Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church : FOOD FOR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS:
This will be my last email on how to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy until next week. (If more information becomes available – I will send one out sometime next week.)
I wanted to bring two other ways of helping to your attention. One effort is through one of our parishioners who has been helping those in the Rockaways in Queens, NY and the other is through the Mom’s Group and Academy of Our Lady – our parish school.
If you have any questions, please contact those below for each area.
Glen
P.S. Anyone who sent food for the warming shelter in a crock pot or other container you would like back, please stop by and pick them up! THANK YOU!!!!!
FOOD FOR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS:
Below, is an email I received yesterday from one of our parishioners, Janette Morgan, who has been helping in Rockaway, Queens:
Hi Glen
I am involved with a group of volunteers going out to rockway queens . St Camillus food distribution is desperate. People out there have not had a hot meal in over week. The merchants out there are tapped to the max.
Do you know if any parishioners would be interested in providing trays of ziti, pasta, rice chicken just basic sustenance . I will be going out to queens first thing Saturday morning . Maybe this is a long stretch asking you but if people feel like they need to help this might be something.
God Bless
Janette Morgan
Anyone who is willing to make a tray of food and bring it to Janette please do so!
Janette’s Address: 166 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood
When: Please drop off food from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
She will be leaving Saturday morning by 5am. All deliveries of food need to take place BY Friday evening.
ITEM COLLECTION BY MOMS & ACADEMY OF OUR LADY:
Items collected will be given to St. Helen Parish in Howard Beach & St. Ann Parish in Staten Island.
DROP OFF: Items can be dropped of at Academy of Our Lady School on school days, located at 905 South Maple Ave in Glen Rock (on the grounds of St. Catharine Church) OR at the home of Amy Sardy at 230 Fairfield Ave. Ridgewood.
Do You Trust the Government with Your Computer?
Amy PayneNovember 14, 2012 at 8:42 am(7)
Do you trust the federal government to keep your personal data safe? What about your business’s records and trade secrets?
If you answered “no,” you have good reason—the federal government has had 13 breaches and failures of its own cyber security just in the last six months.
Yet the President and his allies in the Senate are pushing forward to regulate America’s cyber-doings, without any clues about how much this will cost us or how it will work.
It’s become the norm with this President—if Congress fails to accomplish his objectives, he goes around it with executive orders and federal regulations. He’s doing it again. Congress did not pass the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 before the election, so the President has issued a draft of an executive order to put much of that legislation in place without lawmakers voting.
Not to be left behind, though, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) may try to get another vote on the bill before the end of the year—some are saying as soon as this week.
If the idea of cybersecurity—trying to secure all of the country’s sensitive computer networks and data—sounds abstract, that’s because it is. It’s so abstract, in fact, that the legislation and executive order our leaders are pushing offer few details about what they would actually do, other than piling more confusing regulations onto businesses.
When you think about it, the idea of the federal government trying to be on the cutting edge of technological security is pretty laughable. As Heritage’s David Inserra notes:
Simply put, government regulations usually take 24–36 month to complete, but the power of computers doubles every 18–24 months. This means that any standards developed will be written for threats that are two or three computer generations old.
A federal government that stays hopelessly behind the curve and can’t even secure its own networks doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. But oh, it can regulate!
The President’s executive order would give multiple federal agencies new power to regulate businesses. It would work much like Obamacare, which passed with few details but gave agencies like Health and Human Services a blank check to write regulations. One of the incentives it may use to keep businesses in line is favoritism in awarding federal contracts—businesses that met the government’s cybersecurity standards could be moved to the head of the line.
Heritage visiting fellow Paul Rosenzweig will explain in a new Issue Brief due out tomorrow that “this order will likely be very significant and very costly while not providing important cybersecurity solutions, such as effective information sharing.”
How much will it cost businesses to comply with all these new (yet perpetually outdated) regulations?
We don’t know.
Will the standards be voluntary or mandatory?
Also unknown.
Can companies share information about
Do You Trust the Government with Your Computer?
