Category: Economics

Timber Unity Rally in Salem
Oregon’s Disastrous Virtue Signalling: Carbon Tax

Oregon’s Disastrous Virtue Signalling: Carbon Tax

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Show Summary: Last year, Republican senators walked out. This year, Oregon’s Democrats are determined to push through a carbon tax. Timber Unity stands for what’s right It’s pretty simple—cap & trade? NO. Timber Unity? YES

Original Air Dates: Jan. 11 & 12, 2020 | Angelita Sanchez of Timber Unity & Dr. Bob Zybach

This Week: Here at I Spy, we are completely against any form of a carbon tax or a carbon cap & trade scheme.

A Carbon Tax: Wrong Thinking

Why is a carbon tax a bad idea? In the first segment of this weekend’s show, host Mark Anderson, thoroughly walks you through the problems of how and why a carbon cap & trade scheme damages an economy and how it violates normal free-market forces.

A carbon tax not only doesn’t work for what they claim it’s supposed to do, but it places an increasing financial burden on citizens. California is a prime example of what happens as its citizens and businesses flee the state. One report has shown tens of thousands of businesses fled California, directly because of California’s carbon tax, in a process known in political circles as “leakage.” Basically, leakage is “How many businesses will leave the state if we pass this bill?”

Also, don’t miss “all you need to know” about “global warming.” It’ll give you some ammunition to use in the coming fight against Oregon’s carbon tax, cap & trade bill.

Timber Unity

Government bureaucrats and far-left politicians who support cap & trade seem to believe they know better than the people they’re supposed to represent. Last year the people came together to put their foot down.

The Timber Unity rally on the capitol steps drew together people in rural areas who were tired of latte-sipping liberals looking down their noses at hicks from the country not knowing liberals are just saving the planet. (I wonder how they think the coffee they’d sipping got to their little coffee house?)

Timber Unity Rally Round 2: Timber Unity’s rally to again fight back against Oregon Democrats’ disastrous carbon tax will be on Thursday, February 6th, 2020. Tentative start time is 10:00. See below for more details, contact, info, and more.

 

Oregon’s Carbon Tax: New and Improved? Hardly.

Even though Salem’s Democrat legislators are trying to sell the “new and improved” carbon bill as something that would only impact people in the city (for now) it’s simply not true. Because more than 80% of all Oregonian communities have their only means of goods shipped, in or out, are only by truck.

Be sure to tune in to hear the mindset of how these politicians feel about rural areas and who they pretend to protect. What Senator President, Peter Courtney told Timber Unity rally participants right from the start will make your jaw drop.

Oh, and remember how Knute Buehler promised a carbon tax when he was running for governor of Oregon? Here he is suddenly for it now that he’s running for much more conservative CD 2

Good News for Oregon’s Forests?

Then we bring back our timber expert, Dr. Bob Zybach, who continues the conversation on the downfalls of a carbon tax and cap & trade schemes. We hear about how the law negatively impacts our forest management processes, a vital economic impact to Oregon. You’ll get a laugh over OSU’s latest scheme to save the planet. (Insert massive eye roll.)

And he discusses California’s dilemmas with its carbon cap and trade scheme (hint: it’s not working) along with the wildfire issue in Australia and the nonsense of some blaming global warming.

This week it’s all about stopping the nonsense of politicians attempting to fill their tax coffers while claiming it’s “for the environment.”

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Links Mentioned

Timber Unity Contact Info

  • Timber Unity’s:
    • Facebook page
    • Twitter (@TimberUnity)
    • Questions? Press inquiries? Need info? Contact Angelita Sanchez – her email is arnrc.inc@gmail.com
  • Tweet from @PhRMA: “Did you know that CAR-T therapy was designed to defeat leukemia, but now it’s on the verge of defeating multiple myeloma? That’s the thing about breakthroughs: one can lead to many more.” (via Twitter, Jan. 3, 2020)
  • OSU “study”: We can stop climate change by not logging? “Preserving Forests Makes Perfect Sense, a Letter to the Editor” (via The Oregonian, Jan 5, 2020)
  • Opinion: Why California’s climate solution isn’t cutting it (L.A. Times, Jan. 2, 2020)
    • “The system is supposed to force a gradual decline in carbon dioxide emissions by issuing polluting companies an annually decreasing number of permits to pollute, but it has granted so many exceptions that the program is nearly toothless. … since the beginning of cap and trade in 2013, emissions from oil and gas sources — generated by production, refining and vehicle fuel consumption — have increased by 3.5%”
  • Letters to The Editor:  Is California’s Cap-and-Trade Program Making Climate Change Worse? (L.A. Times, Jan 4., 2020)

