Do you know what (not whom) you’re voting for?

Election Day is less than three weeks away. By now, most people know how they’ll vote with regard to Congress. Even so, candidates will be working furiously and spending millions right up until the last minute in hopes of winning just one more vote.

But, if you’re in Virginia, did you know that there are three Virginia Constitutional Amendments on the ballot?

Thanks to Senator Mark Obenshain for this head’s up and synopsis:

All three amendments address taxation and revenue issues, and all three have passed the General Assembly two consecutive years (with nearly unanimous votes), as is required by the Constitution of Virginia, and they now go before the voters for final approval.

The first ballot question reads as follows: “Shall Section 6 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to authorize legislation that will permit localities to establish their own income or financial worth limitations for purposes of granting property tax relief for homeowners not less than 65 years of age or permanently disabled?”

Currently, localities are only authorized to make exemptions for those who bear an “extraordinary tax burden,” or with the express approval of the General Assembly, which occasionally passes legislation authorizing specific localities to afford local property tax relief to senior citizens or the disabled. This amendment, if approved, would allow local governments to make the decision on their own, without going to the General Assembly for approval.

The second ballot question asks: “Shall the Constitution be amended to require the General Assembly to provide real property tax exemption for the principal residence of a veteran, or his or her surviving spouse, if the veteran has a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability?”

If approved, this amendment would require a statewide exemption from local property taxes for the primary residence of any 100% disabled veteran, provided that the veteran’s disability is service-related. A surviving spouse could continue to claim the exemption so long as the same home remains his or her primary residence, and s/he does not remarry.

Finally, the third ballot question says: “Shall Section 8 of Article X of the constitution of Virginia be amended to increase the permissible size of the Revenue Stabilization Fund (also known as the “rainy day fund” from 10 percent to 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s average tax revenues derived from income and retail sales taxes for the preceding three fiscal years?”

In other words, should we expand the allowable size of Virginia’s “rainy day fund,” to which state government contributes in good years to provide resources for lean years? Currently, the maximum size of the Fund – which is almost empty at present – is 10% of the Commonwealth’s average annual tax revenues from income and sales taxes for the preceding three fiscal years; this amendment would up the maximum allowable amount to 15%.

Don’t be caught offguard when you enter the voting booth.

Mourning in America

On this Day in History – September 17, 1787

On September 17, 1787, members of the Constitutional Convention signed the final draft of the Constitution.

 

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Wouldn’t it be a novel thought if our politicians would actually read it?

Taking a Different Look at Social Justice

I admit I often struggle when I try to reconcile my political views with my faith. On the one hand, my political views reflect the way I believe things should work. But when I look at it as a follower of Christ that pesky fifth chapter of Matthew tends to get in the way.

Jack Kemp, who passed away last year, always seemed to get it.

Republicans many times can’t get the words ‘equality of opportunity’ out of their mouths. Their lips do not form that way.
Jack Kemp

For a brief period in 1993-1994, I had the privilege to work for Jack Kemp. At the time he was considering a run for the White House. I would have loved that campaign.

But because of the legacy of Jack Kemp and because of the struggle I have to reconcile my faith and political views, I am intrigued by Restoring Social Justice.

I think the liberal Christian left has given “Social Justice” a bad name. A name (and reputation) it does not deserve.

I like instead this message:

RestoringSocialJustice.com highlights sound policy and people-drive initiatives that are changing society by transforming individual lives. The principles at work extend across borders, and this site’s ideas and research are drawn from several countries. Together, we seek a more effective approach that will restore individuals, families, communities, and our societies at large to full flourishing.

I look forward to reading more.

We Can No Longer Say “It Can’t Happen Here”

We knew on September 11, 2001 that we were not immune to attacks from the outside. And in a wave of unprecedented solidarity patriotism soared. Everywhere you looked the American flag was flying. How then, did we get to this?

Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees
NBCBayArea.com
Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal’s office.

When did this country become this flippin’ stoopid?

Yes, I understand that Cinco de Mayo is important to Mexicans, but it’s not a national holiday in Mexico, and it is not Mexican Independence Day. For the majority of Americans who do celebrate (particularly the non-Mexican Americans) it’s about the beer.

Still I have no problem with recognizing it and celebrating it. But let’s be clear.

This is the United States of America. A country that I’m not afraid to say is the greatest country on earth. Are we always the best people? Maybe not. But our system of government (for the most part) and our freedoms (while we still have them) are far superior.