Amy PayneNovember 14, 2012 at 8:42 am(7)
Do you trust the federal government to keep your personal data safe? What about your business’s records and trade secrets?
If you answered “no,” you have good reason—the federal government has had 13 breaches and failures of its own cybersecurity just in the last six months.
Yet the President and his allies in the Senate are pushing forward to regulate America’s cyber-doings, without any clues about how much this will cost us or how it will work.
It’s become the norm with this President—if Congress fails to accomplish his objectives, he goes around it with executive orders and federal regulations. He’s doing it again. Congress did not pass the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 before the election, so the President has issued a draft of an executive order to put much of that legislation in place without lawmakers voting.
Not to be left behind, though, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) may try to get another vote on the bill before the end of the year—some are saying as soon as this week.
If the idea of cybersecurity—trying to secure all of the country’s sensitive computer networks and data—sounds abstract, that’s because it is. It’s so abstract, in fact, that the legislation and executive order our leaders are pushing offer few details about what they would actually do, other than piling more confusing regulations onto businesses.
When you think about it, the idea of the federal government trying to be on the cutting edge of technological security is pretty laughable. As Heritage’s David Inserra notes:
Simply put, government regulations usually take 24–36 month to complete, but the power of computers doubles every 18–24 months. This means that any standards developed will be written for threats that are two or three computer generations old.
A federal government that stays hopelessly behind the curve and can’t even secure its own networks doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. But oh, it can regulate!
The President’s executive order would give multiple federal agencies new power to regulate businesses. It would work much like Obamacare, which passed with few details but gave agencies like Health and Human Services a blank check to write regulations. One of the incentives it may use to keep businesses in line is favoritism in awarding federal contracts—businesses that met the government’s cybersecurity standards could be moved to the head of the line.
Heritage visiting fellow Paul Rosenzweig will explain in a new Issue Brief due out tomorrow that “this order will likely be very significant and very costly while not providing important cybersecurity solutions, such as effective information sharing.”
How much will it cost businesses to comply with all these new (yet perpetually outdated) regulations?
We don’t know.
Will the standards be voluntary or mandatory?
Also unknown.
Can companies share information about cyber-threats they have detected, with confidence that their sensitive information will be protected?
No guarantees.
With so many unanswered questions, the executive order—or the legislation—would create massive headaches for businesses and could hinder innovation. Just what the economy needs.
s they have detected, with confidence that their sensitive information will be protected?
No guarantees.
With so many unanswered questions, the executive order—or the legislation—would create massive headaches for businesses and could hinder innovation. Just what the economy needs.
New Jersey Choral Society presents “Ring Out, Celestial Spheres”
Bergen and Essex Counties – The New Jersey Choral Society kicks off its 2012/13 season with
“Ring Out, Celestial Spheres,” a joyous holiday concert with inspiration for the season of light. This concert will be presented on Saturday, December 1 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 2 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair.
A third performance will be presented on Sunday, December 9 at 5:00 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood.
The program, under the direction of dynamic conductor Eric Dale Knapp, features inspirational holiday music such as “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen, William Walton’s magnificent “Coronation Te Deum” composed for Queen Elizabeth II, David Hamilton’s
uplifting hymn “Gloria,” and “Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Several popular carols will also be featured including “Christmas Day” and “In the BleakMidwinter” by Gustav Holst, Mendelssohn’s anthem “There Shall a Star Come Out of
Jacob,” “Star Carol” and “Joy to the World” by Rutter and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Linda Sweetman-Waters will accompany NJCS on the organ.
Come one hour prior to concert time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture that provides an insightful and intimate discussion of the music for all ticket holders.
Tickets are $25.00 for general admission, $22.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities, and $12 for children 12 and under (add $5.00 at the door). Group discounts are also available. For reservations or more information, visit https://www.njcs.org or call the New Jersey
Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
In support of the Center for Food Action, the New Jersey Choral Society will be collecting nonperishable food items at each concert. The Church of the Immaculate Conception and West Side Presbyterian Church are both wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part
by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Start the Christmas Season at Bethlehem With Greg Caldarone and The NJ Brass Quintet Sunday Dec. 2
The members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church invite everyone to a Christmas concert on Sunday, December 2 at 3:00PM. Please join us for this free concert at in our sanctuary located at 155 Linwood Ave. in Ridgewood, NJ. We will be celebrating the blessed birth
of Christ and the love of family and friends. What better place than Bethlehem to start off the Christmas season!
