Fair share?

Reid, Obama, Pelosi, et al. I hear them continually saying that we must raise revenue for the federal government by making the rich pay their fair share. I vomit a little in the back of my mouth. If they truly believed their statement, they would propose a different plan.

Half of Americans pay no federal income tax. The top 1% pay 38% of federal revenues while earning only 19% of total income. I agree with Reid, Obama and Pelosi and take it one step farther - everyone should pay a fair share. Do the poor use our highways? Do they benefit from the defense of our nation? Do they claim the benefits of being an American citizen? All do, most more than others. They should pay their fair share. The rich already do.

Which politician will state the obvious? Every person who earns income should pay taxes. I don't care if it is just a token payment. 1% is better than nothing. That is the way you raise revenue fairly. The first candidate to support that position gets my vote.

2011 Circus

Last Saturday was the date of this year's trip to Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey's Circus, also known as the lamest show on earth.  But the grand kids like it.

Mix 2 parts grand children, with popcorn, lemon aide, cotton candy and a promise to buy each an over-priced trinket, and what do you get?  See below:

Revisiting My 16-0 Prediction

Yesterday, Heaven looked down on Arrowhead stadium and decided not to provide the first of 16 miracles needed for the KC Chiefs to go 16-0 on their way to the first Super Bowl title in 43 years.  Since miracle #1 did not occur, I feel that numbers 2 through 16 won't either.  It is time to revisit my 16-0 prediction in this new light.  My original thought after seeing their schedule was 4 wins.  Now I wonder where those 4 wins might come from. 

Here is the Chiefs dismal schedule.

KC @ DET - Probably not.
KC @ SD - Definitely not.
MIN @ KC - Probably not.
KC @ IND - Maybe

KC @ OAK - Probably not.

SD @ KC - Definitely not.
MIA @ KC - Maybe.
DEN @ KC - Probable win.
KC @ NE - Definitely not.
PIT @ KC - Definitely not.
KC @ CHI - Definitely not.
KC @ NYJ - Definitely not.
GB @ KC - Definitely not.
OAK @ KC - Probably not.
KC @ DEN  - Probable win.

So I have 2 probable wins, 2 maybe wins, 4 probably nots, and 7 definitely nots. 

Each year the Chiefs win one or two games and lose one or two they shouldn't.  That will work to their favor this year since they should only be expected to win 2 games all year.  Add in a maybe win and one they probably or definitely should not win at all, and you get to 4 wins in 2011.

If the Chiefs go 4-12 or worse, expect Todd Haley to be among the unemployed before the year is over.

Captain Obama

The long awaited speech on a new jobs program was held last night.  It turned out to be the same old stimulus investing (newspeak for Spending) that has been tried and failed.  Last night, Obama attempted to assign his failures to the republicans.  If they go along, (and they won't), failure can be shared by Obama and the congress.  If the republicans block him, Obama will have his scape goat to run his reelection campaign against.  Despite what he said last night, that speech was nothing more that political gamesmanship.

Wall Street was not fooled as the NYSE opened down 200 points after what was supposed to be a night that built confidence in business and investors.

Politics aside, the content of the plan can best be summarized as "Captain Obama circles back to the iceberg".

Meat

I like meat.  A lot.  Beef is my favorite, pork is good, chicken and turkey are okay.  Beef is the best.  With beef and pork as my two favorite meats, it is no surprise that I like barbecue.  Ribs, brisket and pulled pork dominate my barbecue diet.  But surprisingly enough, the meat I long for the most is not barbecue.  It's prime rib.  Not from anywhere.  Most restaurant prime rib is nothing more that roast beef. 

I long for the prime rib served by Antoine's on the Boulevard.  Antoine's was once a restaurant in downtown Kansas City located on Southwest Boulevard.  It was one of those memorable places that couldn't be compared to any other.  The owner was the cook and usually made his way from table to table speaking with his customers during the meal.  After the main course was completed, a halved watermelon would be delivered filled with fruit balls floating in 7-Up.  The fruit balls had been soaked in the remnants of gin, rum or other liquor bottles.  Once the bill was paid, Antoine would hand deliver roses to the ladies and suckers to the men.  Antoine knew how to take care of his customers.

Antoine's on the Boulevard served boiled shrimp.  All you could eat.  They brought it to the table in a Tonka dump truck.  Due to the relative chronological proximity to my employment at Red Lobster, I didn't like shrimp that much at that time.  I never ate it there, but those who did raved about the flavor.  They also served lasagna and other Italian dishes.  I have no idea what they tasted like.

Antoine's on the Boulevard served prime rib.  It was good.  That is an understatement.  It was better than any prime rib I have had before or since.  Antoine served it up every weekend for about $10 a person.  Usually the portion size was around 16 ounces.  On a good night, Antoine became generous and the portion size was that of a small roast.  Maybe a medium size roast.  But the size wasn't the reason I craved it.  It was the flavor.  I have no idea how Antoine seasoned his prime rib, but it was delicious and unique.  The cut was always extremely tender and immensely flavorful.

Antoine's on the Boulevard closed when Antoine decided to retire.  I was shocked that nobody continued the business.  He had a loyal following.  Every night, he had a waiting line of an hour or more.  No, not a line, a waiting mob.  There wasn't a lobby.  People would wait anywhere in the restaurant they could find enough space to stand.  It was not uncommon to have somebody stand next to your table as they waited on your table.  You would think that somebody would have stepped up to serve that demand for prime rib and shrimp.

My search for a good cut of prime rib has been fruitless.  There was one close call in Nebraska.  We were visiting Terri's side of the family in Hampton, and were treated to a meal at a place called Chances 'R'.  I had the prime rib.  We were in prime beef country.  It had to be good.  And it was.  It was the closest I have experience to Antoine's on the Boulevard.  But not quite there.  Chances 'R' gets an honorable mention. Antoine's on the Boulevard closed over 20 years ago.  I still crave that meat. 

Invest

Continuing with the Owellian theme, invest is the newspeak for spend.  Invest is a much friendlier word that can be confidently spoken by a liberal government official.  Spend can't be stated while the government checkbook is so far in the red.  We can't spend, but we can invest.  Invest is good.  Spend is bad.  Bad politicians spend money they don't have.  Good polititians invest taxpayer money.

Okay, give them their word.  I don't think it is working on the great unwashed masses.  Most everyone who pays attention now knows that we as a nation are broke.  The checkbook is overdrawn.  Ever new dollar we spend is a new dollar we borrow.  Knowing that, we understand that no one, be it an individual, a business or a government, borrows to invest.  To do so is nothing short of moronic.

We Proles are starting to figure it out.