America’s “rich” are dumping their assets

Unless Obama and the Demonrats go the full-blown Marxist-Leninist way of confiscating private property, abolishing private ownership, and slaughtering “the rich,” those with socialist dreams of “equalizing” wealth will always be thwarted by “the rich” moving one step ahead of you.

That’s what “the rich” in America are doing.

In the wake of the reelection of Barack “you-didn’t-build-that” Obama to four more years of reducing America to further wreck and ruin, “the rich” are dumping their assets in anticipation of harsh taxes to come.

Robert Frank reports for CNBC, Nov. 12, 2012, that worried about the “fiscal cliff” (tax cuts expire and spending cuts are set to go into effect at the end of 2012) and expecting an increase in capital gains and dividend taxes, many of America’s rich are unloading stocks, businesses and homes before the end of the year.

Here are the anticipated tax hikes:

• If the Bush-era tax cuts expire, taxes on capital gains would revert back to its previous rate of 20% from its current 15%.  Another 5% may be added from Obamacare levies and changes in itemized deductions, bringing the rate to 25% for many high earners.

• Taxes on dividends could go from 15% to over 43%.

• The estate tax could go from 35% on estates worth more than $5 million to 55% on estates over $1 million. 

As a result, the wealthy are taking a close look at all of their assets to see what could or should be sold off now to avoid potentially higher taxes next year.

They are dumping the following assets:

• Stocks: The most noticeable sell-off has been in stocks. Wealth advisors say that with capital-gains taxes potentially going from 15% to 25%, and other possible increases in the dividend tax, estate tax and other taxes, many clients are selling now to save millions in taxes, or selling them and buying them back again to create a higher basis (and thus a lower tax bill later). Since the wealthiest one percent of U.S. households control more than half of the stocks in the United States, their selling and buying can have strong ripple effects on the market.

• Private businesses: Owners of private businesses are also pressing to sell their companies to get ahead of a possible tax hike. But selling a business is not easy. So the businesses most likely to take advantage of lower taxes are small businesses that may have been in the process of selling and can push to close before Jan. 1. If an entrepreneur, for instance, sells a company for $100 million, they could pay $10 million less in taxes than if they sold in 2013. For example, by selling his Star Wars company to Disney this year for $4 billion, George Lucas potentially saved hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes.

• Mansions: Brokers say some recent multi-million-dollar sales in Florida, New York and California were partly driven by sellers who were anxious to sell before the end of 2012.

So what are the effects of the rich dumping their assets?

Roberton Williams of the Tax Policy Center said the direct impact of all this front-loading is hard to determine, since there are so many other factors in the economy, but here are some likely results:

• A rise in wealthy sellers could put pressure on asset prices and stocks, at least in the short term, which could depress asset values. Translated this means the value or prices of stocks and real estate would go down.

• The government’s tax revenues not only would be more volatile and unpredictable, there would also be less-than-expected revenues during the first year or two of the tax increase. In 1986, for example, the capital gains tax rate was 20% but was schedule to go up to 28% in 1987 as part of President Ronald Reagan’s tax overhaul. In 1986, capital gains collections soared to $52 billion – twice the amount as 1985. But the following year, when the higher rate kicked in, capital gains fell by 50%.

Moral lesson: “The rich” are not stupid. After all, they didn’t become “rich” by being stupid. So “the rich” will exercise their free will by doing what is in their best interest to offset the screws government is planning. America’s “rich” are reacting to the 2012 election debacle by selling their assets of stocks, real estate, and even businesses. And if pushed further, they will do what the French rich are doing — leave America for some greener pasture entirely.

~Eowyn

Disney Dud Portraits…

Annie Leibovitz, a world-renowned photographer, is aiming to take you from the ordinary to the extraordinary with her Disney Dream Portraits. Her portraits depict big-name celebrities in scenes from Disney movie favorites.  More like big-liberal celebrities.  Let’s see what celebrities she photographed and what they think of politics, shall we?