The concert will feature classic and contemporary Christmas songs and instrumentals plus a carol sing along. Greg Caldarone and The New Jersey Brass Quintet, accompanied by Bethlehem’s organist and pianist Elena Crudge, will perform a free concert “Christmas: The Joy and Spirit 2012”. Come celebrate this joyous time of year with old classics and contemporary Christmas favorites. The NJ Brass Quintet is a fabulous ensemble that will immediately give you that warm wonderful feeling of an old fashioned Christmas. Greg Calderone will feature some classic Christmas songs as well as some newer ones.
Greg Caldarone, award winning singer/recording artist, has been sharing his vocal talents in our local churches and establishments for several years. He will feature Christmas classics such as “O Holy Night” and “Gesu Bambino” as well as more recent songs such as Mark Lowry’s “Mary Did You Know?” and of course Michael Card’s ” Joseph’s Song” (a signature for him). .
The New Jersey Brass Quintet will be performing a special holiday concert featuring music from their CD “Christmas; The Joy and Spirit” They will perform Christmas; The Joy and Spirit.
There will also be a sing along to get us all in the spirit of Christmas. The sing along will include “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “What Child Is This”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Hark the Herald Angels” and “Joy to the World”.
The New Jersey Brass Quintet is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the cultural enrichment of the community in which it serves. The musical ensemble’s programs include educationally oriented children’s concerts, park concerts in a “Village Brass
Band” setting, and special concerts for various occasions in addition to traditional
chamber music concerts. Its repertoire ranges from earliest madrigals to the most contemporary compositions available.
The dedicated professional musicians that compose the NJBQ bring a high degree of talent and creativity to the ensemble. Each member of the quintet is an experienced educator as well as an accomplished performer.
Greg Caldarone is a singer/entertainer/ recording artist, specializing in popular standards and Italian favorites, recipient of the Universal Jazz Coalitions “Dakota Staton Award”. Also a professional song leader. Greg will include Michael Card’s “Joseph’s Song”, A song that is frequently requested of him at Christmas. He has been a song leader in music ministries in our community for over 20 years. For more about Greg Caldarone go to https://www.gregcaldarone.com/
We truly hope to see you and wish everyone a joyous holiday season and a beautiful finish for 2012. Admission is free, however a free will offering will be welcome. CDs by both Greg Caldarone and The NJ Brass Quintet will be available at the concert.
The members of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgewood want you to know that God has a plan for you and he loves you. Our faith is in Christ. Our guide is in the Bible. Our love is for all. Come celebrate with us. We offer 2 Sunday services:
Contemporary Praise Service at 8:45am and Traditional Worship at 11am with Sunday School and Bible Class at 10am. Please join us at 155 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood.
U.S. to Pass Saudi Arabia in Energy Production, IEA Says: Huge Foreign Policy, Economic Implications
By Morgan Korn | Daily Ticker – 16 hours ago
A new report by the International Energy Association says the U.S. will become the world’s largest oil producer by 2017, overtaking current leaders Saudi Arabia and Russia. U.S. energy policies initiated by the George W. Bush administration and implemented by President Barack Obama have moved the U.S. toward energy independence and away from Middle East energy sources. U.S. oil production has risen rapidly since 2008 and oil imports are at their lowest level in two decades.
“North America is at the forefront of a sweeping transformation in oil and gas production that will affect all regions of the world, yet the potential also exists for a similarly transformative shift in global energy efficiency,” says IEA Executive Director Marian von der Hoeven in a statement.
