Our 2K

Minnie Bee's Rant

(Ed. note:  With this last post of 2012, we wish everyone a very happy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year.)

     Perhaps I am being too idealistic to think that by working together, Democrats and Republicans can solve fiscal cliff issues through negotiation and compromise.  I have certainly been influenced by watching Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" the other night, a spectacular movie showing Lincoln, his cabinet, and certain members of Congress working tirelessly to get the votes needed to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the United States. But for reasons unknown to me and most voters, Congress hasn't been able to  negotiate and compromise in order reach an agreement on the fiscal cliff, the debt ceiling, or anything else of much importance, and hasn't even tried that hard. Even with the ugly partisanship that exists in our government today, even with the hideous politicization of issues that affect our national well-being, surely the issues of the fiscal cliff could have been settled shortly after the November 6th election, when President Obama was solidly re-elected to a second term.

     Now we are hanging around (no pun intended) the edge of the fiscal cliff.  Should we care?  For middle class seniors who, on a sparse social security check and a cost-of-living increase far below the pace of the real cost of living, are just slightly above the poverty level, yes.  For the middle class jobless, who are living on a sparse unemployment check, yes.  They will pay more taxes on their already too small income,  as will middle class workers with families depending on them, and those with mortgage payments to make, and those with car payments to make, and those with college tuition to pay.  All will pay more in taxes.  And for those receiving extended unemployment, their checks will stop all together.

     Most Republican lawmakers have been holding out on a fiscal cliff deal because they don't want those who are better off - those making more than $250K per year - to pay more in taxes.  Their argument is that these folks are the job creators.  But if  tax cuts for the job creators are making that big of a difference to jobs, why was the jobless rate better before the tax cuts went into effect?  Will a tax increase on these folks matter as much as it does to middle class seniors and workers - employed or unemployed?  Not so much.  If t tax cuts expire for those making over $250K, their first $250,000 of income would still enjoy the same tax cuts as the middle class would pay.  In addition, through negotiation and compromise, that $250K figure could be adjusted - at least for those wealthy people living in higher cost-of-living areas.  When I worked for a large corporation several years ago, our per diem rate was adjusted, depending on the metropolitan area we were in.  And this was at a time when we didn't have the technology available to make such adjustments as easy to implement as they are today.

     As the fiscal cliff controversy rages on, I have tried to imagine what I would put out there if I were negotiating with those who are against raising taxes on the rich.  I came up with the following ideas:  (1) adjust the tax cut figure of $250K for those high earners whose primary residence is in a high cost-of-living location.  For example, a rich person living in Omaha, Nebraska would pay higher taxes after the first 250K, but a rich person living in Manhattan might pay higher taxes after the first $300K. (2) Lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25% for corporations who maintain their registered headquarters in the United States.  Decrease it to 20% for corporations who are headquartered here, and also maintain at least 85% of their workforce in the United States.  Decrease the corporate tax rate to 15% for corporations who maintain 100% of their workforce in the United States.  These figures would include their subsidiaries, subcontractors, and contracted employees.  (3)  Commit to eliminating government subsidies for profitable industries, and pruning corporate tax breaks and loopholes by a specified date.  (4)  Offer more/bigger assistance programs to small businesses. (5)  Keep the estate tax cap at $5 million.  (6) Tax "carried interest" investment income at the same tax rate as any other income.  (7)  Adjust the Social Security taxable minimum of $113,700 in income (up $3,600 as of 2013 from $110,100) so that the wealthy pay Social Security on that portion of their income enjoying a tax cut,  just as the middle class does. (8) Eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax.

     Using the give-and-take of negotiation and compromise with suggested measures such as these, our representatives on both sides of the aisle should be able to hammer out an agreement that satisfies both sides, and not only keeps our economy going, but gives it a real boost.  As for so-called "entitlements," they should be off the negotiating table.  Too many Americans - kids, seniors, vets, the disabled, and the unemployed - are already living at or below the poverty level.  Eliminating the expansions of Unemployment Compensation, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the American Opportunity tax credit, and tax credits for child care, and/or decreasing Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, would send middle and lower-income people over the edge of not just a fiscal cliff, but a real, life-threatening cliff.    

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Be a jobs creator with your shopping cart! We create and keep U.S. jobs when we demand, promote, and buy "Made in USA" goods and products. Check out our shopping list below and replace one, two, or three of the products you usually buy with one, two, or three of these "Made in USA" products. As always, check labels before buying, and feel free to post your own research to this blog. Remember, "distributed by" or "manufactured by" does not mean that it was made here, regardless of the company address. It must state that it was made in or a product (produce) of the USA!