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year in review year in preview - did 2019 set the stage for rejecting big government in 2020
Year in Review, Year in Preview

Year in Review, Year in Preview

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Show Summary: 2020 marks the beginning of I Spy Radio’s tenth year on the air. This week, something a little different: the producer speaks. Our 2019 year in review and a 2020 preview. Was 2019 the beginning of the end of socialism?

Original Air Dates: Jan. 4th & 5th, 2020 | Karla Davenport, I Spy Radio producer

This Week:  The end of 2019 and birth of 2020 marks the beginning of I Spy’s 10th year on air.  After a decade of airing shows that we hope have been informative and, at times, entertaining we are trying something different.  Having both Mark and me on air to discuss the issues.

So for this week’s show, we’re going to be doing a year in review AND a year in preview.

Year in Review. 2019: The rise of anti-socialism

To do that we take a look at some of the more interesting trends that took place this year, global and national in nature.  Okay, there were a ton of topics to turn to with a highly active president in office.  In fact he makes news while we’re trying to report it—which happened with this show as President Trump took on Iran.

2020 Year in Preview: Unfinished Stories from 2019

For us, this was a very fast hour to try and cover as many topics as possible and having a lot of fun while we’re doing it.  I hope you have the time to take a listen and see if we’ve discussed the issues you felt were important.  And what about the possibilities for 2020?  Listen to find out our take.

And let us know what you thought. We’d love to get your feedback on this rather unique episode of I Spy Radio.

Happy New Year everyone, and hello 2020!

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Oregon Democrats want to transform Oregon's Health Care into universal health care. Can it recover? Or is it gone forever?
Why Oregon’s Health Care Lost Its Way—and Can It Recover?

Why Oregon’s Health Care Lost Its Way—and Can It Recover?

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Show Summary: It was only six years ago that Oregon had one of the health care systems and markets in the nation. But then Democrats “fixed it” with their zeal for universal health care. A look back—and can it be fixed?

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Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

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8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
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Air Dates: Nov 9 & 10, 2019 | Lisa Lettenmaier

There’s a scene in Star Trek III when the crew of the Enterprise have stolen the ship and they’re being pursued by the Excelsior, the newest, fastest ship in the Federation fleet. The Enterprise goes to warp and the Excelsior prepares to give chase—only to have the engines grind to a halt and come to a dead stop. Scotty turns to Dr. McCoy, hands him some bolts, and says, “Here, Doctor. From one surgeon to another. The more they overhaul the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.”

And that’s pretty much what happened to Oregon’s health care.

Oregon’s Health Care: What Happened?

What happened? In a word: Democrats. In their zeal to push Oregon into “universal health care,” also known as “single payer.” Or, more accurately, “socialized medicine.”

A Look Back at Oregon’s Health Care

This week, we’re joined by Lisa Lettenmaier, the owner and operator of Health Source Northwest. Lisa is our go-to expert for health care, especially the “unique aspects” of Oregon’s health care market, given our lurch toward socialized medicine.

It’s open enrollment time. Do you have an insurance plan? The deadline is Dec. 7th for Medicare and Dec. 15th for individuals. See HealthSourceNW.com

Oregon’s Health Care System Transformation

In 2013, then-Oregon-Governor John Kitzhaber, a huge proponent of single-payer/universal health care/socialized medicine introduced a grand plan for Oregon’s health care. It was generally known (in typical socialist lingo) as “Oregon’s health system transformation.”

