BLOG.STOPTAXINGUS.COM

Is the GOP the party of conservative principles?

2010-06-05T03:22:00Z

By Dana Matas

By now it should be no surprise that many of those driving the Tea Party movement are conservatives who've fled the Republican party in response to the party's abandonment of conservative values and principles.

Prior to this "great awakening," conservatives assumed that the Grand Old Party (GOP) was championing the tenants of smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom. In truth, the GOP was more concerned about winning elections than holding strong to its founding principles--so much so that they often elected candidates whose beliefs were more in line with the Democratic party than their own.

It's been well over a year since the first Tea Party signs started popping up all across the country; and of course, the GOP now says they too are in favor of smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom. But are they really?

In California, our first opportunity to answer this question will be during the Republican primary election for US Senate as it is the only high profile race that offers a real choice between a constitutional conservative, Chuck DeVore, and two so-called moderates, Tom Campbell and Carly Fiorina.

If the GOP plans to continue mimicking the Democratic party in hopes of drawing in more liberal voters, they will be well served by electing either Campbell or Fiorina. Both candidates have expressed their approval of the Wall Street Bailout, Cap-n-Trade, and the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor. Campbell is for gay marriage, abortion rights, and stricter gun control laws. Fiorina is for the stimulus package, taxation of the Internet, and limiting free speech. In many cases, Campbell and Fiorina's views are so in line with the incumbent Democratic candidate Barbara Boxer that at times it is difficult to tell the three of them apart.

If, on the other hand, the GOP has learned from its past mistakes in electing Republicans in name only (a.k.a. RINOs), they will be much better served nominating Chuck DeVore as their candidate for US Senate. DeVore's political views are in stark contrast to not only his opponents in the primary on the aforementioned issues but to Boxer as well. DeVore is the perfect candidate for those voters who know that the Republican primary election isn't about unseating Boxer or even the Democratic party so much as it's about unseating the political ideology that is drowning our country in massive debt, entitlements, and regulations.

The choice is clear. Come Tuesday, June 8th, we will know exactly where the priorities lie for Republican voters in California. So, don't forget to vote.

We need to elect 'constitutional conservatives'

2010-06-05T03:20:00Z

By Dr. Gonsalves

With California facing a European-style financial crisis, it's unfortunate that people continue to look at words like "conservative" or "liberal" and automatically associate them with the actions of political parties. This word association game has nothing to do with acting on sound fundamental principles and our continued reliance on it has delivered us to the threshold of financial collapse.

So let's analyze the breakdown in our system, identify the questions that lead to prosperity and address some challenges facing our state.

The unfortunate truth behind our dysfunctional labeling system is that a brief glance in the mirror will explain why word association games have not prevented California or the United States from becoming entitlement-based societies with unsustainable debts.

Lost in our individual ambition, we subcontracted the protection of the United States Constitution to political parties who decided to own, share and distort certain labels in an attempt to serve their own agendas. As demonstrated below, our failure to perform our own due diligence in evaluating politicians, has directly contributed to our present day catastrophe.

So how do we bypass the labeling/party system and identify virtuous, educated and moral people who will stand for the principles of our founding fathers? It is simple; first identify the fundamentals that took us from a fledgling nation to a world superpower in less than 200 years. Second, find the like-minded people who will appropriately address these fundamentals.

Here are a few basic questions that we must be able to answer in evaluating leaders:

-- Do we believe in fiscal responsibility? Is it permissible for government to consistently spend more than it has? Is it acceptable to pass this debt to future, yet unborn, generations? Should government be able to take our earnings and give them individuals and corporations who failed to act responsibly?

-- Where does charity start? Should government take from those who are productive and continually provide to those who refuse to produce? Should government make the "poor" comfortable or should we as individuals understand that we have a responsibility to help our friends and neighbors through times of temporary hardship?

-- Do we believe in personal responsibility or are we rather victims of the adverse outcomes that result from our own decisions.

-- Do we believe the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, or is it a document to be skillfully circumvented when it presents a challenge?

Those who believe in fiscal accountability, personal charity, individual responsibility and the textual interpretation of the Constitution, are likely "Constitutional conservatives" and California has a great one in Chuck DeVore, a candidate for the Republican Party's U.S. Senate nomination.

As Californians, our failure to elect true "Constitutional conservatives" has left us with a number of spendaholic politicians. Most recently, on May 23, union-owned legislative Democrats in Sacramento introduced a $4.9 billion package of tax hikes on cars, alcohol, income and corporate profits. Why do they want this money? In short, government entitlements and government charity.

