Congressman Moran:

I would like to let you know that I’m deeply disappointed and very displeased with your performance as my representative to Congress. Your sponsorship of HR 2324 (Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2009) is a prime example.

The FBI, Harvard University, among many other institutions have PROVEN that there is no such thing as a Gun Show Loophole in the way that the public understands it. Your failure to properly understand this and many other issues is why I will actively be pursuing your removal from office this November.

It is one thing for us to disagree on issues. It’s another to be completely misinformed.

Michael Soh

Alexandria, VA

I want him OUT OF OFFICE!  This guy has been nothing but a disappointment to the district and must be fired.  He voted for the Healthcare bill and the stimulus package.  This man has done more to hurt America than he has to help.  It’s time for him to be eliminated with extreme prejustice.

As a result of this, I sent WMATA’s legal counsel a Public Access to Records Policy request, which is similar to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Here is the e-mail I received this morning:

Dear Mr. Soh:

This acknowledges receipt of your request for a copy of the report that shows how much was paid to WMATA’s bus drivers, Metro train operators, maintenance personnel, and any other position that is unionized for the last five years.  You requested that we include how long the employee has worked for Metro and how long the employee has held their current position including both current and previously employed individuals. This also requires that you provide additional information so we can determine whether you are eligible for a fee waiver by April 16, 2010, we will provide an estimate of the costs to retrieve the records and review them for exempt material.  Your request is being processed pursuant to the Public Access to Records Policy (PARP), which can be viewed on our website at http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/public_rr.cfm, under the section marked, ALegal Affairs.@  Generally, we aim to issue decisions on a request for records within 20 working days after the date of receipt of the request.

Although we cannot yet provide you with any documents, I can impart some general information now:

Exemptions to Disclosure

Under the PARP, certain types of records are exempted from disclosure. The exemptions include: records that could compromise WMATA’s infrastructure or security; records containing proprietary data; intra- and inter-agency advice and memoranda; records of internal deliberations; certain records compiled for law enforcement purposes; and records which if released would cause an unwarranted invasion of privacy.  WMATA’s response will not include any exempt information.

FeesOur PARP provides for the assessment of fees associated with your request if it takes more than two hours of staff time to search for, assemble and review the records that you requested. This fee shall be calculated at the employees’ basic rate of pay, plus an additional 50% to cover benefits, for the time spent responding to this request.  Also, there is a 15 cents per page copying fee beyond the first 100 pages.  Generally, a request is considered an agreement to pay all applicable fees.

We note that you requested a fee waiver because you are making this request as a private citizen and you believe the disclosure of these records is in the public’s best interest and will help citizens understand the true cost of employing the fine people who are responsible for getting them to work.  Pursuant to section 8.4 of the PARP, WMATA will furnish records without charge or at a reduced charge if:

WMATA determines that the disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations of WMATA and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the Requester.

We note that your request does not sufficiently establish that you are entitled to a fee waiver under the PARP.  To better assess whether you are entitled to a fee waiver, we require further information from you.  Thus, please respond to the following questions:

1. Describe the purpose for your request of these records, and your intended use of them,
2. Explain how disclosure of these records will significantly further the public’s understanding of the operations or activities of the Authority,
3. Describe how you intend to disseminate these records to the public, and how broad an audience you anticipate the disclosure will receive,
4. If your request is on behalf of an organization, describe that organization, including its expertise in matters associated with these records and how your organization is actively involved in disseminating information to the public, and
5. Describe any commercial or profit interest that you or your organization has in these records, and how this commercial interest, if any, compares to the public interest described by your previous answers.

After considering your responses, we will inform you in writing of our decision on this portion of your request for a fee waiver.  If we do not receive your response by April 16, we will provide an estimate of the cost to process your request and request an agreement for you to pay the fees.

Sincerely,

Keysia A. Thom
[REDACTED Address & Phone Number]

And here is my response:

Ms. Thom:

Thank you so much for your reply to my PARP request.  I appreciate you taking the time to provide me the information I need to make my request.

I have noticed over the past two years that WMATA has consistently raised rates without improving service.  While WMATA has encouraged rider input, I believe there is a large part of the story that the public is not hearing, which is the wages earned by employees.