Kitzhaber convinced Obama to spend billions on this new innovative health care system that was going to transform health care as we know it: improve care and lower costs. You read that correctly. We spent billions to lower costs.

It introduced regional monopolies known as “coordinated care organizations” (CCOs). This,  despite studies that repeatedly shown that ACOs (associated care organizations, as they are known in Obamacare) do not save money. And do not improve care.

Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations

To set up these monopolies, they introduced legislation to bypass antitrust laws, violating the free market. The Oregon Health Authority (nice name, Nazis!) became the overseer of all things health. And the bureaucracies. Multiple layers of bureaucrats between you and your doctor. All of whom end up on Oregon’s PERS. A global budget that removed the ability to track monies allocated per patient. (Because that wouldn’t ever lead to abuse, grift, and corruption.) And a never-before seen cap on Medicare and Medicaid.

Basically, CCOs violated every free-market principle that would lower costs and improve care.

And, sadly, Oregon Republicans helped pass it. Yes, Republicans. How did this happen?

Useful Idiots: Oregon’s Republicans

Basically, the transformation was sold to gullible Republicans under the guise of “saving money” and “local control.” After the fact, they were “surprised” that this turned out to be a big giant push toward socialized medicine.

In reality, it shouldn’t have surprised any of them. Why? Because on the first page, the first paragraph of the bill it clearly said, “It is the intention of the Legislative Assembly to achieve the goals of universal access.” Yes. Universal health care. Single payer. No private health care. The finest that Venezuela has to offer.

Bill language from Oregon's health care transformation

True Stories of Socialized Medicine

Here’s a reminder: no democrat running for president has ever lived under socialism. Not one.  That’s right. None of them have ever lived under universal health care. And yet Bernie and Warren and several others are pushing for both socialism and universal health care.

Know what’s funny? Have you noticed that when people in those universal health care systems run into trouble, they go to where there isn’t a universal health care system? Instead, they come here to the U.S. rather than waiting weeks or months for treatment.

Well, not everyone. Just the rich. And the politicians.

When you run into trouble in a universal health care system, you go to where there isn’t a universal health care system

Want some true stories from people who have lived under socialized medicine? See this thread on Twitter from Carlos Osweda.

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The Surprising Global Impact of the Trump Effect
Surprising Impact of the Trump Effect | Changing the World to the Good

Surprising Impact of the Trump Effect | Changing the World to the Good

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Show Summary: The Trump effect is making us more competitive globally and other countries want leaders like him. But there’s one area where we’re still being beat. And it’s a communist country doing it.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of Nov 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: June 15 & 16, 2019 | Dr. Tim Ball & Mike Heatwole

This Week:  It seems unusual these days when news reports might be filled with actual analysis.  Especially
in the age of social media where the competition of achieving the perfect click bait headline is pretty fierce.  But does relying on click bait news mean that you learn anything? Or that you can get analysis of an issue? No. It means that words are used only to get your attention and maybe sway you. 

The fiercely competitive click-bait news world might also be why you lose out on hearing about good things that are happening on the international stage as opposing sites fight to get your attention. Words to get your attention and click through. But no real substance. 

And that’s a problem. Because, thanks to the Trump effect, there is a lot of good news. And it’s happening everywhere.

Trump Effect – Global Changes for the Good

So what’s the good news you might not hear?  The Trump factor is creating big changes on the world stage. Big changes for the good.  Especially if you’re not a socialist.

But, thankfully, we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed.

Trump Effect in Brexit, EU, and Canada

First up we welcome back Dr. Tim Ball, who takes us around the world to look at what specific actions have occurred due to Trump’s influence.  Europe is very much in flux now moving away from open borders as the people continue to vote for and gravitate to leaders such as the Brexit supporter Boris Johnson, a leader they believe will protect their borders and put their country first.  (Sound familiar?) We also discuss Dr. Tim’s home country Canada, and what is happening with Trudeau.  And don’t miss our conversation on Soros and his new $200 million campaign to get “the right” attorneys general into state offices. 