Apparently, these union representatives (aka Democrats) failed to read Chief Executive Magazine. For the second year in a row, California ranked the worst state in the nation for conducting business. Being referred to as "the Venzuela of North America," 650 private CEOs rated California according to taxation policy, regulation, workforce quality and living environment.

Regarding workforce quality, the survey noted that contrary to the national trend, union membership in California is on the rise. In the public sector, these labor unions have become a platform for continual government expansion, which in part explains California's $500 billion unfunded pension liability that if left unchecked, will ultimately come from the taxpayer's pocket.

Regarding taxation policy and regulation, the survey noted the unsustainable tax burden faced by California businesses, which is illustrated by seven of California's metropolitan areas making up the top 15 cities (nationwide) in commercial bankruptcy.

Unfortunately for California this is just the tip of the iceberg and it's why we need people like Chuck DeVore in the U.S. Senate. Chuck has served in our military and the California Assembly. Chuck understands the corruption associated with big government and he will work to restore the guiding principles of our founders. And we should support him for his fundamental beliefs, not an arbitrary labeling system.

Yes, Mr. DeVore is running as a Republican, but he has been defined by his character and actions, not by a party.

Dr. GARY GONSALVES is a North County physician and co-founder of Stop Taxing Us. Contact him at www.StopTaxingUs.com.

Embrace the Constitution

2010-04-07T02:21:00Z

By Gary Gonsalves

Last year we witnessed a historic event in Oceanside, California. A quickly assembled event with no celebrity, no speakers, and no advertising budget, drew over 5000 peaceful, participants and scores of their young children. These participants came to express their frustration with a government that fails to represent any interest other than its own unsustainable growth at the expense of the taxpayers. A year later, it is abundantly clear that things are even worse. More so, as we again approach April 15^th, liberal-leftist antagonists are doing their best to portray Tea Party participants as a bunch of racist, sexist, violent, white men.

Interestingly, according to Sarah Bond, a founding member of the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition, 90% of Tea Party leaders are actually women. Furthermore, videos of Tea Party events, including one shot by a North County Times videographer, reveals the multi-ethnic nature of this movement. Finally, I’m sure you too are paralyzed with fear when in the presence of a woman with baby-stroller. Could there be a more obviously violent picture of America?

The reality is that today’s political environment is a directly attributable to our dysfunctional representatives, with a particular emphasis on leftist partisans who continually seek to circumvent our Constitution.

Take for example our President, whose term has been largely defined by his failed promises to be different. Rather than change, transparency and bipartisanship, he has wholeheartedly embraced partisan politics. As a result, he has left us a nation more divided than any time in recent history. Just on the issue of health care reform, the president has given us nothing more than talking-points and another unsustainable entitlement at the expense of our seniors and those who work for a living.

As an example let’s examine just one concept from health care reform. President Obama preached about saving $120 billion, over the next ten years, with our latest health care bill, now law. This “savings” (as predicted by the CBO) was politics at its best - not the break we were promised from the Washington establishment. Even the most cursory evaluation reveals the misleading nature of this “fact”.

President Obama knows that waiting in the shadows of health care is a bill called “the doctor fix”. The doctor fix is intended to prevent mass physician resignation from the Medicare program. This fix, only one small pothole in health care reform, is estimated to cost up to $370 billion over the same ten-year period that was examined by the CBO. However, since this fix was not part of the health care bill, the CBO could not account for it. So much for the “savings”. This is one of many examples of how President Obama has eroded into one of the most divisive, partisan Presidents in United States history.

In fairness, our “conservatives” have again provided a reason to be dismayed. It was recently revealed that the Republican National Committee was on a spending spree that would make Paris Hilton proud - $17,000 for private jet travel, $13,000 for limousines and $9000 for a trip to a Beverly Hills hotel and even, $2000 for a visit to the risqué Voyeur West Hollywood. This club features half naked women acting out voyeuristic scenes as a form of “live art”. For those of you who are saying, “the liberal democrats do this same sort of thing”, I have a simple response. I don’t care. I expect and demand more from those who call themselves Conservative.

After all, the Tea Party movement was partly born from Conservatives betraying their own identity. The idea that business as usual will help restore the constitutional principles of our founding fathers is absolutely absurd, yet we continually accept this behavior. It is axiomatic that accepting this behavior will only yield the same results. Unfortunately, we are running out of time to restore the republic we once enjoyed. With each passing day and every new entitlement we rob people of their motivation and self-esteem as they slowly accept the maternal comfort of the government bosom.