Russell Brand depicts Captain Hook as he dangles from the mouth of a crocodile. The Wrap recently reported that during a question and answer session at the Television Critics Association, Brand said of Sarah Palin’s popularity, “People want to f–k her.”

Julianne Moore poses as Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Right in his element, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps swims along as a merman. Moore played Sarah Palin in the movie, “Game Change.”  She once said, “but that we have become divisive, with self-interest and special interests seeming to dominate.”  She suggests that leadership is not about making more noise but about electing people who will take care of us.

In the second part of the ‘Aladdin’ series, Whoopi Goldberg nearly disappears into her portrayal of Genie.  This woman once expressed that she wanted reporters to use the “N-word” on tv.  Goldberg said, “What reporters do is they report the news. And every time you make it ‘the N-word,’ it’s cute.”  She continued, “But I feel very strongly about the word. Do not eliminate it. It’s part of our history. Every time people try to sort of make it sound better or more acceptable, let’s call it what it is.”

Jack Black, Will Ferrell and Jason Segal star in this Dream Portrait of hitchhiking ghosts trying to get to the Haunted Mansion in Disney. Black participated in a Prop 8 musical video, supporting same-sex homosexual marriage. He portrayed Jesus reminding the religious right that shrimp cocktail is also a Biblical “abomination.” 

Ferrell is currently starring in a movie called, “The Campaign”, running as a congressional candidate.  Ferrell told Vanity Fair that the hysterical and absurd dirty campaigns tactics were inspired in the Republican presidential primary debates. The actor claims he didn’t have to do a lot of research for his role besides the endless and ubiquitous GOP debates.

Entitled ‘Famed Is Thy Beauty,’ this portrait depicts Alec Baldwin as the Spirit in the Magic Mirror along with Olivia Wilde as the Evil Queen. Baldwin is a serial misogynist that harassed airline stewardesses, mocked Filipino women, and is an unhinged ex-husband and father.  He once tweeted, “Rightwing bashing is the most American thing you can do”. 

Back in 2010, Wilde participated in a Moveon.org video warning of “terrifying” future under President Palin. “You’re about to make a huge mistake,” she says. “One that changes our country forever.” So what do we have to fear? According to the video, Republicans take over Congress, merge with corporations and create a monster entity called RepubliCorp. In the future, Social Security is replaced by a “daily motivational email from John Boehner” and a literal fat cat — an obese tabby — is in charge of financial regulation. Not to mention “the two most terrifying words in the English language: President Palin.”

Disney’s mission statement? “The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world.”

How creative to use liberal actors that spew hate and misogynistic terms to conservative women.  How innovative to use actors that take a stab at the religious definition of marriage.  How creative to use actors that do nothing but bash Republicans.  Way to “differentiate” yourself Disney

DCG

Disney/ABC are hypocrites

Don’t blame these two!

Disney to clamp down on junk food ads aimed at children in bid to curb obesity epidemic

DailyMail:  Walt Disney Co, owner of the ABC broadcast network and a suite of cable channels, is axing junk-food ads from its TV programs, radio shows and websites aimed at children.

It is the latest effort to curb the worrying obesity epidemic faced by the U.S. and will force food and drinks companies to comply with strict nutrition requirements if they want to advertise during Disney’s shows.

Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and first lady Michelle Obama made a high profile announcement regarding the new rules on Tuesday in Washington.  ‘This is huge,’ said Obama, an exercise buff who has championed healthier eating and exercise habits aimed at children as part of her ‘Let’s Move’ initiative.  ‘Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the United States.

‘And what I hope every company will do going forward when it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell they’re asking themselves one simple question: Is this good for our kids?’  Nutrition experts have long called for an end to child-targeted junk food advertising.

The Disney move follows New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s announcement big gubmint, nanny plan last week of a plan to ban sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces (about half a litre) in most restaurants, theaters, delis and vending carts throughout the city.