Trump Effect Making U.S. More Competitive

Then we bring in Mike Heatwole, VP of Public Affairs for the Pebble Partnership. , to discuss how the Trump factor has completely changed their relationship with the EPA.  In the greater scheme of things, Trump remaking the EPA will remove the roadblocks to not just Pebble but a lot of natural resource industries.

As you may recall, the Pebble Partnership has been trying for almost a decade to open The Pebble Mine, located in Bristol Bay, Alaska. In a first ever move by the Obama administration to weaponize the EPA, the Pebble Mine was denied the chance to even apply to begin their permitting process.

Not denied a permit. The Obama EPA blocked them from even applying for one.

But there was one blessing. In their lawsuit against the EPA, Pebble uncovered evidence the EPA was colluding with environmental groups. 

The EPA: Doing the Bidding of China

Okay, the EPA may not exactly be doing China’s bidding. But they may as well have been. Fortunately, that’s changing.

We talk with Mike not only about the change in working with the EPA, now that Trump is in office, but what it means for American companies’ ability to be far more competitive in the global marketplace.

You can bet that makes China nervous.  First, Trump opened up our oil exportations to make us number one in the world. Think what will happen when Pebble Mine opens with the world’s largest gold and copper deposits.  Not to mention some rare-earth minerals at Pebble too. 

It makes you wonder. Just who is behind all that funding for the coalition of “environmental groups” opposing Pebble…? Hmm.

Don’t miss: the Dumbest pseudo-science, “environmental” video ever on the Pebble Mine (see links and info, below)

Biggest, Most Important Trump Effect of them All

5 things socialists will never understandBut the biggest Trump effect around the world has been to put socialism itself on the run. More and more voters in country after country are pushing back against socialism. Against the New World Order. Against politicians who care more about other countries than their own.

We see it in Italy. Hungary. The U.K. and Brexit. France. Canada. People are fed up with leaders who got elected but spend more time taking care of other countries. But there are some socialist elites rearing their ugly heads.

We’re seeing angry and motivated globalists, like Soros, pour more money into local elections. These globalists want to tear us down in order to preserve their money and power.

Fortunately for us, and the rest of the world, Trump seems unafraid as he faces off with them as a leader, not a politician.

Podcast Version

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Links Mentioned

Tim Ball (Segments 1–3)

Ninth Circuit allows Keystone Pipeline to proceed (Epoch Times, June 9, 2019) *“In its determination to move forward with pipeline construction, the Trump administration outmaneuvered pipeline opponents. During the course of the litigation, Trump revoked the 2017 permit allowing the building of the pipeline to move forward, thus depriving the courts of jurisdiction in the case. The circuit court panel was left with no choice but to dismiss as moot the lawsuit and permanent restraining order against the project issued Nov. 8 last year by Judge Brian Morris of the U.S. District Court in Montana.” *Trump is figuring out how the system works and in so doing is using the system against itself.

Mike Heatwole, Pebble Mine (Segments

  • DUMBEST pseudo-science video ever produced about the Pebble Mine (YouTube, May 16, 2013) The dumbness starts at .
    • In a deep scary voice, they claim the debris (known as “tailings”) will cause copper to leach into the ground water. Here’s the dumb part: the copper is ALREADY there, you morons. The point of mining is to remove the copper.
  • Second dumbest claim: Pebble Mine could cause more earthquake:
    • “Earthquake Activity Could Be Stimulated In The Region – Since pebble mining is a fairly new development, very little research has been done regarding the long term effects. As such, we know an astonishingly small amount about the damage that will be caused to fault lines in the area and what will need to be done in order to combat this sort of effect. ” (Pros and Cons of Pebble Mine, OccupyTheory.org, Jul 2015)
  • Native group reaches deal with Pebble Mine; opposition says it’s still wrong for Alaska (KTUU Channel 2, May 16, 2019)

Further Info

Governor Kate Brown and Oregon's Economy: where math meets imaginary
Oregon’s Economic Outlook: Math meets Imaginary

Oregon’s Economic Outlook: Math meets Imaginary

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Show Summary: Do you have an unlimited amount of money? Or time?  If not, then welcome to the world of economics—where math meets reality. Or, if you’re you’re talking about Oregon Democrats in charge of Oregon’s economic outlook, where math meets imaginary.