The IEA also says the U.S. could become self-sufficient in energy by 2035 and a net exporter of natural gas by 2020. The Obama administration’s push to develop and grow domestic natural gas capabilities has led to a natural gas drilling boom. Production has jumped 15% in four years but the glut in natural gas supplies have also caused the price of natural gas to plummet. According to the White House, the U.S. holds a 100-year supply of natural gas and domestic production is at an all-time high. The Daily Ticker’s Aaron Task and Henry Blodget both agree that the explosion in domestic energy production could alter the geopolitical landscape and U.S. labor market.
“The foreign policy implications are maybe even bigger than the economic ones,” says Task.
Skype rats out alleged WikiLeaks supporter without waiting for court warrant
Published: 12 November, 2012, 21:14
Say goodbye to online service providers protecting the identities of their users. With just a bit of begging, a Texas-based intelligence firm succeeded in convincing Skype to send over sensitive account data pertaining to a teenage WikiLeaks fan.
Reports out of Amsterdam this week suggest that Microsoft-owned Skype didn’t wait for a court order or warrant with a judge’s signature before it handed over the personal info of a 16-year-old Dutch boy. The youngster was suspected of being involved in Operation Payback, an Anonymous-endorsed initiative that targeted the servers of PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and others after those companies blocked WikiLeaks from receiving online payment backs in December 2010. When hacktivists responded to the blockade by overflowing the servers of those sites with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, PayPal asked Dallas, Texas’ iSIGHT Partners Inc., a self-described“global cyber intelligence firm,” to investigate.
How Would the Fiscal Cliff Affect Typical Families in Each State?
New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut Hardest Hit
Washington, D.C., November 12, 2012—Dramatic changes to both tax and spending policy at the federal level are scheduled to take place at the end of the current year unless Congress acts. On the tax side, the biggest potential change is the expiration of all Bush-era and Obama tax cuts, which will increase tax liabilities nationwide. Typical families in high-income and low-income states would be hit harder than typical families from middle-income states, with taxpayers in New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut seeing the largest jump in their tax bills, but with residents of Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia also among the top ten states, according to a new analysis by the Tax Foundation.
Additionally, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) has yet to be patched for the current tax year. Congress could pass a retroactive patch, as it has done in the past, which would apply to the current year as well as next year. If it does not, however, the AMT exemption level would revert to what it was twelve years ago, and certain credits (such as the Child Tax Credit) would no longer be allowed. If this were to happen, millions of middle-class taxpayers could see a substantial tax increase, which for some could be even larger than the change from the end of the Bush-era tax cuts.
Finally, the 2% temporary cut to employee-side social security payroll taxes is also scheduled to expire at the end of this year—a potential third tax increase that would affect the vast majority of taxpayers.
To illustrate the potential impact on typical families, the Tax Foundation has used U.S. Census and Internal Revenue Service data to estimate income and deductions for the median two-child family in each of the fifty states. That data is processed using the MyTaxBurden Tax Policy Calculator under two scenarios—2011 tax law (chosen because it is the latest year that an AMT patch was in effect), and 2013 law, assuming all Bush-era and Obama tax cuts expire and AMT remains unpatched.
While there are exceptions, the general pattern is median families in high-income and low-income states are more affected than those in middle-income states. Higher-income families would be disproportionately affected by the imminent AMT changes. At the opposite end, low-income states are disproportionately affected because the two tax increases from the end of the Bush-era tax cuts—the reduction in the child tax credit, the elimination of the 10% bracket, and the reduced standard deduction for married filers—represent fixed increases that do not depend on income.
Tax Foundation Fiscal Fact No. 341, “How Would the Fiscal Cliff Affect Typical Families in Each State?” by Nick Kasprak is available here.
The Tax Foundation is a nonpartisan research organization that has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937. To schedule an interview, please contact Richard Morrison, the Tax Foundation’s Manager of Communications, at 202-464-5102 or [email protected].
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D Superintendent of Schools Post Sandy Wrap – up
To think: It all started with the invention of one light bulb in Thomas Edison’s workshop.
I truly believe communities are judged on how their residents treat each other during times of duress and crisis. We in Ridgewood did better than alright on that front during Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath. Over the past two weeks we have all seen great acts of kindness, people working hard to get our community back to normal operation and beyond. Our leaders, our citizens, all tirelessly working together, committed to the big picture of restoring electric power, while being equally mindful of safety. And not forgetting that important events, like securing our right to vote in the Presidential election despite a loss of services, are a priority, too.
