Atridim News Journal

Atridim Breaking News: SS Payroll Tax Reduction, Extended Unemployment & Medicare ‘Doc Fix’ ends on December 31, 2011

atridim — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:51:31 +0000

What a mess. Washington Gridlock continues!

The US House voted today to table vote on the Senate 2-month extension (which has major flaws) and voted to accept a resolution to confer its 1-year extension (which has major flaws) back to Senate/House conference.

Bottom line…unless the Senate can find time in their busy holiday schedule to return to Washington or the House backs off of their unrealistic stand…the SS tax break raid on SS funds will end (GOOD)…and extended benefits for the unemployed will end (???) and a 27% decrease in doctor Medicare reimbursements will result (BAD).

Who is at fault? Obama, Republicans, Democrats?

Answer: All of the above

Washington has become totally dysfunctional. The president nor either party have a clue as to what is required to bring America out of the quagmire of Washington Gridlock. They ALL need to be replaced! You can help make that happen in the 2012 election.

Captain Rick’s Fix:

Medicare ‘Doc Fix’: Separate this from all of this squabble. It’s a very necessary thing that has been routinely fixed since the beginning of Medicare. Millions of elderly Americans who paid into the system for their entire lives have an invested right for Washington to stand behind America’s legislation of Medicare!

I hope Washington will come to its senses and pass emergency legislation early in 2012 to fix this travesty as a separate issue. The House has suggested a 2-year fix in their plan. That is commendable…but a permanent fix would be much better.

Social Security Payroll Tax Break extension: Kill it dead in its track! It is robbing billions of $$$ that are desperately needed to fund Social Security which is already on the path to bankruptcy. Both parties should be ashamed to promote extension of such fiscally poor legislation.

Unemployment Benefit Extension: This should be treated as a separate issue and not be rolled in with all of the above. The money it takes to provide this extension could be better used to provide new jobs for those without. Perhaps a work program like my dad was in back in the 1930’s…the CCC.

Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps

To fix the problem of Washington Gridlock, all voting Americans need to vote out all of the current members of Congress that will be up for reelection in 2012. They are among those who are responsible for Washington Gridlock. But, unless you vote your representatives out, you will be part of the problem.

Bougainvilleas explode into an Arizona sky!

atridim — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:43:53 +0000

Bougainvilleas explode into an Arizona sky!, originally uploaded by atridim.

Bougainvilleas light up the desert landscape in the Valley of the Sun most of the year.

Arizona Propositions on the Nov 2, 2010 Election Ballot + my voting suggestions

atridim — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:55:35 +0000

Arizona Propositions on the Nov 2, 2010 Election Ballot + my voting suggestions

Arizona Constitutional Amendments:

106…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution in an attempt to circumvent Obamacare.

107…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to prevent Affirmative Action programs that favor minorities.

109…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to make hunting and fishing a citizen’s right that can not be restricted by special interest groups….like those that don’t want animals and fish killed.

110…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow for trading state trust land in order to protect land around military bases like Luke AFB from encroachment.

111…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to amend the title of AZ Sec of State to AZ Lt. Gov. Makes AZ like most other states. Places Gov and Lt. Gov on the same ticket (same party). If Gov dies, leaves….the party in power, stays in power.

112…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow 6 months, instead of 4 to acquire signatures for a initiative petition.

113…Vote YES…amends AZ constitution to allow people to vote via secret ballot to stop people from being harassed into voting yes for creating a union.

Citizen Initiatives to revise AZ State Law:

203…Vote NO…legalizes marijuana in Arizona. Forces Arizona to establish a costly regulatory system at tax payer expense.

Legislative referrals to revise AZ Statutes:

301…Vote YES…transfers $124 Million from Land Conservation Fund back into the general fund to be used for land conservation related costs to help reduce the current AZ $1.7 Billion deficit. This fund was established by the Growing Smarter initiative back in 1998, when money was oozing out of the cracks. AZ can no longer afford to take $20 Million from the general fund every year to speculate in land investment.

302…Vote YES…transfers $324 Million from the Early Childhood Development Fund to the general fund to be used to increase quality and access of early childhood development and health services to help reduce the current $1.7 Billion AZ deficit. The fund originated from $.80 tax per pack of cigarettes in a 2006 voter initiative.

I welcome your comments,

Captain Rick

Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona

atridim — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:01:05 +0000

Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona, originally uploaded by atridim.

A WIDESCREEN HD Photo of Excellence from my Flickr Photostream

The 1.6% GDP estimate sounds alarm that unemployment rates will be rising

atridim — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:50:11 +0000

The recent GDP estimate of 1.6% growth is anemic. It sounds an alarm that the unemployment rate will be on the rise. I predict a “Double Dip Recession” and this will be a “Lost Decade”.

The broadest gage of our economy is the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) Growth Rate.

It is calculated every quarter by Uncle Sam. It captures the total value of all US goods and services.

GDP ZONES:

REAL GROWTH: A GDP growth rate above 3% reduces unemployment (light shaded upper band on chart in the link below).

A GDP growth rate of 5% for 4 quarters is needed to reduce the US Unemployment Rate by 1%.

ANEMIC GROWTH: A GDP growth rate of 0%-3% increases unemployment (darker shaded middle band on chart in link below).

In this area, our economy can not provide enough new jobs to keep up with new graduates entering the workforce.