Original Air Dates: June 8 & 9, 2019 | Guest(s): Jonathan Williams

When it comes to economic outlook, there’s no better organization to turn to than ALEC — American Legislative Exchange Council, the nation’s premiere economic forecaster for the 50 states. And when it comes to Oregon’s economic outlook, they know what can make Oregon successful.

If only Oregon Democrats did.

Oregon’s Economic Outlook

Governor Kate Brown and Oregon's Economy: where math meets imaginary
Those two kids in the front look like they’re running the numbers on how much all this is gonna cost their generation…

We’ve said often that Oregon is the Petri dish for all things Left, except the Petri dish is no longer needed to prove what works or doesn’t work in economics.  States across the U.S. are demonstrating how increased taxes are not the way to economic recovery.  And even though the proof is in the pudding our Democrat legislators refuse to take heed.

Now ranked a very dismal 44th in ALEC’s survey of economic outlook among the states, Oregon may soon find their economic coffers emptying as businesses leave to move to much more friendly taxed states.  It’s already happening. Stimson Lumber announced this last week that they were packing up, closing their operations in Forest Grove, and heading out of state.

Oddly, with all its spending, Oregon may soon be one of the biggest cheerleaders of the Trump economy. Because what do you think will happen if suddenly the economy retreats when Oregon just decided to raise billions in new taxes?

Jonathan Williams from ALEC

To bring clarity to the problems of high taxed states we bring on Jonathan Williams, co-author of Rich States Poor States to give us the good and bad news of how states are dealing with Trump’s booming economy.  He discusses Oregon’s problems and why it was ranked so low—and that was before the new multi-billion-dollar business tax was passed.

We also get to look at what states like Idaho, Texas, Tennessee and others are doing not only enjoying Trump’s tax cuts but jumping on and cutting their own state taxes that highly benefits their citizens. (Like and support your people? What a concept!)

Listen to find out how Oregon is starting down the path of socialism by the D’s desire for centralized planning.  Hear what one Democrat Senator had to say while standing on the senate floor about businesses that could no longer afford to stay in Oregon. And listen to hear how Democrats are using the tax codes to only allow the “right” kind of business to operate in Oregon. Is this a new trend in national politics?

If nothing else, Oregon Democrats are proving the importance of borders. If the D’s get too destructive you can vote with your feet.

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Five different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Links Mentioned
Oregon Democrats’ Path to Destruction

Oregon Democrats’ Path to Destruction

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Show Summary: Oregon Democrats aren’t exactly shy about overspending taxpayer dollars. Indeed, they seem quite proud of the devastating 29% tax increase they are in the middle of passing in 2019. So why do they want to take away voters’ ability to fight back?

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of Nov 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: May 25 & 26, 2019 | Jeff Kropf

This Week:  There are taxes and then there are extinction-level taxes. Because Oregon Democrats seems to be lurching down the path of destruction — unless they can be pulled back from the brink.

Oregon Democrats: You have too much of your money

The Far-Left Oregon Democrats seems to revel in their super-majority ability to create taxes on a whim. With no chance from the Republicans to be able to stop them. Worse, they seem to take great joy in thumbing their noses at the everyday Oregonians by mislabeling taxes and working hard to take away Oregonians’ ability to stand up in protest.

There is a lot under discussion this week on I Spy Radio. While we know it’s Memorial Day, this is exactly why all those sacrifices were made. So we can fight the battle on the Home Front.

Oregon Democrats: New and Artful Taxes

Democrats are finding new and creative ways to layer taxes on top of other taxes—all while saying but this is just a little percentage and won’t add up to much. Except, when you add all the layers together they add up to a lot.

For example, take the “tiny” .57% tax the Democrat supermajority just passed—the Corporate Activities Tax (more accurately, the Gross Sales Tax). However, this tiny unnoticeable tax (HB3427) will raise $2 billion in new taxes. Most importantly, this bill taxes the gross sales, not net profits. (Yes, this is a sales tax.) In other words, if your low-margin business spends $95 to make a product and you sell it for $100, you will be taxed on the full $100, not your $5 in profit.

