TFOT 4/26/08

Topic: Legislation,Taxation, and Vanishing Emancipation

Guest: Ed Failor, Jr., Vice President of Iowans for Tax Relief

With April 15th just past and April 30th closely approaching, I asked Ed Failor, Jr. to explain the impact of this legislative session on Iowans' wallets.

With recession looming, mortgage foreclosures growing, grocery bills increasing, it seems Iowans are tightening their belts as the Governor is expanding his and increasing Iowa's budget by a billion dollars. Will Iowans catch on to the correlation that the more government offers to do for us, the more it costs us?

Currently, Iowans are likely paying 30% of their incomes in direct taxation. Meaning, everything we have earned so far this year will likely go to Uncle Sam one way or another. Sadly, that isn't all of the taxes we will pay. When we look at hidden taxes like licensing costs, registration fees, and taxes on gas, electric, phone, and other products and services, we will likely be paying 40-50% of our total income to the government. Why do we allow this? Because, for some reason, we expect government to do those things we should do ourselves costing us more money than necessary often with inadequate results. Again, I ask, why?

Then there is SILO, School Infrastructure Local Option tax. This was a confusing and misleading issue for many Iowans. First, Sen. Gronstal blamed Republicans for its possible failure even though most Iowans knew Democrats had a sound majority in both houses and did as they pleased no matter how Republicans voted. Sadly, some Republicans took the bait and voted with Democrats in favor of this bill which takes away local control and the ability for communities to place a sunset on their local option taxes. Lynn and Johnson counties have been excluded from participating, at least temporarily, so the taxpayers are already shorted those funds. To read the more on this bill go to ITR’s website.

Now, it seems we will have this one cent tax on most everything we purchase, plus bond issues will still be passed by school districts, and unfortunately, property taxes may increase to cover those bonds. One must ask, why did Iowans, let alone good Republicans, fall for the false promise of more money that most rural districts will never see? This bill was nothing more than the redistribution of wealth, which always sounds promising to the guy who sees himself with less than someone else, but seldom leads to prosperity for anyone.

Listeners were warned about the Collective Bargaining Bill that could cost taxpayers indescribable amounts of money on various levels should the Governor sign it.

Ed recommended listeners read the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Iowans for Tax Relief is located at 2610 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761.

For more resources on free enterprise, economics and taxation, see Congressman Bob McEwen's website

"Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state lives at the expense of everyone." Frederic Bastiat 1801-1850

Blessings,
Tamara

Update Today is heard each weekday morning at 8:00 a.m. central time on Praise 940 on the AM radio dial or through streaming at www.praise940.com and clicking on 'listen live'. Update Today is considered a 'companion show' of Truth For Our Time.

Maxine Sieleman is the host and has been an established voice of truth in radio for nearly 28 years in central Iowa.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 the show's topic is the Day of Silence in public schools. Participating students and teachers disrupt the school day by refusing to speak during the day. Students may refuse to answer questions and teachers may refuse to give assignments or verbally lead classroom activities.

Matt Barber from Concerned Women for America says we wouldn't imagine setting a school day aside to promote smoking, taking crack, or drinking; yet "Day of Silence" places children at risk because it promotes unhealthy lifestyles and practices.

MissionAmerica has a list of Iowa schools participating either passively or actively. While schools may dispute their participation, unless they send proper proof that they will not have students participating, their school remains on the list. Mission America.com also has a list of schools that have been removed from the list or are not participating.

In response, many students have started to protect their beliefs through the Day of Truth on April 28, 2008 just days after the Day of Silence. Galatians 4:16 says it clearly, “Am I you enemy because I tell you the truth?” Truth wins when allowed to be heard.

Learn about Day of Truth

Common Questions regarding Day of Truth

T-shirts and resources are available at Day of Truth

For the latest information on the Homosexual agenda in public schools go to Truth at School

Family Research Council offers a pamphlet with ways parents can oppose the promotion of homosexuality in the classroom.