Disney plans to cut advertising during children’s programming on its networks such as ABC and Disney XD or its kid-focused websites for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition requirements.

‘We want parents to know that the food products that we license and the ones promoted and advertised within our kids programming will be held to the same healthier standards,’ Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said.

The new guidelines, which take effect in 2015, set limits on the number of calories and amount of fat and added sugar for main and side dishes and snacks.

Kraft Foods Inc’s Oscar Mayer Lunchables and Capri Sun products, for example, would not make the cut, Disney said.  Advertised breakfast cereals will have to contain fewer than 10 grams of sugar in a serving – about the same amount as three Chips Ahoy cookies.

Disney is also launching its own ‘Mickey Check’ label for food it deems to be nutritious to help promote certain healthier foods in grocery stores and other retailers.

That same year Disney, which owns the ABC-TV network and a host of cable channels, introduced voluntary guidelines that prohibited licensing of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters for foods that do not meet minimum nutritional requirements.

That helped sell more than 2 billon servings of Disney-licensed fruits and vegetables since then, Iger said at the event, which featured a Mickey Mouse character making yogurt parfaits surrounded by buckets of lemons, oranges and apples.

Disney’s new effort will not allow advertising during children’s programming on its networks, including ABC and Disney XD and its child-focused websites, for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition requirements.  The company could not say how many products would be affected by the new rules, but experts said not all unhealthy foods will disappear.

If this is so important, why wait three years to implement these new guidelines?  Isn’t it important now?  What about the children?

Oh, and if you plan to go to Disneyland, check out a few of the restaurants and their menus advertised on the Disneyland website:

All you care to eat with Goofy!

Goofy’s Kitchen (buffet restaurant): Gawrsh! Enjoy a fun-filled breakfast or dinner like no other. Your host, Goofy, welcomes you to the eatery where boisterous fun is the order of the day. Enjoy all you care to eat while snapping memorable photos with Goofy and the gang.

Disney’s PCH Grill: The Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends is a lively Character breakfast that features a bountiful buffet. Feast on family favorites from the omelet station, Mickey waffles and pancakes — or let your kids create their own breakfasts!

Rainforest Café: Savor generous portions of food from around the world under a shimmering fiber-optic starscape. Top off your dining safari with the restaurant’s signature desert, the Sparkling Volcano, a tower of chocolate brownies capped with ice cream and whipped cream, and drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces.

Big Thunder Ranch Barbeque: At this barbecue blowout, you can have it all!  Feast on an all-you-care-to-eat family-style meal featuring mouthwatering barbeque delights like chicken, ribs, baked beans, Cookie’s Cole Slaw and more.  Dessert is available for an additional cost. You can order up an extravaganza of ranch hand sundaes and old-fashioned ice cream floats, seasonal cobblers, fresh strawberry shortcake or a family-style cookie bake topped with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge.

Notice how they omitted that these new guidelines don’t apply to the restaurants at their theme parks?  Hypocrites.

DCG

What’s with ABC and the “b” word?

First ABC gives us “GCB“, also known as Good Christian B*tches.  Now they are set to give us their next hilarious masterpiece, “Don’t Trust the B*tch in Aptartment 23″ which will debut on April 11.

The brunette is the "b*tch"

From Wikipedia:

The series was originally titled Don’t Trust The Bitch in Apartment 23 and was developed at Fox as a 2009 fall contender, but was eventually passed on.  In January 2011, ABC green-lighted production of a pilot episode.  In February and March 2011, Dreama Walker, Krysten Ritter, and James Van Der Beek were cast as the three leads. On May 13, 2011, ABC picked up the project to series under the shortened title Apartment 23.  On October 11, 2011, ABC decided to rename the show back to its original name, but leaving only the letter “B” in its title.

The series revolves around the lives of two different women—a barista who lost a high-profile upscale job and a savvy street smart con artist—who are roommates in a New York City apartment, with elements of The Odd Couple thrown in for good measure.

