My message to Kristi Noem, 7-11-11:

If the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2nd, many economists are predicting that the dollar will plummet and interest rates will climb. This would have devastating effects on the economy at large as well as on personal finances for many people. I don't know about you, but my finances are just beginning to stabilize after the hit the economy took under the Bush administration. Please don't make them take another hit - and an unnecessary one at that. Please do the work of the American people - don't hold the debt ceiling hostage to unreasonable demands. Please go along with raising taxes on the wealthy; their taxes are already lower than they've been in decades. If higher tax rates didn't halt job growth under Reagan, they won't now either so that argument doesn't hold water. And the Ryan proposal is absurd - do you really want to be known as someone who threw Granny under the bus in order to defend tax breaks for corporate jets? A vast majority of the American people want to protect Medicare and Social Security. Please take that into account as you cast your votes.

Another phrase I hear batted around a lot is "wealth redistribution." When spoken by the GOP, it generally refers to taxing people and then using those dollars to fund programs like Medicare and Social Security. Please remember that people have paid into these programs throughout their working lives, so referring to them as "entitlement" programs is insulting and ignores those contributions. Not to mention that Social Security wouldn't be having financial problems if irresponsible legislators hadn't dipped into SS funds, leaving meaningless IOU's behind.

The truth about wealth redistribution is that the money has been flowing from the lower and middle classes to the upper class for years. I refer you to:

http://www.squattable.com/blog/birdflip/030911/real-redistribution-wealth-forbes-400-triple-wealth-5-years

So please don't try to con people into believing that higher taxes for the rich would be a bad thing. I don't believe that, and neither do most people. I refer you to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/03/us-usa-taxes-poll-idUSTRE7022AK20110103

The salient point: "...Sixty-one percent of Americans polled would rather see taxes for the wealthy increased as a first step to tackling the deficit, the poll showed...."

The GOP is out of touch with the American people. Wouldn't you like to be a voice of reason for the party instead of being just another "my way or the highway" obstructionist?

Please get the debt ceiling deal done by compromising on raising taxes. It's the right thing to do.

My Message to my Representative Re: GOP Budget Proposals

I see the cuts being discussed on the news as ones that will primarily serve to further the Republican agenda and the political futures of individual politicians instead of serving the needs of the people. Rather than balancing the budget on the backs of women, infants, and children (WIC) etc., why don't you try cutting some of the corporate welfare spending? You know - subsidies to big energy companies and such.

Also, deregulating the EPA is one of the WORST things you could ever do. Do you remember when the Olympics were held in Beijing? Athletes had to wear face masks because the air pollution was so bad. Dismantling the CleanAir Act could lead to that same situation here in the USA. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT! We must not ruin one of the few significant accomplishments of our lifetime. I used to live in Denver - they have "inversions" in the atmosphere at times that trap pollution over the city. Have you ever had a "pollution headache?" I have. They're awful. Please don't screw the American people while pandering to big business.

You're supposed to represent all of the people of SD, not just Republicans. I am an independent voter, but not one that will blindly swallow Tea Party propaganda. I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians - in each case, the person I thought best for the job.

I'll be watching. And I vote.

Pat Kyne

If I ruled the world.........Sarah Palin would no longer be referred to as Governor Palin, or Former Governor Palin by all the talking heads on cable news. Or any other news. Quitter. That would be her title. Quitter Palin.

Nuff said.

Proposed Tax on Sodas, Juice Drinks, etc.

Have you seen the latest ad on TV complaining about a proposed tax on sodas, juice drinks, and other unhealthy beverages? It shows a hockey-mom type woman in a grocery store, and she's talking about how she can make good decisions for her family without government interference. Etc. So who do you think is helping to fund the anti-soda tax campaign?

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/politics/food-taxes-obesity-campaign-commercial-grocery-soda-pop-20101011

Look, I'm not a fan of new taxes either. But parents these days are making a lot of really bad decisions. That's why we have a whole generation of kids growing up with unprecedented rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Parents have abdicated their responsibility for making kids eat right. When I was a kid, we had milk with meals, not soda. Soda was maybe a once-a-week treat, and that was just one glass. Now many kids seem to drink empty soda calories at every meal. So if the afore-mentioned hockey-mom was able, as she claims, to make good decisions, why are the disease rates among kids skyrocketing? And just who does she think is going to be paying for medical care when her type II diabetic 21 year old kid is in the hospital for amputations and dialysis? Probably won't be her. And the kid will be on Medicaid or disability, which means you and I will be footing the bill.

And while we're on the subject of diseases among kids, it's these same parents who let their kids get away with spending hours on electronic games while sitting in a chair instead of telling them "Go out and play" like my Mom did. Running, biking, climbing trees, building forts - these were the activities of my childhood, and should be the activities of kids today as well.

What has happened to parenting skills????

I don't want to hear their complaints about the tax proposal. And I don't want to pay for treating their kids' serious medical conditions in the very near future.

Besides, overpopulation is becoming more of a problem all the time. Here's my proposal. Just do away with the tax deduction for minor children. Why reward people for having more kids that have a high chance of turning into societal liabilities? Let them pay their taxes without the deduction, and give a deduction to people who don't have children and therefore aren't creating future drains on society and infrastructure. Yeah - like that'll ever happen.

JMHO