Jane Chastain : Politically Direct

Archive for the ‘Federal Budget’ Category

The Takeaway from Solyndra

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If we learn anything from the Solyndra debacle it’s that the government should not be in the business of making loans, period!

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is now investigating the allegations of improper dealings between the White House and the failed energy company. Taxpayers would be better served if Congress simply would vote to end all government-backed loan programs.

Fat chance! These government-backed projects represent a mother-lode of campaign contributions for both political parties. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Jane Chastain

September 21st, 2011 at 9:00 pm

Kill the Messenger!

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In ancient times, it was not unusual to kill a messenger who brought bad news.  Many of the great prophets in the Bible suffered unspeakable treatment and even death.  Tradition has it that the prophet Isaiah was sawn in half.

These dedicated men of old were desperately trying to warn their countrymen to keep them from  a horrible fate but few listened, especially those who had the power to change things.  Most rulers simply surrounded themselves with “yes” men.    Little has changed.

King Obama, who had never run so much as a lemonade stand, has surrounded himself with tax cheats and economic “yes” men like Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who admitted that he has “never had a real job.”  The same holds true for most other members of his royal court.  The notable exception is his chief of staff, Bill Daley, the token businessman — a sop to “diversity.” Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Jane Chastain

August 11th, 2011 at 12:00 am

The Free Lunch

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If you still believe there is no such thing as a free lunch, you haven’t been to school lately.  On any given school day 31.6 million children sit down to a hot meal in the school cafeteria.  Sixty-three percent of those meals are free, or virtually free.

Furthermore, many of those same children show up for a free breakfast.  In addition, many schools have expanded their day to include help with home work and supervised play time and, what do you know?  It’s now time for dinner which calls for another free meal.   And, let us not forget free snacks.   If liberals get their way, there will be no need for children to go home anymore.  All that is left are school sleep-overs and, voila, the door to the “nanny state” slams shut.  Parents will be obsolete, except for the breeding and incubation process.   Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Jane Chastain

June 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 am

What do We REALLY Need from Washington?

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Solve the budget crisis?  We must, but we have been going about this all wrong.

I was struck by something New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Meet the Press last Sunday.   Bloomberg, the businessman, was advocating a clean sheet of paper approach.  According to Mr. B, we need to ask ourselves, “What do we need to keep this country going?”  Then, we need to do that efficiently.

What do we really need from Washington?  Think about it.  What can Big Brother do that the states, private enterprise, local charities and individuals can’t do for themselves?   Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Jane Chastain

May 5th, 2011 at 12:00 am

Lance Armstrong: Brilliance on a Bike?

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It takes one to know one.  Therefore, one must assume that professional cyclist Lance Armstrong is among the world’s “brightest” people.

Last week, Armstrong was the lead pony at the National Press Club for the pony and dog show put on by the American Cancer Society for the purpose of denouncing the Republican plan to cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health by a tiny 5.2 percent.

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Written by Jane Chastain

March 31st, 2011 at 12:00 am