If we are to wean ourselves from the shackles of government handouts, we must find people of virtue who respect the foresight of our founding fathers as demonstrated by our Constitution. To this end, Stop Taxing Us is hosting a rally and candidate forum on April 15^th at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater, starting at 4:30PM. Join Rick Roberts from AM760 KFMB, our emcee for this event, and together we will restore the principles that made our country prosperous and strong.

Got Freedom?

2010-03-30T22:13:00Z

By Dana Matas

In 1773, our ancestors stood up against the autocratic British government at the Boston Tea Party, declaring their independence and inciting the American Revolution. 237 years later, we find our country drifting towards an oppression similar to what our founding fathers fled; except this time the threat of tyranny isn't from some distant land but from our very own government.

On April 15th, millions of Americans will attend Tax Day "Tea Parties" all across the county, declaring their independence from a Washington establishment that increasingly forces its will on the American people. I ask you to stand against this assault on our freedom at the Oceanside amphitheater from 4:30pm to 7pm. Let those in Washington know that you are fed up with their endless spending, corruption, and waste. Tell them to stop dismantling the American Dream with socialistic legislation, like universal healthcare, that shackles you, your children, and your grandchildren with debt.

As Thomas Paine once said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must,...undergo the fatigues of supporting it." The time to support the blessings of freedom is now. For once freedom is gone, it is virtually impossible to restore.

Get up. Get out. And go!

Tea Party organizers must think beyond Palin and the GOP

2010-02-13T05:23:00Z

By Dana Matas

Allow me to get a few things off my chest about Governor Palin, the GOP, and the future of the Tea Party Movement.

First of all, Governor Sarah Palin was asked to speak at a Tea Party Convention in Nashville on February 6--not the Tea Party Convention. She nor Tea Party Nation, the group that organized the event, speak for the millions of individuals and thousands of groups working to take back our country from a corrupt Washington establishment fostered by both political parties. And while I commend Tea Party Nation for trying to harness the passions of Tea Party-goers so that we can better organize, placing too much importance on any one person, group, or event will only serve to provide a target for our critics to attack in hopes of defusing our momentum. We must remain as we are, much bigger than that.

Secondly, Palin's invitation to the Tea Party Nation event was largely based on the political fortitude she displayed in taking on her own political party when running for Governor of Alaska against Republican incumbent Frank Murkowski. As much as Palin's run for Governor embodied the spirit of the Tea Party Movement, it does not make her its leader or spokes person. Rather, Palin is one of many role models within the Tea Party movement. Whether you are someone who loves Palin or loves to hate her, it must be understood that Palin's individual career ambitions and political views are just that--hers, not ours.

Finally, Tea Party organizers need to recognize the responsibility they bare in orchestrating widely-publicized events that attract national attention. Spotlighting uber-Republicans, like Palin, alienate the growing number of Independent and Democratic voters who've joined our cause. It also feeds into the stereotype that Tea Party-goers are a bunch of "angry, anti-Obama Republicans." With Palin taking jabs at President Obama for relying on a teleprompter and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs jabbing back with more jokes about Palin, Palin's appearance in Nashville fueled the vicious cycle of juvenile attacks between Republicans and Democrats, turning a national debate about issues into a circus. This silly feuding, albeit an unintended consequence, is a divisive distraction that only further empowers those who've taken our country so off course. As Tea Party organizers, we should do whatever we can to avoid these situations, including foregoing the hype a headliner like Palin attracts, to do what is best for the movement as a whole.

Unless Tea Party organizers start thinking beyond Palin and the GOP, we will be our own worst obstacle in taking back our country. Tea Party-goers, while largely Conservative, are specifically concerned with protecting the US Constitution; re-establishing fiscal responsibility in the name of individual liberty and national security; and draining the swamp of corrupt politicians. The GOP does not have a strangle-hold on these issues; in fact, they've been just as reckless as the Democrats in the name of "Progressivism." By blindly towing the Republican party line, we open the door for the GOP to hijack the momentum of a movement based on principles Republicans are suppose to embrace but have abandoned over the years. So let's put down the "Palin 2012" signs and start thinking about how we can influence all three political parties--Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--to ensure our country's founding principles are upheld, not only in the next election cycle, but from this day forward.

If you agree, I will see you from 4pm to 6pm at the Oceanside Amphitheater on April 15, 2010, for North County's next Tax Day Tea Party.