Note: With this post, we are adding new categories of "big ticket" items, in addition to groceries and other small-ticket items, starting with the addition of "Appliances."

Minnie Bee's "Made in USA" Shopping List:

* = new recommendation

**= new category

**Appliances

*Viking kitchen appliances - Made in USA by Viking Range Corp., Greenwood, MS

Baby Food

· mom to mom - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

Beer, Wine

·         Yuengling Lager, Light Lager, Light Beer, Black and Tan, Premium, Porter, Lord Chesterfield Ale - Made in USA by D.S. Yuengling & Son, Inc., Pottsville, PA

Beverages  (non-alcoholic, not including coffee)

· Inko's 100% Natural White Iced Tea - Made in USA by Inko's White Iced Tea, New York, NY

Candy

· Necco Wafers, Clark Bars, Mighty Malt Malted Milk Balls, Mary Janes, Canada Mints, Valentine Conversation Hearts and other candy products - Made in USA by New England Confectionery Co. (NECCO), Revere, MA

· AmeriCandy - Made in USA by AmeriCandy Co., Inc., Louisville, KY

· Bissinger's Candy - Made in USA by Bissinger's, St. Louis, MO

· Hammond's Candies - Made in USA by Hammond's Candy Factory, Denver, CO

· See's Candies - Made in USA by See's Candy Shops, Inc., Carson, CA

· Stewart Candy - Made in USA by Stewart Candy Co., Waycross, GA

· Sweet's Candy - Made in USA by Sweet Candy Co., Salt Lake City, UT

· Wolfgang Candy - Made in USA by Wolfgang Candy Co., Inc., York, PA

· Red Vines - Product of USA by American Licorice Co., Union City, CA

· Mike & Ike, Hot Tamales -Made in USA by Just Born, Inc., Bethlehem, PA

Canned Vegetables

          · Margaret Holmes canned vegetables - Product of USA by McCall Farms,

            Effingham, SC

· Del Monte canned vegetables(check labels, not all cans bear the "packed in USA" statement!)- Packed in USA by Del Monte Foods, San Francisco, CA

Cereal (Hot)

· Safeway Instant Oatmeal - Made in USA by Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

· Maypo Maple Oatmeal and Wheatena hot cereal - Made in USA by Homestat Farm, Ltd., Dublin, CA

· Old Wessex Creamy Oat Bran, Irish-Style Oatmeal, and 5-Grain Cereal - Made in USA by Old Wessex, Inc., Providence, RI

· Nature's Path Hot Oatmeal - Made in USA by Nature's Path Foods, Inc., Blaine, WA

Cereal Bars

· Eating Right Oats & Peanut Butter Bars - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Pleasanton, CA

· Safeway Variety Pack Chewy Granola Bars, Safeway Chewy Pretzel Bars - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Pleasanton, CA

· Eviro Kidz Bars - Product of USA by Nature's Path Foods, Blaine, WA

· Annie's Organic Granola Bars - Product of USA by Annie's, Berkeley, CA

· Nature's Path Granola Bars - Product of USA by Nature's Path Foods, Blaine, WA

Cheese

· Sargento's cheese - Product of USA by Sargento Foods, Inc., Plymouth, WI

Clothing

· Beyond Clothing - Made in USA by Beyond Clothing, Seattle, WA

· Eagle Sportswear - Made in USA by Eagle USA, Wendell, NC

· Red Ants Pants - Made in USA by Red Ants Pants, White Sulphur Springs, MT

· Wearable Integrity - Made in USA by Barbara Lesser, Los Angeles, CA

· Bayside Apparel- Made in USA by Bayside USA (union), Anaheim, CA

· icantoo Resort Classics - Made in USA by Pacico, Inc., Industry, CA

Coffee

·         New England Coffee - Made in USA by New England Tea and Coffee Co., Inc., Malden, MA

·         Green Mountain Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Gloria Jean's Coffee (K-cups) - Made in USA by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., Castroville, CA

·         Millstone Coffee (K-cups) - Made in USA by Millstone Coffee, Inc., Orrville, OH

Coffee Creamer

· Silk Creamer - Made in USA by WhiteWave Foods, Broomfield, CO

Computer Printer Paper

· Printworks Multipurpose Paper - Made in USA by Paris Business Products, Westhampton, NJ

· up & up Multipurpose Printer Paper - Made in USA by Target Brands,
Inc., Minneapolis, MN