RECESSION: A GDP growth rate below 0% for 2 or more quarters (lighter shaded lower band on the chart in link below).

DEPRESSION: A GDP growth rate below -10% for 4 or more quarters.

Captain Rick’s Past Economic Projection Score Card of correct calls:

2006 US Real Estate Market Crash

2008 US Bank Meltdown

2008 US Stock Market Crash

2008 US Recession

2010 European Financial Crisis

Pending…..US & Europe: Double Dip Recession 2011-2013

Pending…..US & Europe: Lost Decade 2006-2016

Pending…..China: Real Estate collapse 2011-2013

Pending…..Canada: Real Estate collapse 2011-2015

Captain Rick’s Economic Projection:

The recent significant reduction in the estimate for the US GDP rate (1.6%) for the second quarter of 2010 is alarming.

It adds fuel to the projection of a “Double Dip Recession” by many economists.

What I find to be of much greater concern is the dominance of all but 3 of the past 18 quarters lying in the ”Anemic Growth” or “Recession” range. That signals a very strong possibility that we are in a period that some economists refer to as a “Lost Decade”, one that has little or no real growth.

Scanning the economic horizons, I see no economic engines in the US that will move the GDP growth predominantly above that 3% line any time soon.

I predict that we will see a “Double Dip Recession” and this will be a “Lost Decade”.

Captain Rick’

. . . My economic perspective presented thru the eye of an engineer and a lifelong student of economics.

GDP Chart Data: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=USD

Mexican President Calderon addresses his nation: admits violence worse

atridim — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:13:34 +0000

Mexican President Felipe Calderon admitted drug violence was worsening in Mexico but said the cartels had been weakened by the toppling of several major drug bosses, in his annual address Thursday.

“It’s an ever more bloody war between organized crime groups fighting for territory, markets and routes,” a defiant Calderon told hundreds of top officials and politicians at Mexico City’s National Palace.

The Mexican leader is under increasing fire for his military crackdown on organized crime launched in 2006, which has been accompanied by an eruption of violence including the recent massacre of 72 migrants by a suspected drug gang in northeastern Mexico.

The annual state of the nation report said authorities had made 34,515 drug-related arrests in the past year and confiscated more than 34,000 weapons, more than 72 million dollars and 133 million pesos (10.2 million dollars) in cash.

They seized the equivalent of 2.5 billion dollars in drugs, said the report published late Wednesday.

Drug violence — including beheadings, hangings and shootings — has meanwhile expanded to more of the country, including several car bombs for the first time this year. More than 28,000 people have died in drug-related attacks since 2006, according to official figures.

Calderon highlighted efforts to root out corruption and modernize police, after the firings this year of some 3,200 federal officers for poor performance.

Story: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j4pAcCfPDFdIwlYrc6ABMh5Ctvrg

No Ruling Issued In Arizona’s SB 1070 Illegal Immigration Federal Hearing

atridim — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:47:14 +0000

A federal judge in Phoenix does NOT rule on a lawsuit to block Arizona’s new immigration law after hearing two hours of testimony.

Barring a ruling against the law, SB1070 is scheduled to go into effect July 29, 2010.

Details: http://www.kpho.com/tu/5RgUEKCQR.html>

Based on my research of SB1070, I believe most of it is constitutional and that the federal judge will allow at least some of SB1070 to take effect. I am sure that the balance will be appealed by Arizona.

Captain Rick

Happy 90th Birthday Gilbert, Arizona

atridim — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:53:46 +0000

I want to share some Arizona history about a great place that I have called home for over 14 years.

On July 6, 2010 my Town of Gilbert, Arizona celebrated its 90th birthday.

It has grown from 500 residents when it was incorporated in 1920 (8 years after Arizona became a state) to over 220,000 today, the 7th largest city in Arizona.

I invite you to watch Gilberts 90th birthday celebration.

You will see some great images and hear some great testimony from citizens who have lived in Gilbert all or most of their lives, including one lady who is 96 years young.

You will hear testimony of what life was like in Arizona in the early days, when there was NO air conditioning in one of the hottest places on earth.

The entire video is about 1 hour, 45 minutes long.

I have prepared the following index so that you can zoom in and watch the segments of interest.

Please set aside some time to watch. I promise that it will be worth your while!

VIDEO INDEX by Minute:

08 Minute mark: Arizona Gov. Brewer wishes Gilbert a happy 90th birthday

13 Minute mark: A Gilbert Mayor in the 1970s gives a great historic look back of when Gilbert was incorporated on July 6, 1920, with just 500 citizens.

34 Minute mark: Original citizens of Gilbert tell their story of what it was like back in the old days of Gilbert. One is an original citizen that is 96 years young!

Listen to what life was like in Arizona, 90 years ago, when there was NO air conditioning.

1:34 Minute mark: Recognition of those who are celebrating their 90th birthday in Gilbert, Arizona

My compliments to the Gilbert Town Council and Gilbert Management and Staff for this extraordinary presentation!

Gilberts 90th birthday celebration

Click: http://gilbert.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=343

Captain Rick

Hello world!

atridim — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:13:19 +0000

I have an interest in news, economy, government, photography and much more. I enjoy writing about them to share with you. I will be commenting on news of interest from my town of Gilbert, my state of Arizona, my country of the USA and the world.

I chose WordPress to establish my blog because it stood out as a leader in quality and professionalism.

I hope you will join in our conversation.

Captain Rick