Carlsbad's alternative power plant site flawed

2010-01-17T22:10:00Z

By Dana Matas

Today I received in the mail a "Power Plant Update" from the City of Carlsbad regarding its opposition to the proposed NRG Energy Power Plant along the Carlsbad coast and highway 5. In the mailer, the City highlights the multiple reasons why it opposes this project, which include safety, air pollution, and reduced home values among other things. Yet given these concerns, the City is still "willing to locate a new plant in its industrial area east of El Camino Real and North of Palomar Airport Road."

Those of us who live near the proposed alternative site know that this industrial area is tightly surrounded by residential property--arguably, it is surrounded by more homes than the existing site. Not to mention, should the alternative site prevail, the power plant would seemingly be in the direct line of flight traffic from nearby Palomar Airport--the busiest single-runway airport in the country that that has experienced several plan crash incidents in the last couple of years.

NRG Energy themselves has stated that the environmental and energy experts who conducted a comprehensive analysis of the alternative sites "concluded that an alternative site will not work due to significant adverse environmental and community impacts [as well as]...insufficient electrical transmission capacity" (click for link).

So how does the proposed alternative power plant location make it any better or safer for Carlsbad residents? And why is the City of Carlsbad using our tax dollars to promote the interests of homeowners near the coast over those inland? Hopefully we can get answers to these questions by emailing the California Energy Commission at PAO@energy.state.ca.us or calling 1-800-822-6228. As well, it would be wise to attend the Public Hearings at the Hilton Garden Inn scheduled for Feb 1 and 2.

In the meantime, please take the time to review the other side to this issue. According to one North County Times article, the NRG Energy Power Plant as proposed is a net plus for Carlsbad (click for link). I will continue to research this issue as it develops and encourage my fellow Carlsbadians to do so as well.

**NOTE: This blog posting was reprinted in the North County Times. Click here to view the article online.

For more blog entries by Dana Matas, visit http://www.according2dana.blogspot.com/

Time to Unplug the Union's Political Machine

2009-12-31T01:43:00Z

By Dr. Gary Gonsalves

This article is for everybody who believes it’s time to reign in the political corruption of California’s public employee labor unions. Over the decades, the public unions have built a political machine that has given us unsustainable public employee pensions, benefits unmatched by the private sector, costly protected overtime pay, and the list goes on. Today I will give you the plug to the machine. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

Please ponder these facts for a moment. Whether or not you are one of the nearly 13% of unemployed Californians, you have numerous opportunities to pay California taxes. Your tax money pays a variety of public employees: prison guards, teachers, police, and a host of others. These government employees are then FORCED to pay dues to their respective unions.

These unions receive hundreds of millions of your taxpayer dollars. With these dollars they have built a political machine from some of the best political consultants, public relations experts and politicians that money can buy. Ultimately, this machine is designed to distort truths in an attempt to get even more of your money. It is also used to promote social agendas, as opposed to the welfare, of individual union members.

Take the following as three examples of the machine in action.

In 2008 the California Teachers Association (CTA) gave $1 million in opposition of Proposition 8, thereby supporting gay couples wanting to get married. Teachers outraged by this action were easy to find. What was harder to find is that David Sanchez is the first openly gay president of the CTA. Do you suppose this factored into the CTA’s decision to oppose Prop 8 with a substantial amount of union dues? How would gay marriage enhance the education of our children or improve the teaching environment?

In San Diego County, the Board of Supervisors has come under attack by Service Employee International Union (SEIU). Using paid signature gatherers, SEIU secured 80,000 signatures to bring term limits to the ballot for the board members. Of course the term limits did not seem to be an issue until the board recently laid-off a number of union workers due to budget restrictions. The conservative board seems to believe in fiscal constraint. Do you think SEIU would be advocating term limits if the board was dominated by loyal union-serving officials? Who do you think SEIU will support in the upcoming elections?

This last example wins the prize. The citizens of Oceanside were recently forced to spend $500,000 on a recall election against Jerry Kern even though his term is up next year. The group organizing the recall spent more than $114,000, almost 75% from the Oceanside Firefighters Association. Almost 100% of the balance came from other unions. Why would the firefighters spend their union dues in such a fashion? Could it have anything to do with their contract coming up for negotiations this December combined with a city council that only needed one vote to tip the power in favor of the unions? This was perhaps the most egregious example of power grabbing I have ever witnessed. Thankfully, the voters of Oceanside saw through the smoke. The recall was crushed by nearly a two-to-one margin. Next time a public union wants to fund a recall, perhaps they should also have to fund the cost of the election.

