Initiative 1098 is a ballot referendum asking the voters of Washington state the following.

Should the state levy an income tax on an individual income earner, whose income is $200,000.00 a year or higher, conversely, should the state also impose an income tax on couples filing jointly, whose earned income is above $400,000.00?

Since this blog will not only be read by Washingtonians, but also by those residing in the other forty-nine states. I need to inform the reader residing in states other than Washington, that The State of Washington, does not currently have any form of income tax.

Therefore, since the residents of other states are now on the same page, I will continue with my opining.

I was interviewed yesterday October 15, 2010, by a local television station in Spokane, Washington, concerning Proposition 1098. The primary question asked, “Will you vote to approve or will you vote against Proposition 1098?” Here is the video: http://bit.ly/dfgB37

Therefore, as a registered voter, someone asked, “How say you on this matter?”
My answer is straightforward. To levy a tax against one-group verses another group, is class warfare. History as and object lesson, if we allow such class envy, we are endangering of being the next target.

The idea to punish other people for being successful is not economically wise. If we as a nation or any state travel this road of punishing the efficacious entrepreneur, where would any of us be employed? Many may not like the truth; the poor generally do not employ anyone.

What has happened to the ideal whom every American, young, old, poor, or middle class desire to better their economic condition?

Do not all American’s desire their children to attain to a greater degree of success than they did?

Have we as Americans come to believe that the government is our road to success?

America’s economic strength isn’t understood, until you understand the American Spirit. The American Spirit found in the individualism, entrepreneurship, and the risk takers, of the people who populate this nation. America’s foundations are sunk into the bedrock of its people.

If we as a people surrender the very individualism, and defer to the government as its subjects, then the American ideal is lost. If we are mere subjects of the ruling class, no matter what party, subsequently we are no longer America!

America is great because we believe in our ability to be great.

Since the laying of the foundations of the United States of America, the world at large called our country a bastard nation. Why such coarse word to describe America? The word bastard does befit our identity. The idea of a bastard is a child without a father. We are a nation without genetic similarity to any other nation on the earth. We truly have no father.

America is the envy of the world. If this is not, so why is it that most of the people of the world want to come to America?
Then why would we as American’s want to be like the rest of the world.

Initiative 1098 ask us to declare war against our more successful brothers, and sisters. Let us not be like every other nation. We are Americans let us be the shining city on the hill, that everyone else wants to be like.

Revoke to attempt of government to make us their dependents. Government should be our tool not our master.

This editorial will be a view of liberalism, and conservatism systemic beliefs. Furthermore, what these two divergent philosophies impede or promote.

The terms’ liberal, and conservative I believe are really talking points. The more accurate terms are socialism, and individualism.

These two philosophies can and do mutually exist in the economic system in the United States. The danger is when we believe that either viewpoint must dominate the economic landscape.

Historically, we learned that pure unadulterated individualism without regulation failed. The runaway corporate greed of the late nineteenth century gave rise to the term “Robber Barons.” These tycoons thought of their own welfare. The regulation of “Antitrust Laws” enacted not only protected the common good. By reestablished the most important tenant of capitalism competition.

Nineteen seventeen began the grand experiment with the establishment of the communist form of government in Russia. This form of centralized authority naturally fit well with the socialist economic system. This undiluted socialist system truly was the antitheses of the pure individualism.

The two philosophies socialism, and individualism, left undiluted did, and destined to fail.
These two divergent economic systems so polarized, and on opposite ends of the commercial spectrum. Each ideal impedes the same economic necessity competition.

Socialism, and individualism seek to promote the same thing the common good. Both economic systems left unregulated overlooked one important fact the human condition.

The social welfare manipulated by the state with absolute power, as we know, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The historical footnote found in the tyrannical reign of Stalin over the Soviet Union, and the “Robber Barons” of the late nineteenth century. Both examples expose’ the human frailty of greed.

To believe that the state knows what is better for the common everyday person is a fool’s desire. That the individuals are not responsible for their own needs, but the state is, ends in slavery. The unbridled greed of the “Robber Barons” of the early twenty-first century or any century, leads to servitude, too.

As a business owner, I operate my business under this supreme rule. I treat other, as I would want to be treated. This phrase probably sound familiar; it should it is the golden rule utter two thousand years ago by Jesus Christ.

In closing, I ask should all of us not only be concerned with our own needs, but also the needs of others.

