I received the following from Small Government News and the Center for Small Government. Why are we talking about Massachusetts? Because we are facing a similar battle in New Hamsphire with the so called need to define an "adequate education." Don't think the teacher unions are behind it? Follow the money. I asked one of the Claremont attorneys directly about where they get their money and he did say some of the money comes from the teachers' unions. This is documented on video tape from a presentation at the Josiah Bartlett Center.

Cathy

Corrected for typos.



Dear Friend,

We told you that Ballot Question 1 to END the state income tax would be
the battle of David versus Goliath.

An Army of Davids fighting a Gang of Goliaths.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association leads the Gang of Goliaths.
Backed by the rich and powerful National Education Association - and the
American Federation of Teachers. Mobilizing masses of money and
manpower.

Our opponents filed their first report listing their fundraising and
spending with the Massachusetts state government just days ago.

As of August 31, they have fundraised and amassed a War Chest of
$1,503,705. They also solicited and received an additional $245,317.96
of in-kind contributions.

Teachers Unions donated 83% of the War Chest: $1,245,000.

Other Unions donated 17% of the War Chest: $258,500.

Oh yes, they listed exactly 1 individual donor. She gave $100.

But the Teachers Union War Chest isn't full yet. Through their Front
Group - "Coalition for Our Communities" - their spokespeople say they
will spend this first $1,503,705 - and raise and spend an additional
$3,500,000 to crush us.

In these last 7 weeks, they will spend $5,000,000 in Negative Ads - to
make us and our ballot initiative look reckless and destructive. And in
Fear Ads to scare people out of voting YES - and stampede them into
voting NO.

They want to swamp and overwhelm us with $5,000,000 in advertising in
these last 7 weeks.

We're polling at about even. There's showing 45-47%. We're showing 45%.
They'll try to drive down our polling numbers from 45% to 35% or less.
They are committed to beating us by a landslide.

They are seeking to Humiliate us - and our effort to END the income tax.

Why are they trying to run up the score? Why isn't winning good enough?

The Teachers Unions want to make an example of us - for anyone who might
be tempted to try to seriously cut taxes. In Massachusetts. Or your
state.

They want to intimidate and scare off imitators.

And don't forget the tax money they get to keep.

If they win, they get to keep taxing $12.6 billion dollars a year in
income taxes. Every year.

The Massachusetts Constitution forbids us to put this tax cut back on
the ballot for 6 years. Multiply $12.6+ billion a year in state income
taxes times 6 years - and defeating us guarantees them $75.6+ billion in
taxes and government spending.

If they defeat you and us on November 4th, the Teachers Unions will rake
in $75.6 billion in taxes for a union-dues- funded $5,000,000
advertising investment.

The Teachers Union Gang of Goliaths looks unbeatable - but not if you
and we rally an Army of Davids.

You and we can win. Together, you and we can END the income tax this
November 4th.

Our Army of Davids approach gives you and us 10 times the impact of the
Gang of Goliaths.

The Good News: we can match the impact of their $5,000,000 in Negative
Ads and Fear Ads - for only $500,000, for only 10% what they'll spend.

The Bad News: We have $11,107.

The Great News: If YOU donate the biggest amount you can, hundreds and
hundreds of other readers will, too. If you contribute the most you can
now, and they match your contribution, we can raise the last $488,893
needed for our Army of Davids ad blitz.

We've identified the 2 fatal weaknesses of the Gang of Goliaths. We've
focused and targeted our advertising on their 2 Achilles heels.

We've coupled that with the huge, immediate benefits to 3,400,000
Massachusetts workers and taxpayers - so they just vote YES.

Fact: Our Advertising message is Viral. Contagious. Infectious.
Persuasive and unforgettable to Massachusetts taxpayers.

Fact: Each $20,000 in advertising will produce an additional $40,000 in
news coverage, publicity, and word of mouth.

Fact: We cannot win if we do NOT advertise.

Fact: We cannot even start our Army of Davids ad campaign with the
$11,107 we have in the bank.

Fact: We CAN win if you donate as much as you can, if your donation
helps us run 10% of the advertising our opponents are running.

Fact: You can beat the Teachers Unions. You can beat the Gang of
Goliaths. You can be an indispensible member of the Army of Davids that
ENDS the Massachusetts income tax in just 7 weeks.

Will YOU please contribute $500 or $250 or $150 right now - so we can
produce and place the first wave of advertising?

If you are successful in your career, if you have enough cash or credit
to make a larger donation, you will make a huge difference. Will you
please donate $10,000 or $5,000 or $2,500 or $1,000 today?

Your donation is our advertising budget. Our campaign budget.

Other donors are counting on YOU to give what they are giving. To join
them. They need YOU to donate now. Will you please donate $85 or $65 or
$45 today?

Even $5 will help.

Don't wait. Please contribute now by credit card by clicking:

https://secure.bluehost.com/~savyonco/ms/sga/sga2.php

Or please write your check today and mail it to:

The Committee For Small Government
6 Goodman Lane
Wayland, Massachusetts
01778

Only 49 days left to defeat the Gang of Goliaths.

Only 49 days left to persuade just 6% more of the voters to vote YES on
Ballot Question 1 - and END the state income tax.

Make history. Make a donation today.

You will remember this for many, many years. Thank you.

Your friends and allies,

Carla Howell & Michael Cloud

P.S. Here's our opposition's fundraising and spending report:

http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/DisplayReport.aspx?reportId=84042


Monday, September 15, 2008

Those who benefit most from taxes are not paying their taxes.

I am so tired hearing from a certain candidate that he is working for working families and the middle class. He should be saying that he is working for union employees and their bosses. Funny how those who live off taxpayer dollars are not paying their taxes. I want to explode the myth again public sector employees earn more than private sector employees. Here are just two articles that dispel that myth they can be found here and here. As always I suggest doing research on your own.

I got news for you Mr. Senator we are a working class/middle class family if you want to help our family reduce the power of unions, cut taxes and stop this garbage with minimum wage. Unions raise the price of goods and services, increasing taxes on business increases the costs of goods and services and increasing the minimum wage increases the cost of goods and services. Once the costs of goods and services are increased the wage increased is erased. I want free markets. Government spending beyond their means has gotten us into this mess I do not know how any intelligent person believes that more government spending is going to solve this problem. Cut spending!


The following piece appeared on Foxnews.com.

Cathy


Federal Workers Owe Billions in Delinquent Taxes
Monday, September 15, 2008


WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is trying to collect billions of dollars in late taxes from nearly half a million federal employees.

Documents obtained by WTOP radio through the Freedom of Information Act show the federal employees and retirees did not pay more than $3.5 billion in taxes owed last year.

The agency with the most delinquent employees was the U.S. Postal Service. Nearly 4.2 percent of its 747,000 workers are delinquent.

The IRS would not provide comparable data for the general population.

The Executive Office of the President, which includes the White House, has 58 employees who did not pay more than $319,000. More than 1,000 Capitol Hill workers are on the list.

About 152,000 of the delinquent federal workers have entered into payment plans.