· Hemmi Papilio Decal Paper- Made in USA by Hemmi Papilio Supplies LLC, Decatur, TX

Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, salsa, BBQ sauces& marinades)

 

· Original Juan Mayonnaise, BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce, Salsa – Made in USA by Original Juan Specialty Foods, Kansas City, KS

· French's Mustard - Made in USA by French's Foods, Reckitt Benckiser, Inc., Parsippany, NJ

· Heinz Tomato Ketchup ((check labels, not all bottles bear the "Mfd. in USA" statement!) - Manufactured in USA by H.J. Heinz Co., L.P., Pittsburgh, PA

Cooking Oil

· California Olive Ranch Olive Oil -Product of California, USA by California Olive Ranch, Inc., Oroville, CA

Cookies

· Safeway Chocolate Teddy Bear Cookies, Grin & Bear It! - Product of USA by Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

· Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Baked Graham Snacks (all flavors) - Baked in USA by Pepperidge Farms, Inc., Norwalk, CT

Crackers

· Pepperidge Farm (all crackers, Goldfish crackers and pretzels, and crisps) - Baked in USA by Pepperidge Farms, Inc., Norwalk, CT

· Westminster Crackers - Made in USA by Westminster Cracker Co., Rutland, VT

· Ry-Krisp Crackers - Made in USA by Bremner Food Group, Princeton, KY

· Breton Crackers (all except Vinta and Breton Minis) - Made in USA by Dare Foods USA, Spartanburg, SC

· Streit's Matzo - Product of USA by Aron Streit, Inc., New York, NY

Dips, Hummus

· Sabra Hummus -Product of USA by Sabra Dipping Co., LLC, White Plains, NY

Dried Fruit

· Craisins - Made in the USA by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Lakeville-Middleboro, MA

Fruits and Vegetables

· Fruits and vegetables that are "Product /Produce of USA," including "locally grown" fruits and vegetables (as they come into season.)

· Clem'n Tina's Mandarin Oranges - Produce of USA by SunWest, Parlier, CA

· Classic Dover Strawberries - Product of USA by Mike Lott Farm, Seffner, FL (also other FL strawberry farms-check labels)

· Cuties Mandarin Oranges - Produce of USA by Cuties Cooperatives, Bakersfield, CA

· Ranier Apples/Pommes, Sweet Cherries - Produce of USA by Rainier Fruit Company, Selah, WA

· Stemilt Sweet Cherries - Product of USA by Stemilt Growers, LLC, Wenatchee, WA

· Top Brass Premium Quality Grapes - Product of USA by Vignold Farms, Deland, CA

Fruit and Vegetable Wash

· All Natural Veggie Wash Fruit and Vegetable Wash - Made in USA by Beaumont Products, Inc., Kennesaw, GA

Hair Care Products

· California North Hair Care Products- Made in USA by California North, Sausalito, CA

· J Beverly Hills Hair Care Products- Made in USA by Juan Juan, Beverly Hills, CA

· Pureology Serious Color Care - Made in USA by Purelogy Research LLC, Irvine, CA

· Alterna Professional Haircare - Made in USA by Alterna Professional Haircare, Beverly Hills, CA

Mac n' Cheese

· Annie's Macaroni and Cheese - Made in USA by Annie's, Inc., Napa CA

Meals/Frozen Dinners

· Annie's Skillet Meals - Made in USA by Annie's, Inc., Napa, CA

Milk and Milk Products

· Silk Soymilk - Made in USA by WhiteWave Foods, Broomfield, CO

Notebook Paper

· Roselle notebook paper - Made in USA by Roselle Paper Co., Roselle, NJ

· Top Flight 81/2 x 11 spiral notebooks (only) - Made in USA by Top Flight, Chattanooga, TN

· Smart Living notebook paper (only)- Made in USA by American Sales Co., Lancaster, NY

Notebooks, Spiral

· up&up spiral notebooks - Made in USA by Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

· Basic spiral notebooks; Norcom composition books; Basic notebook paper, Norcom notebook paper - Made in USA by Norcom, Inc., Griffin, GA

Paper Products

· Vanity Fair Premium Napkins - Made in USA by Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products, LP, Atlanta, GA

· up & up paper plates, bowls - Made in USA by Target Corp., Minneapolis, MN

Pencils and Pens

· Pilot Easy Touch retractable pens (only) - Made in USA by Pilot Corp. of America, Jacksonville, FL

· USA Gold "The Write Dudes" wood case pencils (only) - Made in USA by USA Gold (Mega Brands), Lewisburg, TN