Many visitors have asked, “How did you learn to write”? The standard answer I offer is, “Writing is a learned skill, the more you practice, the better you write.” To all those would be authors start writing, compose something every day.

As an author I am embolden by the kind comments of the readers of Mr. Decal’s blog post. I am also thankful for those who analyze my writing talent.

Before September of 2009, I had not written any article, save the essays written in school. Since that first published article writing has become a passion. Two months ago, I challenged myself, to write a twenty-page narrative. The project had three purposes, first to write a story, two to develop characters, and three to write dialog. The fourth unmentioned objective that the story line, with characters, and dialog, would all work together to form a plot, and the readers are entertained. During this self-imposed undertaking, I did learn how to construct a plot using the three elements noted above.

A friend helped me identify another bright spot in my writing ability. He is an author and teaches writing at the university level. He recognized my talent of painting pictures with the written word. Something I always wanted to be able to accomplish.

After I completed the writing project, I found a hobby that I loved. Because of my experiences during the assignment, I did not want to stop writing. The next decision came from the newfound passion. I decided to write a novel.

Writing a novel is a daunting task. The average novel consists of 250,000 words, a narrative that is interesting, and keeps the reader turning pages. I find the task overwhelming, exhilarating and challenging. I write everyday a minimum of 500-1,000 words. I am learning the frustration of writers block, and taking advantage of the creative juices when they flow unabated.

Therefore, I want to thank all of my readers of Mr. Decal’s Blog for your kind comments and helping me launch my writing career.

What makes life insurance such a difficult maze to navigate is most of us do not want to talk about our mortality. So when an insurance agents calls we do not want to talk to them, because they always call at the most inopportune time like when we are eating.    

Then we all eventually contact an insurance agent and want to talk about the subject of life insurance, because we just had our first child. Therefore, we contact the expert, since we are not an expert on the subject of life insurance.

We contact this expert not realizing that this person has an interest in selling you what you will more readily purchase and not present what you will not buy. The reason this expert presents their product in this way, is that they are an expert. This agent knows that you have been influence by the views of well meaning parents, stockbrokers, and gurus of all types. This is the mantra of each; buy term insurance and invest the rest. 

This all sounds like a great argument to hang your hat on, does it not. Now I have only one question for you; how many of us when we did buy term life insurance invested the saving over other types of insurance? I would be confident that almost no one invests the saving of our purchase.

This is similar scenario is found when we visit the local super market. When we bring our purchases to the cashier, they with much fanfare declare we have just save X amount of money. Which one of us says; since I saved $20.00, I will take that saving and invest it into my savings account. Again, I am confident that the chances of this happening are none to slim and, slim left town.

I do not want to say the insurance company tries to trick us, because they do not. In fact, the insurance company wants to sell you the best product for your needs; they do have a fiduciary relationship with you and take it very seriously. 

A belief system that we hold causes you to want to look at only one product term or level term life insurance. The insurance company wants to sell you the best product, but because of your preconceived ideas, the agent sell you what you want not what you need.   

Is term life insurance a good product? Yes, term life insurance is a good product it is if used correctly. When is the correct time to buy term life insurance, when you cannot afford anything else? 

What is the problem with term or level term life insurance?

Term life insurance is attractive to the consumer because it is cheap. The major problem with term or level term is as you get older it get more expensive. Now if you purchase a10, 20, 30, year level term and you live to see 65 years old you will not be able to afford to renew the term policy. Because of this, most term or level term insurance policies are never collected on. In fact, only 2-3% of term or level term is ever collected by the heirs of the insured.

The product you should buy when you are young is whole life insurance, or a combination of whole life and term. I know the gurus words are still ringing in your ears; life insurance is not an investment. This is the truth; no one said life insurance is an investment, except for the gurus. 

Whole life or a combination of whole life and term insurance benefits are the payments are level for your whole life, and the insurance last you whole life, hence the term whole life. There are other benefits of these products go and ask your insurance agent of these benefits.

I hope this article will at least cause the insurance consumer to investigate what is the truth about this issue. I hope all of you who read this will check my facts out and find out if I am right or wrong. No, matter you will be the better informed because of your search.

Doug Bryant

<br><a href=”http://www.decalfactory.com“>The Decal Factory – The best decals, signs, labels, posters, stickers and banners in the industry for business and hobby.</a> <br>Toll Free – (800) 369-5331