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Politics aside, the title of this blog was an attention getter... Isn't it interesting how innovative the opportunistic mind works ...on February 27th, both Democrats & Republicans under Pelosi leadership passed H.R. 5351, a bill that will raise the prices that you and I pay at the pump for gasoline through the imposition of $17 - $18 billion dollars in taxes.
Before I discuss the technical aspects of this blog post, let me give you a bit of history of this energy bill from my own perspective. As you know, I am a huge proponent of renewable and bio-energy, and support any efforts to make the US less dependent on foreign oil. I also know taxes are needed but raising taxes on American companies like ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron; with provisions that will give tax breaks to Hugo Chavez's government owned CITGO as it is not considered to be a major integrated oil company, does nothing but infuriate the masses, and create harsh debates. Ultimately, you and I are paying these tax increases in taxes through our fuel consumption. ... But, it does make a great sound bite. From 1989 to 2005, the government spent billions of dollars on increasing renewable energy use in this country, a number of my clients have benefitted from these dollars. My beleif, similar to my clients is that the real answer to finding a cost effective alternative is free trade, and allowing innovators the opportunity to find new alternate energy sources, and have the oil companies fund those sources, instead of having our government misappropriate the funds to another line in the budget, that has nothing to do with energy. THANKS FOR THE BACKGROUND; WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH TECHNOLOGY...? I've learned if you want to have an impassioned discussion, AKA argument, bring up religion or politics. Obviously, this is a widely known ploy, since I received a chain letter forwaarded to me by a reader, which was meant for "The Far Right", "Constitutionalist", and "Moderate Liberals" that hate tax increases. OK, admitttedly, that is about 80 - 90% of the US tax paying base. In this chain letter, "FW: Pelosi-Led Congress Gives Tax Breaks to Hugo Chavez-Can you say $5/gal" the headlines read: | Investor's Business Daily wrote in an editorial published on Friday titled, Tax Cut for Hugo: "It goes to show that Congress is more willing to empower dictators than to get serious about America's energy supply."
But Investor's Business Daily is being much too kind by spreading the blame around. The statement should have read that the Democrat-controlled Congress is more willing to empower dictators... |
Once you go to this site, you are instructed, if you agree you are provided information on how you can use their link to "send your urgent and personalized 50 Blast Fax messages to President George W. Bush and the 49 Republican Members of the United States Senate". Great - I could do that through my PC, but now I do not have to look up the email addresses or fax number to the Fab 50, excluding the Dem's, but wait, there's more... Clicking on the link takes you to another page where you can actually read what will be sent on your behalf to voice your displeasure: TO: President George W. Bush The Republican Members of the United States Senate: The Hon. Mitch McConnell, The Hon. Lamar Alexander, The Hon. Wayne Allard, The Hon. John Barrasso, The Hon. Robert Bennett, The Hon. Christopher S. Bond, The Hon. Sam Brownback, The Hon. Jim Bunning, The Hon. Richard Burr, The Hon. Saxby Chambliss, The Hon. Tom Coburn, The Hon. Thad Cochran, The Hon. Norm Coleman, The Hon. Susan M. Collins, The Hon. Bob Corker, The Hon. John Cornyn, The Hon. Larry E. Craig, The Hon. Mike Crapo, The Hon. Jim DeMint, The Hon. Elizabeth Dole, The Hon. Pete V. Domenici, The Hon. John Ensign, The Hon. Michael B. Enzi, The Hon. Lindsey O. Graham, The Hon. Charles E. Grassley, The Hon. Judd Gregg, The Hon. Chuck Hagel, The Hon. Orrin G. Hatch, The Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison, The Hon. James M. Inhofe, The Hon. Johnny Isakson, The Hon. Jon L. Kyl, The Hon. Richard G. Lugar, The Hon. Mel Martinez, The Hon. John McCain, The Hon. Lisa Murkowski, The Hon. Pat Roberts, The Hon. Jeff Sessions, The Hon. Richard C. Shelby, The Hon. Gordon Smith, The Hon. Olympia J. Snowe, The Hon. Arlen Specter, The Hon. Ted Stevens, The Hon. John E. Sununu, The Hon. John R. Thune, The Hon. David Vitter, The Hon. George V. Voinovich, The Hon. John W. Warner, The Hon. Roger Wicker FROM: YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WILL APPEAR HERE RE: No Tax Breaks for Chavez; Block H.R. 5351 At All Costs I was distressed to learn that the Nancy Pelosi-controlled House has just voted to jack up gasoline prices by imposing an $18 billion dollar tax. But that's not the most outrageous part of this malicious legislation. After