That’s power.
Even as trees and electrical lines were falling around them in the midst of the storm, our Village Police, Fire and other Emergency Services personnel risked their own well-being to make sure our community was as safe as possible. And following the storm, in a true interfaith spirit, our houses of worship became warming centers, opening their doors to anyone suffering from loss of services. Hundreds of people, too, came to the Somerville School to “juice” up their electronics, and also recharge their spirits.
That’s power.
Countless acts of community kindness occurred during this time, neighbors helping neighbors and strangers making new friends while coming to another’s aid. The stories go on and on. I personally got a kick out of one community member who brought her electric tooth brush for charging at Somerville. The next day she brought cookies to the district administrators who were helping out at the charging center there.
That’s power.
We now all know why it is important to prepare for a storm, that it’s too late once the storm has arrived.
On the practical level, I am sure everyone can add to a list of lessons learned for next time. Number one is that we pretty much now realize that there will be a next time. We’ll make more of an effort to get flashlights in the house and top off our car gas tanks and gas containers before the next storm. We’ll also make sure that we’ve signed up for the Village of Ridgewood e-notices through the Village website at www.ridgewoodnj.net, so that we can receive important communications from the Village via our phones and e-mail.
And on the personal level, I think we’ve also learned that as prepared as we can be in advance, sometimes it’s just not enough and we have to rely on others. And that’s more than ok. We have learned that it is important, and fulfilling, to reach out to those in need. We have learned that it is warm hearts that comfort cold hands.
That’s power.
Over the next few weeks as we rebuild our homes and heal our emotions and put our lives back together, we will have opportunities to reflect on lessons learned from Sandy. One thing I know for sure is that it is only through the positive energy of our community that we got through Sandy’s wrath and aftermath, that our infrastructure is knit together with the glue of kindness, compassion and wisdom.
For nearly 100 years, America has been celebrating on November 11. Originally it was to remember the end of the First World War that was supposed to be the one that would end them all. Sadly, this was not the case. In 1952, a small town in Kansas started to use the date to remember veterans of all America’s wars. Two years later, President Dwight Eisenhower recognized the brilliant stroke of a small group of “regular” Americans by making it a national holiday.
Some cynics today would say we should grow past the parades and the thousands of memorial ceremonies in small parks across America. May it never be so! Every generation of Americans has had men and women step forward and stand for this nation. Every new generation needs to learn to acknowledge the debt the nation owes them.
As we honor those who have died in the service of the nation on Memorial Day, we must acknowledge those who have served on Veterans Day.
The living veterans of America are a treasure. They are a repository of knowledge and experience, of loss, and of enormous achievement. On Veterans Day, America should reach out to these humble men and women and say “Thank you.” Beyond that, we should ask them to share their stories. When they speak, we should listen, and recognize the price these veterans paid through their service.
Try it; ask them to tell you, and for every high-sounding “hero” story you might hear, you will hear hundreds of tales that will begin with “I was just doing my job” or “I only did what anyone would have done.” In truth, these are tales of exceptional heroism in its truest sense. These heroes are not all barrel-chested characters of fiction, but citizen servants who simply answered the call, every time.
One such individual is Major Ben Richards. He has a moving story to tell about his soldiers. In an excerpt from the forthcoming film Veteran Nation, his story reminds us of the honor and sacrifice of those who serve. This film will be a touchstone for Americans who want to serve those who serve the country. (See video above.)
On this hallowed day, for that is what Veterans Day is, please join us in thanking those who have served and those who serve us still. Our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends—Americans showing us all that standing united is far more important than any of the issues that divide us.
6,125 Proposed Regulations and Notifications Posted in Last 90 Days–Average 68 per Day
By Penny Starr
November 9, 2012
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(CNSNews.com) – It’s Friday morning, and so far today, the Obama administration has posted 165 new regulations and notifications on its reguations.gov website.