The DNC and liberals complain about Rush calling Fluke a “slut”.  They claim it’s a “war on women”.  Maybe they should be looking to the Disney-owned channel to see who is really creating a war against women.

Want to let ABC know what you think of this new show title?  Contact them here.

h/t Big Hollywood

DCG

Billy Ray Cyrus Regrets Sending Miley to Disney.

Paging Doctor Obvious: it seems sending a Christian child to work for a secular entertainment network might be a bad idea.

In the latest issue of GQ magazine, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus admits that Hannah Montana has not exactly been a dream come true. “I’ll tell you right now — the damn show destroyed my family. I should have been a better parent. I should have said, ‘Enough is enough — it’s getting dangerous and somebody’s going to get hurt.’ I should have, but I didn’t. Honestly, I didn’t know the ball was out of bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere.”

Cyrus is in the middle of a divorce from his long-time love Tish. While he did not specifically blame Disney for the marriage trouble, it must certainly have played a role. The two were married for 18 years and had three children together.

For Miley, the series run of Hannah Montana ended in January, and now the young singer is focusing on a music career in more mainstream pop. At the tender age of 18, she has already managed to include herself in a lesbian controversy, a gay marriage fiasco, a semi-nude photo spread, a pole dancing routine, a lap dance story, and rumors of marijuana use.

While most Americans became worried about Miley after the pole dance show, those of us who watch Disney saw warning signs long before. All the way back in 2007, Disney used Hannah Montana to show suggestive content not entirely suitable for young children, especially boys:

Cyrus told GQ he was worried about Miley. Given the similar actions of Disney alumni Vanessa Hudgens, Adrienne Bailon, and Alyson Michalka, it has to make parents wonder what kind of atmosphere Disney makes for these kids.

At this point two things should be very obvious:

1)      Miley needs our sympathy and prayers

2)      No religious family should allow their child to work for Disney

The time has come for conservative parents to realize that Disney is neither family-friendly nor concerned about childhood development.

-Candance

Disney Unveils “Social Ethics” in Cartoons. What Could Go Wrong?

Disney Channel is giving conservative parents one more reason to change the dial.

The network will debut a new cartoon bloc Monday which marks a major departure from its current brand. Playhouse Disney has long been a place for pre-schoolers to learn their ABCs and other simple education. The new format, Disney Junior, will instead emphasize “social ethics” through creative storytelling.

What sort of ethics will be preached? No one is entirely sure, not even Disney executives. The LA Times provides the not-so-helpful answer: “the goal of the show is not to moralize, but to prompt discussion between children and caretakers.”

Isn’t this great? Kids will be given moral lessons that don’t actually teach anything, and parents – er, caretakers – can look forward to discussions about what the heck “social ethics” is supposed to mean anyway.

While the network strives to keep the message as vague as possible, those familiar with Disney “ethics” know exactly where this train is headed.

For a taste of what parents should anticipate, look no further than the values already being pushed on Disney’s more prominent shows. Observe this gem from a 2010 episode in which a 15-year old endorses Keynesian economics to win a beauty pageant (relevant portion begins at 3:45):

Among other things, that show “prompts discussion” by portraying global warming fear mongers who routinely break the rules if that’s what it takes to save the planet – and no one is around to “discuss” the possibility that global warming might be a myth.

Disney’s teen-oriented programming has a long history of portraying liberal characters, from the paranormal detectives in So Weird to the witchcraft-wielding spoiled  brats in Wizards of Waverly Place. A live action show which debuted last November includes a character whom everyone over the age of 12 can figure out is gay.

Looking for a conservative child who reads the Bible and attends Tea parties on weekends? Disney has, for some mysterious reason, never found a place for a character like that.

For years, parents had consoled themselves in the knowledge that at least the cartoons were free from “socially ethical” characters. Monday marks the end of that.

~Candance~