For legal assistance you can call 1.800.TELL.ADF or go to TELL ADF

Remember, truth isn’t hate unless you hate the truth.
Blessings,
Tamara

041908 TFOT SHOW

TOPIC: The climate in Iraq before 2003 and now.

Guests: Raid Bahouda - an Iraqi man who risked his own life to serve the U.S. military as a translator working under Gen. Petraeus in 2003; and Mark Walter who is the Commander of Public Affairs for the Iowa Army Reserve and served in Iraq in 2005. Mark gives educational presentations of Iraq's Biblical history and the social, military, and economic climates before 2003 and today.

From two different worlds with different backgrounds, these men like many others have connected for one goal - security and freedom for the Iraqi people and thus, all people who would be targets of terroristic violence.

During the show, they gave examples of the terror and fear the Iraqi people were subjected to by Sadam's regime. Both men agree that while the climate is unstable, it is better for Iraqi people to have America's intervention and America needs to complete the task of bringing stability to Iraq.

The men confirmed what we in America already knew. The American media continually sensationalizes the angst, unrest, and violence of war rather than a historical tribal meeting with leaders working toward peace, Iraqi men training at the new police academy, a school opening, or even the digging of a new well with fresh and safe water. In search for Hollywood style drama, those who are to bring nothing more than factual news often bring more risk for American troops.

Equally shameful are the presidential candidates and politicians who would gamble on the future of Iraq risking the lives of our sons and daughters for purpose of political posturing through campaign rhetoric and even committee hearings.

For more information on this topic and related topics:

Michael Yon, independent journalist who wrote the book MOMENT OF TRUTH IN IRAQ
Jon Christian Ryter's article WHEN THE PHONE RINGS AT 3AM

War is horrible, but I am thankful for men and women who are willing to sacrifice and fight on our behalf to stop injustice and evils that are far greater than war.

Blessed to be free in America - so far,
let's not take it for granted.
Tamara

4/05/08 TFOT Show

Topic: April 25, 2008 - Day of Silence - pushing the homosexual agenda during the school day.

Guest: Linda Harvey from www.MissionAmerica.com

April 25, 2008 many teachers and students will refuse to participate in the regular academic activities in Iowa schools in order to draw attention to the perceived silence of the homosexual community. Which seems perplexing in itself when homosexuality is seemingly touted in everything from magazines to movies to sitcoms. Just the same, Alliance Defense Fund says students are allowed to voice political and religious beliefs as long as the 'typical' school day is not disrupted. Participating by silence and refusing to teach or answer questions when called upon could be disruptive to regular school activities to say the least.

While many Iowa schools are saying they will not participate as a district, their names are still on lists as active participants if they have not given sufficient proof that their district will NOT allow such activities.

Many parents are checking into excused absences for their students on April 25, 2008 as well as alternatives to promote traditional families and values with their own policy promotion in the schools.

Linda has also written an excellent book titled, Not My Child - Contemporary Paganism and the New Spirituality, a helpful guide for parents, grandparents, and youth leaders hoping to protect and provide firm foundations for today's students.

For the latest lists of schools participating by state and other information on Day of Silence go to:
Mission America

Truth you can use so you can be informed,
Tamara

April 12, 2008 TFOT SHOW

Topic: Bond Referendum - Polk County Courthouse - Tuesday - April 29, 2008

Guest: George Davey with Citizens for Reasonable Justice discussed the many concerns with the new referendum facing voters in Polk County, Iowa on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.

According to the website www.polkjustice.com, not only is the timing of this bond issue extremely poor as many economic analyst feel a recession is fast approaching, but the proposal is extravagant and unmerited with a new courthouse nearly the size of the courthouse in Las Vegas, NV which handles 20 times more cases, has 10 times the population of Polk county and millions more in tourist.

One has to ask, why voters would opt to pay more taxes when Iowans already pay nearly 40% of their income to government for the purpose of funding just such expenditures.

For more information:
Polk Justice

Be informed,
Tamara