In the past 90 days, it has posted 6,125 regulations and notices – an average of 68 a day.
The website allows visitors to find and comment on proposed regulations and related documents published by the U.S. federal government. “Help improve Federal regulations by submitting your comments,” the website says.
The thousands of entries run the gamut from meeting notifications to fee schedules to actual rules and proposed rule changes.
John Schnatter Papa John’s CEO: Obamacare likely to raise costs, employee’s hours being cut
A day after Barack Obama earned a second term in the White House, Papa John’s founder and CEO John Schnatter said the president’s signature health-care reform law would increase his business costs and possibly result
Posted: 11/08/2012
By: JESSICA LIPSCOMB, naplesnews.com
A day after Barack Obama earned a second term in the White House, Papa John’s founder and CEO John Schnatter said the president’s signature health-care reform law would increase his business costs and possibly result in employees’ hours being cut.
Schnatter, a part-time Naples resident, made the comments Wednesday night inside a small auditorium at Edison State College’s Collier County campus. In August, he made national headlines after telling shareholders the Affordable Care Act — commonly known as Obamacare — would result in a 10- to 14-cent increase for customers buying a pizza.
“I got in a bunch of trouble for this,” he told the students. “That’s what you do, is you pass on costs. Unfortunately, I don’t think people know what they’re going to pay for this.”
Applebee’s targeted after franchisee mulls hiring freeze in response to Obamacare
Posted at 9:32 pm on November 9, 2012 by Twitchy Staff
Craig W@Stoneious
So far I’ve seen Papa John’s and Applebees threatening to fire people since their choice didn’t win the election. Disgusting on either side.
Among the commandments of life under the Obama administration: thou shalt not speak ill of Obamacare. Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter was hammered with Twitter abuse after informing shareholders and franchisees in August that implementing Obamacare would necessarily increase costs of running the business. Applebee’s is under the gun today after Zane Tankel, a franchisee whose company runs 40 New York-area restaurants, told Fox Business Network that a hiring freeze might be in the works.
Floodgates Open on New Health Regs
By Margot Sanger-Katz
Updated: November 9, 2012 | 5:11 p.m.
November 9, 2012 | 5:10 p.m.
After months of regulatory delays, the floodgates have apparently opened. The Health and Human Services Department delivered two major health reform rules to the Office of Management and Budget on Friday, the first in an anticipated stream of health regulation.
Many sources close to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told National Journal that the administration had a number of important health rules ready to go but was holding them back until after the election to avoid a political backlash. Now that President Obama has been reelected, they predicted those rules would start emerging, and fast. The forecast is about right. We are now three days postelection.
On Behalf of the Ridgewood Police I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the residents of Ridgewood for your outpouring of support over the past 12 days. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our community, leaving most of us with no power, in the cold, and very long gas lines. During and after the storm, residents and some business dropped off hot food and coffe
e to us. We received a tremendous amount of cooperation from various community organizations and houses of worship. We witnessed and received reports of neighbors helping neighbors. I would also like to acknowledge the men and women of our Police department, Fire department, Emergency Services and Public Works who repeated placed themselves in harms way during the storm and have been working tirelessly in the recovery effort. We appreciate your support and are honored to be a part of this community. Sincerely Chief John M. Ward
The President’s Top 5 Immediate Problems
Amy Payne
November 8, 2012 at 9:03 am
Now that President Obama will never face re-election again, it is time for the campaigning to end. Perpetual political rhetoric and promises do not matter any more. Action—and leadership—are sorely needed on pressing issues that threaten the United States. America’s people are under threats to their livelihoods, their protection, and their freedom. For some of these, deadlines for action have already come and gone, making them more dire than ever.
Here are the top five problems that require the President’s immediate attention.
1. Massive Tax Increases Scheduled
When the chairman of the Federal Reserve says the nation is headed over a cliff, the President should take notice. A total of nearly $500 billion in tax increases—old tax policies expiring and new ones taking effect—is scheduled to hit on January 1. This “Taxmageddon” fiscal-end-of-days scenario will hit individuals and their families, struggling small businesses and investors alike. So much for creating jobs. The Congressional Budget Office, which does not normally forecast recessions, has said that without some action to change our direction, the country is heading straight for another recession in 2013. As Heritage’s J.D. Foster wrote, “If a slowdown or even a recession unfolds as CBO predicts, the blame will lie with President Obama.”
