Wow! It's been over 6 weeks since I've taken the time to "bitch and moan" about the direction this Country is going! I've had plenty to say, but I've bitten my tongue and hoped for Congress to get off their butt's and do something for the American Public; ........ their Employer's!
I know I'm my own worst enemy at times because I spend way too much time ferreting out the news from sources other than Liberal and Conservative media outlets. Each is trying to push their own agenda's for their own elected stooges. Please don't tell me this is about "helping" the American Public....... this is all about "POWER"! Who gets to stay in Power, and promote their own agenda's upon the "PEOPLE"!
The past two years; I've had the opportunity to drive from Detroit, Michigan to Charleston, South Carolina. Seeing the huge auto manufacturers in Ohio and Michigan laying empty, to the inner-cities of Petersburg and Richmond Virginia, Philadelphia and Camden New Jersey, to the empty storefronts in every city and town in this journey, to the filth and garbage on our highways because there's not enough money in the budgets to allow the clean-up. Is this the new "norm" for our Country? These conditions were not caused by any one individual, or any one party. These conditions were caused by the collective greed and mismanagement of "all" of our Elected Politicians!
This weekend; we have our Democratic and Republican Leaders meeting in Washington to come to some type of compromise regarding the Debt Ceiling and cutting the National Budget. Two totally different agenda's, with two totally different solutions, with neither willing to "budge an inch"! "GREAT PHOTO OP"......... look how hard we're working for the American Public! I say this dripping with sarcasm! Both Parties are willing to flush this great Country down the toilet to prove they are "right", and the other "wrong"! Oh that's right; this is for the American Public"! (Sarcasm again if you didn't recognize it!)
Well; it's a beautiful Sunday morning and I've probably upset a number of people that will read this. However; I would like to offer some "common sense" solutions on my next blog. If I'm going to bitch about things; I should also offer some solutions. You might not agree with them, but it make me feel better than just letting a drunk continue to drive us off a cliff!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
"Uncle Sam Sends Ag Students a Booby Prize for Graduation"
I read an article out of Washington D.C. today regarding U.S citizen college seniors in the Agricultural Sciences just got a dose of bad news from their government.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that seniors in these fields who are either citizens or permanent residents will now be competing with foreign students on a distinctly uneven field when they seek jobs after graduation.
Their prospective employers will receive a 7.65% bonus if they hire foreign seniors in these fields, rather than American one's, according to the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. This bias against citizen and legal resident workers results from a twist in the tax and immigration laws.
This twist in immigration laws involves Homeland Security and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) which has the power, without consulting Congress, to grant exemptions from Social Security and Medicare taxes to foriegn students here on F-1 visas.
While this exemption usually applies to foreign students while in college, ICE has extended it, in certain listed occupations, to foreign students for up to the first 29 months after they graduate. This could save the employer - assuming 29 months of employment at, say $50K a year - a whopping $9,244 in avoided taxes when compared with hiring a U.S citizen or permanent resident.
"It's a strange way to help Americans get jobs and balance the budget".
This article can be read in its entirety in the Lancaster Farming, May 21, 2011.
I have worked in the Agricultural / Turf & Ornamental Industry for 37 years, not including four years at Del-Val college, and four years in Vo-Ag at Allentown High School.
I have seen many changes and certainly many advancements in the Industry, but this is just plain outrageous!
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that seniors in these fields who are either citizens or permanent residents will now be competing with foreign students on a distinctly uneven field when they seek jobs after graduation.
Their prospective employers will receive a 7.65% bonus if they hire foreign seniors in these fields, rather than American one's, according to the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. This bias against citizen and legal resident workers results from a twist in the tax and immigration laws.
This twist in immigration laws involves Homeland Security and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) which has the power, without consulting Congress, to grant exemptions from Social Security and Medicare taxes to foriegn students here on F-1 visas.
While this exemption usually applies to foreign students while in college, ICE has extended it, in certain listed occupations, to foreign students for up to the first 29 months after they graduate. This could save the employer - assuming 29 months of employment at, say $50K a year - a whopping $9,244 in avoided taxes when compared with hiring a U.S citizen or permanent resident.
"It's a strange way to help Americans get jobs and balance the budget".
This article can be read in its entirety in the Lancaster Farming, May 21, 2011.
I have worked in the Agricultural / Turf & Ornamental Industry for 37 years, not including four years at Del-Val college, and four years in Vo-Ag at Allentown High School.
I have seen many changes and certainly many advancements in the Industry, but this is just plain outrageous!
That's outrageous.......
All too often I come across stories and information that I consider absolutely outrageous in this world today. Call it "old age", call it "becoming a dinosaur", call it becoming a "cranky old fart". When I think about putting it on Facebook; I'm reminded that Facebook is a "social network", not a venue to vent.
So I've decided to link my new blog to Facebook, to allow people to read it, ignore it, unfriend me, respond to my posts, or whatever you desire. At the least; it will make me feel better! I'm not trying to preach, I'm not trying to convert anyone: I just wonder if it's the world - or if it's me!
So I've decided to link my new blog to Facebook, to allow people to read it, ignore it, unfriend me, respond to my posts, or whatever you desire. At the least; it will make me feel better! I'm not trying to preach, I'm not trying to convert anyone: I just wonder if it's the world - or if it's me!
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