New Ideas : Jeff Crank Forum

FDA, Goodbye!

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA); this agency is not just a waste of your hard earned dollars it is really dangerous. Through its policies and labeling programs it is effectively keeping you from being able to make informed decisions about what you eat. You will never know if you are eating meat from a cloned cow or not. Forget about whether it is safe or not, you won’t have a choice because you will never know.
Have you noticed how many so called safe drugs are being recalled, because they actually weren’t safe? How about the recent news about Vytorin? It lowers your cholesterol but doesn’t have any effect on coronary heart disease, which is what it is for. Could it be that cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease are not related? Could it be that the best selling drug of all time at over $10 billion dollars a year (Lipitor) is actually a poison and has no effect on the condition of your cardiovascular system? It is and doesn’t, but you will never believe it. The FDA and partners, you say, are there to protect us. Really? Then why did eight of the nine members of the panel that determined the “proper” cholesterol levels receive payments from the pharmaceutical companies that manufactured these drugs? What seems crazy to you? Get rid of this useless and sometimes dangerous department!!!!

Tags : fda drugs dangerous

Comments (1)Posted By : Thomas Cirillo on 06/04/2008 under How to Cut the Size of the Federal Government

Cap and Trade

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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Congress selling carbon credits? When did congress acquire ownership of the atmosphere?

Comments (1)Posted By : srdunphey on 06/03/2008 under How to Cut the Size of the Federal Government

IRS - allowable mileage for vonunteer/charitable contribution

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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Unless the IRS and the Federal tax guidelines are done away with, suggest an update of the allowable mileage deduction for volunteer/charitable vehicle use. The rate for 2007 was $0.14/mile vs $0.20 for medical miles and ~$0.50 for business miles. The $0.14 for volunteer has been the same for many years, the business rate goes up practically avery year. Does it cost less for volunteers, and medical needs, than for businesse to operate their vehicles? Why the discrepancy and why not more equitable treatment of tax payers?

Tags : fed tax deductions

Comments (0)Posted By : sversaw on 06/03/2008 under Questions for Jeff

Farm Bill Subsidies!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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Recently Congress sent the latest Farm Bill to the president. The bill features brand new federal programs, expansion of existing subsidies, more food stamps and more foreign food aid. This bill hits the taxpayer hard, while at the same time ensuring food prices will remain elevated. The president vetoed the bill, citing concerns over its costs and subsidies for the wealthy in a time of high food prices and record farm income. Nevertheless, this over-reaching, government-expanding Farm Bill will soon be law.

The truth is most farmers simply want honest pay for honest work. However, if the government is providing competing farms with advantages, and one wants to remain a farmer, one must seek a proportional advantage from government. It is a difficult position for the farmer. Some are better at qualifying for taxpayers’ largesse than others as evidenced by the fact that more than 60% of the subsidies go to just 10% of recipients, edging out the small family farm. This entire system is unfair and demoralizing. It disproportionately benefits big agribusiness at the expense of struggling family farms.

Tags : farm bill taxpayers

Comments (1)Posted By : Thomas Cirillo on 06/03/2008 under How to Cut the Size of the Federal Government

Transparency in Lobbying Law

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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There needs to be full and open and easily accessible disclosure of who bribes which congressmembers for how much. There needs to be a website searchable both by lobbiest and congressperson where any of us can go see who is peddling influence to who and for how much, then link legislation voted up or down to those bribes. Proverbs says that bribes corrupt the judgment of rulers. That needs to end in this nation as much as we can. We the people need to see who gets what from who. Every lobbiest and every government official needs to openly disclose all such "transactions."