I don’t own an American Flag t-shirt, but I just might have to buy one. I do have an American Flag tie from some years back. But don’t you dare tell me I can’t wear the colors of my country proudly. That’ll be true for Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day and Octoberfest.

Get used to it.

Now, as an aside, if the school had a dress code policy that prohibited certain types of t-shirts, shirts with political statements or otherwise, I’d be defending them.

But that’s not the case.

This is a case of political correctness corroding a principal’s brain. Fortunately, the school district overruled him.

What a sad lesson for the students who were told their patriotism was out of place.

Diversity is one thing.

Stupidity is quite another.

A “Religion of Peace,” but not Tolerance

CNN : Anderson Cooper Muslims Threaten To Kill South Park Creators

Pentagon May Cancel Graham: Army Reconsiders Evangelist

Some Dare Call it Sedition

And that some would be wrong.

Joe Klein Equates Advocating Limited Government With Sedition
Below the Beltway
Now, I have been among the first to criticize Beck, or Palin, or Bachmann, or Limbaugh when they say something stupid, but where, tell me, have any of them ever advocated “the overthrow or destruction” of the United States Government? They haven’t, of course, meaning that Klein’s charge is bogus.

Glenn Beck Strikes Back At Joe Klein: I’m Not Seditious. I Love My Country
Newsbusters
Indeed. And if Klein and Heilemann weren’t both shamelessly shilling for the President they helped get elected, they’d be going after him rather than those expressing concern about the direction of the nation.

Joe Klein Reads Off His Napkin: Beck and Palin “Rub Right Up Close To Being Seditious”
News Real Blog
As president, Jefferson pardoned all who were convicted under the Sedition Act and helped pay their fines. The law was off the books by 1802.

El Rushbo Accused of Sedition
RushLimbaugh.com
Folks, I’m all over the sound bites. It’s a shame. You know I try never to talk about me on this program. I try never to make me the issue. I was accused yesterday of sedition. Eighty percent of the American people disapprove of government power right now, it’s a Pew Research Center poll, 80% of the people do not like the level of power the government has now. They don’t like it. Are they guilty of sedition? You know why I’m guilty of sedition? Because I use the word “regime.” I’m guilty of sedition. Joe Klein was on Matthews Sunday show, he said Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck are guilty of sedition, and this John Heilemann guy who wrote that book with Halperin where they kept all that information for their book rather than the campaign, “Well, gotta throw Limbaugh in there, Limbaugh is sedition, too.” Byron York, just as he did with Matthews, has gone back to the nexus database and found that Mr. Heilemann himself has used the word “regime,” numerous times. In fact, even once describing Obama. Yes-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s.

Joe Klein Calls Beck and Palin Seditious
Right Pundits
What happened to free speech that the lefties so love to scream about? It’s perfectly fine for the Times to print leaked CIA documents, publish the weak points in our troops armor or even name undercover agents whom worked under the Bush administration and they see no problem with that. Yet when media personal on the right complain about Obama and big government suddenly it’s sedition.

Not Taking Tea Partiers Seriously
Brit Hume, FOX News
…the president seems not to grasp that the Tea Partiers see the mountains of debt piling up under this president and Congress as a threat not only to their own prosperity but even more so to their children and grandchildren’s.

I Don’t Want to Die in Office

But if I depend on Social Security, looks like I’ll never be able to afford to retire.

H/T Below the Beltway

How I Already Know Obamacare Will Cost Me More Money

I have arthritis.

Most days I’m able to manage it by exercise and by taking two Aleve (Naproxen) each day. My doctor gave me a prescription, but I get roughly the same version in the over the counter med. It’s easier and more cost effective.

That’s about to change.

One of the first things millions of Americans will see from the healthcare bill is an effective 40 percent tax hike on the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines…If you pay for any of these items with money in your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you will face an effective tax increase of up to 40 percent on such items. Mercola.com

In other words it will be cheaper for me, but not my insurance company to have my doctor reissue the prescription.

Obamacare. It’s a real pain.

We TOLD you they DIDN’T READ the BILL!!! Part Deux

We’ve been down this road before.

Ooops! Congress loses health care plan under Obamacare?
The American Thinker

In what appears to have been a laughable oversight, Congress seems to have stripped itself of its very generous healthcare plan and I don’t see how they an undo the damage without conceding (a) they never read the Act before they passed it; and (b) they certainly expect to get better treatment under the law than they are forcing on the rest of us.