Wrapping my brain around all this

I am so tired of all the campaign rhetoric. I personally find the "redistribution of wealth" arguments interesting. I have a curse of being unable to sleep and complete my daily activities at times when my mind starts thinking about all this. I am a research hound. I could make a living doing research. Someday, I may find someone who would like to pay me to do that for them.

I do want to say, all income "classes" (I hate that word) of Americans have become very greedy. With that, there has been a redistribution of wealth the past 8 years. Many who are rich got even richer. The middle class has definitely fallen behind. And the working/lower income folks have been beaten badly in the last couple of years. Since most people I know are middle to working "class", (although some try to trick themselves into thinking they are upper income "class"), most people I know are not better off now than they were 8 years ago. Yes, I am a registered Republican. "My" party left me quite a few years ago, when the extremists took over, so I guess that makes me an Independent. Any logical thinker must be wary of extremist of any pole. I have been called a pragmatist. I think I am just that -- which is a result of my recovery from idealism.

I guess I view the "Economic Crisis" as a correction to peoples' misguided greed and extremism. I actually think it will benefit our society in the long run, as Americans will have to examine and re-think their priorities. It is sad that the greed of the sector that controls so much of the finances that affect all of us will cause pain and loss to many Americans. We will survive this and be stronger as a result, of this I am certain. Unless, of course, we continue to cater to the wealthiest few. Then, with virtually no middle class, we can say we succeeded in allowing our government to reduce us to a second or third world tier nation.

Sound radical? Look at all thriving nations, including ours over the past century. They all have a thriving middle class. There will always rise a group to become the "upper class". That's human nature. The problems arise when that group is allowed to use the rest to meet their greed. Many wealthy people are kind, considerate, and willing to help others. Many more are not. They talk the talk, but certainly aren't willing to walk the walk.

For example, the graduated income tax rate. If I make $10,000 per year and paid a flat rate of 10%, I would have $9,000 left to live on for the year. We may even be taking another 10% to tithe! So, let's up my theoretical income to $50,000 - I have $45,000 to live on. That is tight, but realistic. Now, let's go to $100,000/yr. Now at 10%, I have $90,000 left to live on. It could happen! At $250,00, I have $225,000 left to live on. Not too tough. What if at $250,00, I had to pay more, say 35%? I would "only" have $162,500 to live on. That would suck! Life would definitely be screwed up if I had to make do with that! Now, let's look at me when I made $10,000/yr, and see what 35% of that looks like. Oh! I would have to live on $6,500 for a whole year. At $100,000/yr, I would be left with $65,000 at 35% tax rate. What if I made $500,000/yr at 35%? Oh my God! I would have to make do with $325,000 per year.

Add to this point, most people of average to upper incomes own a home, or even a business. So, many things they buy can be a tax DEDUCTION, something the folks making under, say, $40,000 do not have to take advantage of.

Now you know how I feel about that. But, I am not done. No, Senator McCain keeps saying our economy will be bad if we raise taxes on businesses and income over $250,000. Obama insists the economy will thrive with a lower and middle class trickle up. Which is it? Which position is greed based? Which one seems the most un-American? I decided to check on world economies based on corporate tax rates and income tax rates. Since others have been doing better than us lately, let's see how they are doing, including Ireland, oft quoted by McCain as flourishing because they have a 10% business tax, and he can't blame anyone for taking their business there.

Here are some tax rate tables for many nations. After that, I have a link to a site where you can view various economic and social indexes for each nation. I just want all of us to THINK and not just accept every lame thing a politician throws out there as the truth. Let's all make our decision based on independent thought and facts. Be a pragmatist as if it's not a bad thing.


Tax Rates Around the World

Country -- Corporate tax rate/Individual tax rate
Argentina 35%/ 9-35%
Australia 30%/ 17-47%
Austria 25%/ 21%-50%
Belgium 33.99%/ 25-50%
Brazil 34%/ 15-27.5%
Bulgaria 10%/ 10%
Canada 19.5%/ 15-29%
China 25%/ 5-45%
Cyprus 10%/ 20-30%
Czech Rep. 21%/ 15%
Denmark 24%/ 38-59%
Egypt 20%/ 10-20%
Estonia 22%/ 22%
Finland 26%/ 8.5-31.5%
France 33.33%/ 10%-48.09%
Germany 30-33%/ 15-45%
Gibraltar 33%/ 0-40%
Greece 22/25%/ 0-40%
Hong kong 17.5%/ 2-17%
Hungary 16%/ 18% and 36%
India 30-40%/ 10-30%
Indonesia 10-30%/ 5-35%
Ireland 12.5%/ 20-41%
Israel 27%// 10-47%
Italy 31.4%/ 23%-43%
Japan 30%/ 5-40%
Latvia 15%/ 25%
Lithuania 15%/ 15%/24%
Luxemburg 22%/ 0-38%
Malta 35%/ 15-35%
Mexico 28%/ 0-28%
Monaco 33.33%/ 0%
Morocco 35%/ 0-41.5%
Montenegro 9%/ 15%
Netherlands 20-25.5%/ 0-52%
New Zealand 33%/ 0-39%
Norway 28%/ 28-51.3%
Pakistan 35%/ 0-25%
Philippines 35%/ 5-32%
Poland 19%/ 19-40%
Portugal 25%/ 0-42%
Romania 16%/ 16%
Russia 24%/ 13%
Saudi Arabia 20%/ 20%
Serbia 10%/ 10-20%
Singapore 18%/ 3.5%-20%
Slovakia 19%/ 19%
Slovenia 22%/ 16%-41%
South Africa 29%/ 24-43%
Spain 30%/ 24-43%
Sweden 28%/ 0-56%
Taiwan 25%/ 6-40%
Thailand 30%/ 5-37%
Turkey 20%/ 15-35%
U.K. 30%/ 0-40%
Ukraine 25%/ 15%
U.S.A. 15-35%/ 15-35%
Vietnam 28%/ 0-40%
Zambia 35%/ 0-35%