2. Cuts to the U.S. Military
Through a legislative process called sequestration, the President and his allies in Congress thought they could secure tax increases by holding America’s military hostage. So they programmed massive cuts to our defenses to take effect in January. Using the military as a political weapon is wrong, and nothing has been done to prevent these harmful cuts. While our enemies build up their weapons programs and terrorists target Americans around the globe, the U.S. is preparing to radically downsize the military—all because the President and liberals in Congress want to raise taxes.
So far, the President hasn’t achieved his tax hike goal. If the military cuts are allowed to go forward, it will devastate our defenses. Contrary to the political rhetoric, Washington leaders could fix this without raising taxes.
3. The Middle East
It’s easy in a campaign to say you’d rather focus on “nation building here at home.” But the Middle East is ablaze with conflict, and that is not going to be put on hold for the President to focus on other issues. According to some reports, Iran could be able to arm a nuclear bomb within the next few months.
Heritage’s James Carafano writes today: “Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, protests in the Gulf States, an increasingly unsteady Egypt, terrorists in the Sahel—these are all distinct problems, yet each has the potential to cascade throughout the region and beyond.”
4. Terrorism
To begin, the President needs to come clean about the intelligence regarding the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed the U.S. ambassador and others.
Carafano says a wholesale change in strategy is needed:
There is more than enough evidence that the President’s counterterrorism strategy, though less than two years old, has come to the end of its life. That strategy focused on “decapitating” al-Qaeda. It didn’t work because al-Qaeda is really just a piece of a global Islamist insurgency. Unlike a drug cartel, it can’t be taken down by just taking out the leadership. Unless the President changes course soon, terrorists will have more sanctuaries by 2016 than they had in 2010.
5. Obamacare’s Mandate Threatening Religious Liberty
Just a few days ago, a second federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on behalf of a family-owned business against the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate under Obamacare. The HHS mandate forces nearly all employers to pay for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraceptives in their employee health coverage, regardless of religious objections. It disregards conscience and steamrolls religious freedom: Religious charities and family-owned businesses that object are forced to pay massive fines for non-compliant plans—up to $100 per day per employee. For a company like Hobby Lobby with more than 500 stores, that fine would amount to $1.3 million per day.
No wonder more than 100 plaintiffs have joined legal challenges to the mandate, which went into effect on August 1. As employers reach their health plan annual renewal date, they’ll be forced to comply. This is only one of the many obtrusive parts of Obamacare, but it is an immediate problem for employers—costly, demoralizing, and a direct attack on religious freedom.
Christie and Donovan push Bergen blue-law suspension and say it applies to all stores
November 8, 2012, 1:36 PM
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Governor Christie said in a press conference Thursday that his suspension of the Bergen County blue laws applies to all stores, and that Borough of Paramus cannot limit which stores can Be open, or which items may or may not be sold.Christie also reiterated that the suspension order would remain in effect until Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan asks him to lift it.
Critics have pointed out that this opened suspension is in effect because both the Governor and the County Exec are looking to eliminate the publicly supported blue laws in an effort to make the “American Dream Mall formerly Jim Mac greevey’s “Xanadu” more appealing to foreign visitors from New York City .
Officials in the borough of Paramus have challenged the Christie Administration and contend the suspension should only apply to storm-related necessities, not all stores, and have warned they will issue summonses to stores that violate their interpretation of the order. The County Executive Kathy Donovan countered that her office it would go to court, if necessary, to block Paramus from interfering with the right of stores to open.
The archaic “blue laws” have heavy voter support and despite several full court presses by the power that be. Voters enjoy one day a leisure without all the traffic in the county .
The Staff of the Ridgewood blog is curious to find out what the Governor Christie has in mind when picking up hurricane supplies at Bloomingdales , Nordstroms or Saks?
