The Conservative View: A Rising Tide and Barriers

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

A Rising Tide and Barriers

I have noticed that many Americans do not understand the concepts of a free market system of economics. Whether it is from a lack of education or being indoctrinated by the main stream press that has very left leaning philosophies, our people fail to see the benefits of the capitalistic system our country once enjoyed. Far too many people have gotten into a system of class envy, they think that just because someone has more than they do it should be the duty of the government to confiscate part of that wealth and redistribute it to someone else.

While some think of money like a small pool of water on a beach, they look at it like there is no other water anywhere and if someone has more water than the other they have the flawed assumption that they have taken it from someone else. Our people have forgotten that freedom allows us to grow our wealth. I believe that like an ocean if the tide is allowed to flow naturally the tide will bring forth more water and the supply will be greater for everyone. There is an old saying that says, “A rising tide floats all boats”. The system works well until someone erects a barrier that restricts the flow of the water. We need to recognize the barriers that our well intentioned leaders place upon our economic system.

I recently heard that the congress will not act upon the Bush Tax Cuts until after the election. If the Bush Tax Cuts are not renewed many people will be facing major increases in the taxes they will have to pay. We need to understand that for the most part the people that have businesses and create jobs want to make a profit. If the government makes the tax burden so punitive that the business owner cannot turn a profit, he will not start the new businesses and not create the jobs that our country needs. We have forgotten that you or I may have been employed at that new business. I have heard people complain about companies moving operations outside of this country, and out of the same breath they complain about the high price of the necessities they need. To stay competitive the business owner has no other choice but to move to another location in order to survive. Until our citizens start to understand the concept of removing barriers placed upon our business owners, a rising tide cannot float all boats.  

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.  

Thompson Slams Boren's Adjournment Vote

Charles Thompson, the GOP 2nd District congressional candidate, issued the following press release slamming Congressman Dan Boren for his vote for adjournment.

Dr. Thompson Statement on Rep. Dan Boren’s Vote To Kill Economic Recovery

(Hulbert, OK) 30 September 2010 – Oklahoma U.S. Congressional District 2 Republican candidate, Dr. Charles Thompson, offered a scathing criticism of current representative Dan Boren’s vote in the House yesterday to adjourn the U.S. House of Representatives without considering extending tax cuts that are already in place but are due to expire: “This is just one more example, in what seems to be an endless supply of examples, of Boren’s voting against the will of the people and voting with the will of Nancy Pelosi”.

            Yesterday afternoon’s vote was the result of a motion by House Democrats to adjourn before consideration of extending “Bush-era tax cuts”.  The final Roll Call on the motion to adjourn was 210 to 209 with the 210 being in favor of adjournment without tax-cut discussion.  “I agree whole-heartedly with House Minority Leader John Boehner’s statement ‘that a vote to adjourn is a vote to raise taxes’ and I’ll take it several steps further.  To leave Washington without dealing with some of the tough economic issues facing America right now is beyond dereliction of duty, it is absolute cowardice.”  Thompson went on to say; “Boren’s vote, yes his single vote as evidenced by the 210 to 209 passage, paves the way for the largest tax increase on hard working Americans…hard working Oklahomans…in the history of the United States.  Dan Boren’s vote negatively impacted an entire nation.”

            Boren, who often refers to himself and is touted in the media as a “Blue-Dog”, likes to “talk the Conservative talk” while speaking with constituents in Eastern Oklahoma but has a proven track record of voting with the Nancy Pelosi agenda to the tune of 90% of the time.  Thompson stated: “If Boren had voted based on his rhetoric, the possibility of extending badly needed tax cuts would be alive and well right now.  Instead, due to his reckless and inexcusable action yesterday, he has killed the likelihood of pro-business, pro-jobs, pro-economic freedom, and less government legislation”.

            The affect of letting the current tax cuts expire in the middle of harsh economic conditions, with the threat of harder times ahead based on the current administration’s own analysts, was addressed by Mr. Thompson: “Mr. Boren and I differ philosophically.  He believes in redistribution of wealth and government superiority.  I believe in less government interventions and the principles of the free-market.  He votes for big government…I abhor big government.  He believes in misleading the good people of Eastern Oklahoma…I believe in serving the citizens, my neighbors, here in District 2.  Dan Boren exhibits the traits of so many in Washington, the traits of a Ruling-Class…I’m just a citizen, not a career politician, who wants my country back.”

The Conservative View: Those Were The Good Ole Days

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner and conservative activist Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Those Were The Good Ole Days

We humans like to look back to the events of our past and reflect on a simpler time in our lives. I have fond memories of the time I spent on my father’s farm and the old swimming hole where I spent many hours with other children in our community having a good time in our nature’s swimming pool. Over the past couple of years I have observed the events taking place in our nation’s capital with all of the reckless spending of money that we don’t have. We Americans had better get a grip on reality and come to the realization that somewhere, somehow, someone is going to have to pay the bills. Far too many people do not have a grasp of economics and good fiscal stewardship. During the Bush administration there were several tax cuts that were passed; the only thing bad about them were they weren’t permanent. On January 1, 2011, if not renewed, they will expire and the American people will experience tax hikes like the world has never seen.

There are many taxes that will hit the American people, but one of the most unfair taxes will again be a burden upon all Americans. The death tax, in my opinion, goes against the very essence of what America is all about. Without the right of private property we citizens become property of the state. When I earn money I must pay taxes upon my earnings, if I use good sense with the remainder of money that I have after taxes and save it, I feel that money should be mine to do with as I please. If I choose to save it and pass it on to my decedents, it should be theirs to do with as they please. Under the Bush tax cuts this year “2010” there will be no taxes upon that money, after January 1, 2011, your heirs will be facing a up to a 55% tax on their inheritance.

The inheritance tax is only one of many. It seems to me that many people are obsessed with getting free health care and the Bush tax cuts expiring are of little interest to them. If we think that we have it bad now, it is nothing to what we will be facing if we don’t get a congress that believes in allowing people to have the right of private property. Maybe George Bush wasn’t perfect, but those were the good ole days.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.  


[MP note] At his recent town hall meeting in Muskogee, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee), when asked about the Bush tax cuts, had this to say: "They're not Bush's tax cuts - they're your tax cuts!"