Tags : lobbying, corruption

Comments (2)Posted By : deancozzens on 06/03/2008 under More Efficient Government

Protection of Improved Technologies Act

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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I know of a man in Denver who in the 1980s took delivery of a brand new Ford truck. At first he thought the gas gauge wasn't working, but when he checked and a mechanic friend of mine carefully checked with him, they found that the truck was getting 80+ miles per gallon. When he took the truck in for it's 6000 mile check, he stood and watched and listened. When they pulled the truck into the bay, the shop foreman lifted the hood and looked, then shouted out, "We found it." When the owner of the truck drove it home it was getting the "normal" gas mileage we've grown acustomed to. I know of another man in Tulsa who had the exact same experience, only in his case Ford called him up and promised him a new truck if he would bring the one he had back in. He refused. He liked the one he had. He lived in an apartment where the truck had to be parked outside. He went out one morning and the truck was gone. Withholding advanced technology, or suppressing it, whether in mechanical or medical or whatever fields, ought to be a criminal offense. Any company caught doing it needs to be publically exposed and loose their patent, and probably fined too.

Tags : technology, economy, healthcare, inventions

Comments (0)Posted By : deancozzens on 06/03/2008 under More Efficient Government

Return Power back to the States

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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Is it possible to change the way the Congress is paid? How about if the State that the Congressman or Senator is from were responsible for the salary. Maybe there could be some accountability if the congress didn't pay themselves.

Comments (1)Posted By : jeff.barnett on 06/02/2008 under More Efficient Government

Push HARD for alternate energy sources- Stop dependency on Foreign oil

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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I think Congress should push hard for moving America to alternative energy sources. We need to stop our dependency on foreign oil and the global market. How much better off would we be if we provided our OWN energy?! I think all avenues should be pursued, responsibly drilling on and off shore, switching to clean coal, use wind, solar, and water efficiently to produce energy. I don't think that a MASS solution to the gas problem will work, I think certain regions of the country will pursue energy options that work best for them. I also think if the government is going to subsidise anyone, it should be homeowners and small businesses, encouraging them to use smart energy rather than huge companys.
And while you're at it, abolish the stupid carbon tax and stormwater tax. Humans emit carbon dioxide when we breathe, trees and plants use this to make oxygen, this is NATURAL, not pollution. And I dont understand the idea of taxing people off of RAIN! I cant control the weather, dont tax me for it!

Comments (2)Posted By : melenajade on 06/02/2008 under More Efficient Government

Cutting Aid to Mexico

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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I just heard of the Merida initiative. Mexico is a very wealthy country. Why do we give them aid? To keep their friendship!? We're not the world's ATM machine. Mexico has great oil wealth and natural resources. Mexico is a good size and has fertile volcanic soils and good climate. It has Pacific and Caribbean fishing, shipping and world-class beach resorts; proximity to first rate markets for its goods; a willing and inexpensive workforce. It's a democracy with freedom of speech, religion, etc.

Comments (2)Posted By : brandyrok on 06/02/2008 under Cut Government Spending

Fair Tax

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT

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Jeff,

I would encourage you to support the Fair Tax act (HR 25) historically sponsored by Representative Linder of Georgia.

The FairTax Act is nonpartisan legislation that eliminates personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, social security, medicare, etc taxes and replaces them with a visible federal retail sales tax.

The FairTax allows workers to keep 100% of their paycheck. It further:
-Is pro-growth and creates jobs by making American products more competitive for export.
-Ensures everyone pays their share of taxes including criminals and illegal immigrants.
-Is progressive by exempting all legal, resident, American taxpayers from federal taxation up to the poverty level through a monthly rebate.
-Dramatically lowers taxes for low and middle income Americans.
-Eliminates the time and expense wasted on IRS record keeping.
-Leaves unchanged the amount of money raised by the federal government.

Ultimately this bill gives more control back to citizens, both of the government and in their own financial lives. Much of the critism of this legislation is unfounded and has been addressed in detail by Americans for Fair Taxation. For more information on this legislation, visit www.fairtax.org.

Thank you for your consideration and service.
Best of luck in November!

Comments (9)Posted By : jakeabendschan on 06/02/2008 under More Efficient Government