According to your FY2008 Financial report available on the WMATA web site, more than 75% if it’s expenditures went to salaries.  After some research, I found that this percentage is extraordinarily high.  In order for the public to have a better picture of why these salaries are so high, they must be provided with the information I have requested to accurately determine if those salaries are above average.

According to my research, the industry with the highest salary to expenditures ratio is the health care industry, which is 52%.  The public should be able to examine what their fares and taxes are being used to pay for.  In light of the many accidents that have plagued WMATA in the last year, I found that it only categorized 13% of it’s expenditures supplies and only 3% for preventative maintenance.

Once received, I plan on using the information to accurately determine if the employees of WMATA are paid within market standards.  I plan on releasing this information on my personal website.  After my analysis, I will provide my summary as well as the raw data on my web site.  My website is licensed under the Creative Commons Share-Alike, Non-Commercial license.  The raw data that you will provide, however, will be released into the public domain since it is available publicly.

I do not consider myself a journalist: just a concerned citizen.  I do not anticipate any sort profit from the release of these records.  I do not advertise on my site or charge a fee to read my material.

I consider these records important to the discussion of the state of WMATA fares.  If you cannot waive my fee under your guidelines, please provide me an estimate of the cost if it exceeds $100.  Please keep in mind that I will not accept any hard copies.  Please provide the information in a spreadsheet or database format.

Thank you again for your time in this matter.  I believed I have answered your questions in detail.  Please let me know if there is any more information you require.  I look forward to receiving your reply within 20 days of your receipt of this message.

Very respectfully,

Michael Soh

Although my web site is public, I did not mention my hypothesis.  If she really wants to know what I’m after, she can visit my web site (which I gave her).  My theory still stands: I believe AFL-CIO has a unfair union hold over the WMATA system and their workers are paid well over market value at the expense of safety improvements.

The White House wants people to report “disinformation” to flag@whitehouse.com.  Barack Obama has even said he doesn’t want people who disagree with him to “do a whole lot of talking“.

This is nothing short of a desperate “President” trying to scare his critics into backing down.  But, hey, if he wants to get a whole bunch of e-mails, that’s his business.  I think We the People should report our neighbors for spreading disinformation.  And I say we start with the Obama supporters.

No doubt that this community activist has enlisted a large army of kool-aid drinkers into doing his bidding.  To level the playing field, we should do the same.  In the next week, I’ll be debuting a website where fellow conservatives can report Obama supporters.  Upload pictures of their bumper stickers (including license plates).  Use the Freedom of Information Act in your state to obtain their address, phone number, and any other identifying information.  That information will be publicly displayed for people to see.

Unlike the White House, this list will not be illegal since the information is publicly available.  What people decide to do with the information is not up for the state to decide.

Once I have the website up and running, I’ll make another announcement on this site and on Twitter.

With the advent of credit cards, I can now buy big-ticket items without actually having the money!  Suddenly, I can buy a car, a big-screen TV, several computers and even buy groceries without actually having the cash to support it.  In many ways, this is a great thing!!  No more waiting to save up.  I can do it over time.

The problem with this cycle is I will continue to buy big-ticket items.  I won’t really care about how much I owe because I’m still buying stuff that I want.  Soon, the credit card companies want me to pay, except they don’t.  They’re perfectly fine if I pay $20 a month for a $4500 bill because they’ll get more money from me through the interest.  But the average credit card user doesn’t know this (surprising, isn’t it?)

I left college with a little under $15,000 of credit card debt.  That’s right.  I was determined to pay that it off within five years.  I took a hard look at my budget, pinched everything I could.  It took me two years to finally pay it off!  I’ve been debt-free since August 2008.

I didn’t pay this off through free money.  I saved every penny I got.  I cut back on all my spending.  And through discipline and toil, I was able to pay it off and still save money!

That’s right!  I still was able to put money away for saving!

I don’t get paid that much.  I’m a firm believer that you can save no matter what you get paid.  Most people don’t because they are under the impression that they need every penny.  This is simply not the case.

The auto industry has only itself to blame for getting into this mess.  The problem is three-fold:

1. Making products that very few people were interested in
2. Encouraging people to buy big expensive trucks and SUVs when they didn’t need or want them
3. Folding into union demands (I’ll cover unions in a future blog)

The auto industry has done little to save itself.  They saw the tide turning years ago when Toyota sold out of its first hybrid model.  They refused to listen to reason when Congress demanded them to create fuel-efficiant cars.