· General's wood case pencils- Made in USA by General Pencil Co., Jersey City, NJ

Pizza, Frozen

· Freschetta Pizza, Red Baron Pizza - Made in USA by Schwan Food Co., Marshall, MN

Plates, Tableware

·         Fiesta Dinnerware - Made in USA by The Homer Laughlin China Co., Newell WV

Power Bars

·         Eating Right Nutrition Bar - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

·         Kind and Kind Plus Fruit and Nut Bars - Product of Kind Healthy Snacks, New York, NY

Salad Dressing

· Annie's Salad Dressing - Made in USA by Annie's, Inc., Napa, CA

· Bragg Healthy Vinaigrette - Product of USA by Bragg Live Food Products, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA

Skin Care Products

·    St. Ives 100% Moisturizer - Made in USA by St. Ives Laboratories, Inc.,

Los Angeles, CA

·         Mario Badescu Skincare (all products) - Made in USA by Mario Badescu, New York, NY

·         Neutrogena Body Oil - Made in USA Neutrogena Corp., Los Angeles, CA

·         dr dennis gross skincare (all products) - Made in USA by Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, LLC, New York, NY 

Snacks

· popchips - Made in USA by popchips, San Francisco, CA

· Pretzel Crisps - Made in USA by Snack Factory, Princeton, NJ

· Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, Baked Naturals, cracker chips - Baked in USA by Pepperidge Farm, Inc., Norwalk, CN

· Stacy's Pita Chips - Made in USA by Stacy's Pita Chips, Dallas, TX

· Boulder Canyon Garden Select Vegetable Crisps - Made in USA by Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, Boulder, CO

· Late July Organic Multigrain Snack Chips - Made in USA by Late July Snacks, LLC, Barnstable, MA

 

Soups, canned and packets

· Nature's Promise "Naturals" soup - Product of USA by Foodhold USA, LLC, Landover, MD

· Campbell's Chunky, Select Harvest, and Condensed soups (canned and microwaveable) - Cooked in USA by Campbell's Soup Co., Camden, NJ

· Shore Lunch soup mix - Made in USA by Sportsman Recipes, Inc., Rome, GA

· Streit's Matzo Ball and Soup mix, and Egg Drop soup mix - Product of USA by Aron Streit, Inc., New York, NY

· Manischewitz Ball Soup, and Matzo Balls in Broth (canned in glass jars), and Matzo Ball and Soup mix - Product of USA by The Manischewitz Co., Secaucus, NJ

· Safeway soup mix - Product of USA by Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

Soup Bowls and Cups

· Maruchan Ramen, Instant Lunch, and Yakisoba soups - Made in USA by Maruchan, Inc., Irvine, CA

· Annie Chun's soup bowls - Product of USA by Annie Chun, Inc., San Rafael, CA

· Eating Right soup cups - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

· Dr. McDougall's soup cups - Product of USA by Dr. McDougall's Right Foods, San Francisco, CA

Soup Stocks

· Kitchen Basics Vegetable, Chicken, Seafood, and Beef cooking stock- Product of USA by Kitchen Basics, Brecksville, OH

Storage Bags and Wraps

· Glad Press'n Seal - Made in USA by The Glad Products Co., Oakland, CA

· up & up storage bags - Made in USA by Target Corp., Minneapolis, MN

· up & up aluminum foil - Made in USA by Target Corp., Minneapolis, MN

Syrup

          · locally-made syrups - Made in USA by farms in VT, NY and PA

· Archer Farms Pure Maple Syrup- Product of USA and Canada by Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

· Wegman's Organic Maple Syrup- Product of USA and Canada by Wegman's Food Markets, Inc., Rochester, NY

Toaster Pastries

· Nature's Path Toaster Pastries -Product of USA by Nature's Path Foods, Inc., Blaine, WA

· Pantry Essentials Toaster Pastries - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

Vinegar

      · Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar - Product of USA by Bragg Live Food Products, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA

 

Vitamins

          · vita fusion calcium gummy vites - Made in USA by northwest natural products,

         Vancouver, WA

      · up&up adults' gummy calcium dietary supplement with vitamin D; up&up calcium + vitamin D chews - Made in USA by Target Corp., Minneapolis, MN

      · Citracal with vitamin D plus magnesium tablets; Citrical calcium + D3 caplets;  Citracal calcium gummies with D3 - Made in USA by Bayer, Morristown, NJ

Blog Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/27/absolutely-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-fiscal-cliff-in-one-faq/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/social-security_n_1980609.html

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/