There are many more examples of your taxpayer dollars finding their way to the Public Union Political Machine. So how do we unplug their political machine? The answer is the Citizen Power Campaign, (see www.StopTaxingUs.com for link) which is currently gathering signatures for a November 2010 ballot initiative.

This initiative will restore choice for individual union members. They will no longer be forced to finance political activities. More specifically this initiative will stop Union Bosses from automatically taking portions of a worker’s paycheck and using it for lobbying. Union bosses will have to ASK their members for voluntary contributions. This is how it works for everybody else in California. If an individual or cause wants our support, they ASK for a voluntary contribution. This is the only way to ensure that our representatives are accountable to the people of California and not just the Union Bosses.

It is time to unplug the Public Union’s Political Machine and with your help we will save California. Will you volunteer to gather 25 signatures? Will you financially support the effort? The cord is in your hand. For the sake of California, give it a yank.

What's with all the secrecy and back door deals on healthcare?

2009-12-22T17:09:00Z

By Dana Matas

I have to ask...

If the healthcare legislation currently being voted on is so great and so wanted by the American public, then why would the most important votes be taken during the cover of night at 1am on a Monday morning and during Christmas Eve? Wouldn't you want everyone to see what a wonderful thing you are doing for the country...if it truly is wonderful?

If this legislation is so great, then why would it not take effect until after the next presidential election, and why in the world would Congress be exempt from it? Wouldn't you pass it right before an election to win all those votes from people who wanted it?

And most importantly, why would you need $100s of millions in Pork projects to buy the votes you need only to pass the bill by a hair? Wouldn't great legislation pass on its own merits?

I'm not sure I want answers to any of these questions as none of it can be good.

Blog Czar Teaches New Activists at Whole Foods Buycott!

2009-10-11T01:11:00Z

By Leslie Eastman

October 10, 2009

(Repost from Temple of Mut blog)

Dear Readers: I wanted to give you an update on today’s event, which was initiated by the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition. We held a Whole Foods Buy-cott at the La Jolla store. The background for the event is that WholeFoods CEO John Mackey laid out the most articulate argument for realhealth care reform, based on sound free market principles, in a WallStreet Journal article. As Mackey’s stance is counter to the Obamaadministration’s big government proposals, he and Whole Foods have comeunder attack and boycott. Subsequent to the publication of the Mackeyeditorial, the Local UFCW 135 protested outside the La Jolla locationagainst Mackey’s statements on Aug. 20, 2009...

Read full story at Temple of Mut by Leslie Eastman.

Tea Party E Pluribus Unum!

2009-10-04T21:37:00Z

By Dana Matas, Oct. 4, 2009

Since the very first handmade protest signs surfaced back in February, many have been wondering, "Who is leading the Tea Party Movement?" Is it the Republicans or the Independents? Is it Sarah Palin or Ron Paul? Is it this group or that group?

What even the most active of Tea Party enthusiast may not realize is, you need not look any further than your own bathroom mirror to see that the real leader of the Tea Party movement is you. In other words, it is every taxpayer who waves a "Don't Tread on Me" flag or who helps to organize a Tea Party. It is the mom who picks up the phone to call her Representative demanding her family be represented. And it is every individual speaking out for the first time, not just about their dissatisfaction with the other party, but their own party as well.

The Tea Party Movement is of the People, by the People and for the People. It is the individual's declaration of independence from the politicians and the special interest groups who've sold out the American people in exchange for their own self-serving pursuits. Our collective quest to restore and strengthen our freedoms and the values that founded this country are what keep us moving in lock-step with one another--not any one group or dynamic mouth piece. Thus, any politician or group proclaiming to be "the" leader of the Tea Party Movement either: a.) doesn't get it; or b.) is looking to exploit our frustrations.

Don't be fooled. There is no entity that is going to swoop in and save the day. There is no one bill we can defeat in Congress that will make everything better so we can go back to the complacency from which we just awoke. And there is no amount of turnover within elected office that will wipe clean the corruption that plagues our government. The success of the Tea Party Movement doesn't rest with any one accomplishment, group or person, but rather the continued effort of the individual to hold government accountable as only he or she can.

###

To contact the author of this blog entry, email Dana at danamatas@yahoo.com.

Welcome

2009-08-14T18:37:24Z

Welcome to our blog. Please check back soon for new entries.