The sad part of the auto industry is that many other industries rely on it.  I am willing to admit that it is sad that possibily millions of people will lose their jobs for their companies mistakes.  But these same people often haven’t saved.

When people complain about the stock market and how much of their retirement they lost, I have no sympathy for them.  What these people fail to realize is that there is absolutely no guarentee that their retirement funds will grow.  If they wanted a guarentee, they should have invested in government bonds.  But they didn’t.  They have only themselves to blame.  (Note: I have investment accounts that have lost money.  I have never blamed congress or banks for this mess.)

When people complain about losing their jobs, I have a bit more sympathy.  No one can really be prepared to lose a job.  But everyone can be prepared for emergancies.  Having a savings plan in place before you have to use it is always smart, but rarely exercised.  I have no sympathy for people who have no savings.

The auto industry and its works have brought this situation on themselves.  To expect the American tax-payer to help them is tantamount to me asking the auto industry to pay my mortgage (that is, if they were healthy).

Yes, millions of jobs may get lost.  But perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this: save!

Please note: The following should not be the sole resource for your financial planning. If it is, you are insane! You should always do your own research before investing in stocks or other commodities. If you have questions regarding your financial situation, contact a professional financial planner.  You should also contact a professional accountant to see how your tax situation will change with your investments.

And, as always, when investing in uninsured securities, you may lose money.  You make a decision to take a risk when investing.  Do so carefully.  If you want your money guaranteed, invest in bonds or FDIC-insured instruments.

Furthermore, you should only invest if you have the resources to do so. It doesn’t make much sense to invest if you have loads of credit card debt.  In fact, if you have credit card debt, use the money that you want to use for investing and put it toward your debt.  You’ll save far more in interest payments than you would make otherwise.

• Limit your 401(k) contributions to match your employer’s contribution
  This is only because you double your money right off the bat.  Some employers offer a tiered contribution where the first 5% is 100%, the next 5% is at 80%, etc.  You should do this until the percentage is less than 20%.  But if you’re like me, your employer will only match up to 3% and that’s it.  From here, consider opening a ROTH IRA.  401(k) will be risky if Obama uses them to hedge his health plan.  Regardless if you agree with his health plan, it carries risk.
• Open a ROTH IRA
  ROTH IRAs provide a tax shelter from your future investments.  Depending on Congress, some ROTH IRA contributions can be tax-deductible.  But this is often an exception and not the rule.  The benefits, however, are two-fold: any contribution made on into a ROTH IRA is post-tax.  Anything earned in a ROTH IRA is tax-free, provided that you follow the rules.  You can also withdraw your principle contributions at anytime without penalty or taxes.  Think of it as a checking account, except you don’t get to reap the interest until you retire.
• Avoid trading ‘in the open’
  By open, I mean a regular, non-tax sheltered account.  Use IRAs to avoid paying capital gain taxes that Obama is sure to implement.  If you can help it, delay selling your open stocks until after his regime.  Sell only if you’ve lost money to claim the tax credit.  Then be sure to use that money and invest in other areas, but within a ROTH IRA.
• Invest in green energy
  Buy NOW while prices are low.  You don’t have to believe in global warming to make money off of the idiots people that do.  Obama is a very green president and will spurn more green energy development.  Hold onto these stocks until you’ve made 20-30% on top of your investment and then sell.  Don’t hold onto it through Obama’s presidency.  You can expect a bubble in this market within two years of his inauguration.  You may consider dumping these stocks should something happen to Obama.  If Obama becomes incapacitated, Biden will meet lots of resistance from those in the defense camp.
• Invest minimally into nuclear energy
  Obama hasn’t said much about his stance on nuclear energy.  My gut tells me that he’ll prefer wind farms over nukes.  You may want to invest a small part of your portfolio just in case he changes his mind.
• Don’t buy health care stocks!!!
  If Hawaii is any indication, universal health care will bomb bigger than Gigli.  The health care market will be incredibly speculative.  So much so that I would avoid anything even related to health care.  If you are a risk taker, however, you can invest here but be sure to watch your investments carefully as they will plummet.
• Short coal
  For the same reasons mentioned above.  Obama is not a coal guy.  This market and the coal commodity will likely tank.  But, it will rebound when the world comes out of its recession.  Keep your ear to the ground for China.  If China starts moving, coal will go up since its cheap and their main source of energy.  When this happens, buy lots of coal but sell once it hits 15-20%.  You can bet your bottom dollar that Obama will tax this industry.
• Short and/or sell your defense stocks
  An Obama presidency will mean less defensive spending, which means a lot of companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman will bottom out.  They won’t crash, but it’s worth taking advantage of it.  Keep your eye on this sector, though.  If Biden’s prediction is true and another terrorist attack happens on US soil, you can expect these stocks start to rise.  Be cautious though since Obama is not likely to use military action.  This rise will be a result of gut-reactions.  Be sure to sell after about 10% raise and then short again.
• Avoid bank securities and other secured money vehicles (e.g. CDs)
  You should avoid these for several reasons: under Obama, these banks will be heavily regulated. It will cost more money to operate a bank, which will result in lower return and higher time horizon.  If you want guaranteed income, consider US notes or bills.  They will provide a much better security and they are easily trade-able post-market.
• Purchase U.S.-backed securities only if you need guaranteed interest or if you need to diversify
  If you are nearing retirement, you will want to put more money into U.S.-backed securities.  This allows you to have an expectation of return and are relatively low-risk.  If you are off 10+ years from retirement, I would only invest in U.S.-backed securities if you need to diversify or if you don’t have enough money to open a ROTH IRA account.  Interest gained through these securities are usually federal tax free.  However, your locality may tax you so check with your local tax office.
• Donate at least 10% of your income to a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
  The benefits of this is two-fold: you get to help out a charity of your choice and you get a nice tax break.  You’ll be surprised how much money you save on taxes if you do this.  This also allows you to dictate where your money will go without the government getting their greedy paws on it.  Be sure to get a receipt, no matter how small your donation.  While organizations are only required to give you a receipt if your gift is over $250, it’s good to get one anyway in case you get audited.
• NEVER DONATE CASH!
  Cash donations are risky.  Always submit a check where you can pull up each check if necessary.  Even if you receive a receipt for cash, always submit a check.  This means avoiding the bell ringers, the on-street donations, and other impulse donations.  The charity will be better served if you go home, think carefully about your financial situation, and then give to your heart