*These are federal taxes only -- does not include state or local, as well as any consumption taxes.


Take some time and make some comparisons between nations. I find it very interesting


http://www.offstats.auckland.ac.nz/browse/country/subject/

If Republicans are the only true American patriots, why then are they willing to put personal financial gain ahead of country? Better yet, why is their candidate publicly stating he cannot blame them for taking their business to other countries to pay less taxes on their business earnings??????

I am just a lowly middle school teacher. I think we all need to start thinking very carefully about where we each really fit into this puzzle.

Stressor removed!

So, this is my first official blog entry, yes, the mom. I teach 7th grade math in a title one school, which means, along with many wonderfully successful students, we have a lot of under-performing students of low SES (poverty - which can bring many different challenges). Besides my incredible family and the joys and stresses that come with that, both positive and negative, teaching these students is another love of my life. We just finished the first quarter at work, conferenced with a ton of parents, and finished the first big district test. I now feel like I can breathe.

In addition to the stress of trying to keep track of 168 students daily, we have had some items of stress in our family. Chelsea's accident last spring was traumatic enough. Her broken bones and cuts have long healed. When she came out of the fog of the trauma, we realized she had also sustained a traumatic brain injury. At first it seemed severe, as she was unable to follow conversations, movie plots, and could not comprehend the written word. We thought it was due to the pain medications she was on for a couple of months. By the time we realized we needed to get help for her regarding this matter, it was 2 1/2 months after the collision. Here comes a run-on sentence, for any English teachers out there: The process of getting a referral to a neurologist from the primary care physician, then getting an actual appointment with that neurologist, getting treatment for headaches under control, then a referral to a neuro-psychologist, actually getting into an appointment with him, getting more medications going and monitored for correct levels, then testing appointments, then referrals to the brain injury rehab center, fighting the insurance every step of the way, then actual treatments set up, only takes about five months. Including the 2 1/2 months from the injury date to start of this process, and you have lost over 7 months of the best rehab/recovery window.

So, Chelsea is now set up for 6 days per week for three months of rehab appointments, which will cost us about $9,000 if the insurance decides not to cover it. We will find that out when the first bills are sent to them. On top of that, we have been working on her enlarged heart issue since June. She had tests done in July at Stanford, and this month we finally got all the required reports together, along with the approval of the insurance to get an appointment at Stanford's pediatric cardiology center for a second opinion. (Children's Hosp of Central Cal wants to wait until her heart is 40-50% enlarged to try to figure out what to do to stop the enlargement problem!). So, we wait for the appointment date at Stanford.

In the midst of this, Brandon, home from the Marines for over a year and getting his civilian life going, gets re-activation orders. He was scheduled to fly out today (Oct 18) for initial processing. His girlfriend, Natalie, my daughter Brianne, and I were set to pick him up at 5:30 in the AM to take him to the airport. At 6:10 pm on Oct 17, the Department of Defense, Marines, called our home to inform Brandon his deployment orders were cancelled.

In the state of bewilderment and disbelief, the relief set in, as well as the amazingly comforting thought that the insurance was going to cover Chelsea's treatments. It all just got calm at that moment. The stress of the last 7 months just eased. We have a 504 status meeting for Chelsea at her school on October 28th, which will establish legally recognized learning accommodations due to her disability. These accommodations, established at this meeting, must legally be honored for the remainder of her senior year of high school, and will follow her as she attends college over the next few years. Peace of mind. She will do well. She has to work harder, but is a Watson! She will persevere.

So, as we head into the holiday season, life is going along, and we feel positive. Our kids are doing well. We are not poised to lose our jobs and home, as so many other hard working Americans are, and we feel very blessed. I may get time to blog again on the Thanksgiving holiday week! Ta-ta!

Making Mom Blog

Meet The Watson's

Hello, I am Brianne, Melody's daughter and I have created this blog for her to use. Why would I create a blog for her you might ask yourself? Well, here are a few reasons:

1. She has a lot to say and a lot of good things to say for that matter and I think a blog would be perfect way for her to...well, say it.
2. Its a great way for her to post pics and stories of the family especially since most of our family lives 3,000 miles away on the east coast.
3. Because I have a blog and now we can be blog friends. Hehe.

Going forward, all things posted at melodywatson.blogspot.com will be from Melody herself. Enjoy!