voting to impose this $18 billion dollar tax, Pelosi and liberals in Congress decided that Hugo Chavez's Citgo was deserving of a huge tax break. If Pelosi and company thought Chavez was a benign figure when they passed this legislation, they could hardly maintain that illusion after Monday's news. The events and words speak for themselves. On Saturday, Colombian military forces pursued the rebel's second in command, Raul Reyes, into Ecuador and killed him and at least 16 of his men - the biggest defeat for the rebels in over 40 years. Chavez threatened war in South America, calling the Colombians pawns of the United States. But that's not all because reports have surfaced that the Columbians had captured documents revealing that Ecuador and Venezuela had been conspiring with the rebels and that Hugo Chavez had given them $300 million! Question: Where would the dictator of a starving country get that kind money? Answer: From oil revenues. Now take a second look at the tax break Pelosi and company want to give this enemy of America, who has called President Bush "the devil." Do whatever it takes to block passage of the treacherous House bill, which will raise gas prices, ensure inflation, and stuff dollars into the greasy pockets of a mad dictator. Sincerely, Your Signature Will Be Recreated Here |
OK, fairly well written, not the exact phrasing I would use, but close enough, so far I am still interested in moving forward. Wait a minute - what's this.... No Tax Breaks for Hugo Please Accept My Contribution In The Amount Indicated Below To Send These Blast Faxes And Support This Vital Campaign And The Mission Of The American Conservative Union. We Respectfully Ask for A Minimum Contribution of $20.00, But You May Give More If You Wish. Please Select A Contribution Amount Below. Please Complete The Form Below Using Your Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover Card. GrassTopsUSA.com will appear on your billing statement. |
I am contributing to what? If I want to give more, huh? I fully intended to pay a couple of bucks to cover any reasonable development cost this group may have incurred, but $20.00? I'm not criticizing the actions of this GrassTopUSA, but if the intent of this "Eye Catching Headline" is to inform and assist "We" the average person, why ask for a minimum contribution. As indicated earlier, if you want to incite an argument - bring up politics or religion. Even if you agree with GrassTopUSA's political rhetoric - We're talking abaout an automated computer application that can generate thousands of web form based eFaxes with no effort on anyone's part... The content has already been developed. The database fills in 2 fields with content that you provide, hosting is already being managed through the web site, so overhead can't be much more than $150.00 in total. If you want to raise money for your cause - be up front about it... Not after you go through several links on your web portal, only to find that you are not really being asked for a minimum contribution, but by default can only choose $20.00 or more. If you want to write your congressman, senator, or any govenerment official, do it yourself, store the address information on your computer, and use the addresses as often as you like to voice your opinion. Here are the technical components of generating an eFax - - If you can have the ability through your ISP or PC to create emails to Fax messages, then by Googleing ("United States Senate" and Fax) will bring up several hundred lists of senators and their contact information.
- The list can be found on http://www.senate.gov, which is the Senate's official web site (OK - I sent an email to the Cataloging Supervisor, Ms Betsy Moon, at the U.S. Senate Library, and she provided me the following link for this story, but a Google search provides the same information).
- There is also a Phone List, if you want to call the Senator directly – just remember the area code is 202.
The point of this blog is, if you want to contribute to any political action committee, that is your choice. Regardless of your political views, Political Action Committtees, mud throwes, and blog sites should be up front about their intent to raise money for their cause under full disclosure, and not pull at the heart strings of impassioned individuals. If the article is something which resonates with you and you want to take action, use your own resources, and send your concerns to both parties. At the very least you will be able to remove yourself from the distribution list... I contributed to the PAC once, and I am still getting calls, collateral, and other unwanted stuff... But.... If you are compelled to donate your money - fill free to donate to my "I hate scammers" link - Nothing will happen, but at least you know where your money is going, and you won't be added to a distribution list.... 
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