I like to point out that I do expect stocks to rebound shortly after Obama gets inaugurated.  However, I think it will be very speculative and will only be a short-term occurrence.  Be sure to short before the bubble pops and you’ll be good to go.

Now, if by some miracle McCain wins, most of your pre-tax investments are relatively safe.  Your defense stocks are relatively safe.  I’d still invest into green energy because it’s still a hot issue.  But remember to expect a bubble.

• Prepare for tax time now!
  You can avoid paying a good chunk of your taxes if you take the time to do small things throughout the year.  If you volunteer regularly, write down your mileage before and after your trip.  Even if its only 2-3 miles, they will add up!  I saved over $300 last year from doing this.  You can also write off any parking costs if you do this as well.  Keep receipts and detailed mileage information.
• Read the instructions for the 1040!!
  You will be surprised how many tax breaks you actually can claim.  The average American is lazy, but complain that they pay too many taxes.  If you don’t want to be like them, read through these instructions.  Circle items that may apply to you.  This is the time to go through your receipts to find out anything that you may have done that you can write off.  Home improvements, capital losses, charity write-offs are all places to remember and keep an eye on.  Be sure to also document any business-related expenses that you were never reimbursed on.  You bought a pen for your office?  Write it down!  These add up quickly.
• Use tax software if you have to, tax professional if you must
  Remember that the cost of the software and any help you hire to file taxes is tax deductible for the following year.  But the tax breaks only offset the total cost by a small fraction.  Tax software can be helpful, but no software or professional will have the same information that you do.  They are only as good as your records!
• Keep an eye on tax software deals, specifically online
  Visit taxcut.com and turbotax.com regularly.  This year, there was one day that they offered both federal and state for free.  They are likely to do it again next year.

Keep these things in mind and you’ll be able to ride out Obama’s regime safely.  Even you can avoid paying taxes, legally of course.  Keep an eye on this blog for more tips while Obama reigns in DC.