Most importantly, that “tiny tax” is on top of any other taxes you’re already paying?

Remember: this gross receipts tax / shadow sales tax is a repeat of a ballot initiative Oregon voters rejected just two years ago. Pesky voters! You don’t get to decide. Oregon Democrats know better.

A Whopping 29% Increase in Taxes

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But that’s just the beginning. In addition to the Gross Receipts Tax, here are a few of the tax hikes the Far-Left are supporting and are likely to pass:

  • Family Leave $1.5 billion
  • Carbon Tax $1.1 billion (at a minimum!)
  • Employee Assessment Tax $500 million
  • Medicaid Tax $335 million
  • Small Business Tax $130 million
  • Kicker Cut $108 million

All told, that is $5.673 billion in new taxes. Counted against the General Fund, that is a tax increase of almost 29%. Twenty-nine percent.

What’s even a more difficult to stomach is not a moment’s pause to even consider cutting spending. When is enough, enough?

Oregon Democrats Want to Silence Ballot Initiatives

And while the Far Left wants to cut the Kicker Tax and keep $108 million of it for government, here’s another kicker: they want make it harder for Oregonians to bring ballot initiatives to the voters. Enough is enough.

It’s time for action. We talk with Jeff Kropf, former Oregon legislator and current head of Oregon Capital Watch Foundation (OCWF.org.) about these staggering new taxes and a potential challenge to the Gross Receipts Tax.

Again. Because Oregon voters defeated this same tax just two years ago. But we can’t stop fighting. If we do, and if the Democrats in Salem get their way, this may truly be the last chance we have.

Tune in this week to hear what’s coming and what to do about it.

Podcast Version

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Links Mentioned

  • Jeff’s group is Oregon Capitol Watch Foundation, which can be found at ocwf.org.
  • No word as of our show airing on the ballot initiative. If you want to be involved or to get updates, you can email Jeff at jkropf@wvi.com
  • While you’re at it, join our email list to be alerted to upcoming shows and more. Never miss an I Spy Radio Show!
  • As Critics of the New Corporate Tax Increase Ponder Referring It to Voters, Democrats Seek to Hinder Signature Gathering (Willamette Week, May 20, 2019)

Additional Links & Info

Leftist policies - burning down society since before 1917
When it comes to Leftist Policies, Science and Reality don’t Matter

When it comes to Leftist Policies, Science and Reality don’t Matter

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Show Summary: Oregon is the Petri Dish of Leftist policies. Find out how and why that when it comes to economics and environment, leftist policies leave reality behind.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of Nov 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: Apr 27 & 28, 2019 | Ethan Blevins

This Week: It’s spring with farmers preparing fields, rains soaking our rich soils, and forests turning green.  Our skies are clear from heavy smoke and the air is fresh.  But August is coming when things are far more dry, brown, and dusty.

Oregon’s Forests: A Victim of Leftist Policies

Leftist policies - A product of the socialist brain of a liberalBelieve it or not, August in Oregon used to be free of major forest fires for decades but why isn’t it now?  Why have massive fires become a way of life for the summer landscape in Oregon, California, and the rest of the West?

We’ll talk about this with Dr. Bob Zybach, someone who studied Oregon’s history of forest fires for his dissertation and is an avid proponent for bringing back practical and realistic forest management policies to Oregon. A state that should be leading the way on setting proper forest management polices. Except we’re too concerned that environmentalists will froth at the mouth over policies that actually acknowledge mankind is part of the environment. But we digress.

Dr. Zybach is also a frequent guest on I Spy Radio. Dr. Bob is back on to take us through what should be happening with our forests during spring time as summer is fast approaching. We know that farmers and ranchers are busy during this time of year preparing for the growing season, so should foresters.

Are We Preparing Scientists or Activists?

We hear so much about preparing today’s youth for the challenges of tomorrow. So what exactly is the curriculum currently being taught in today’s forestry classes? And how well prepared are young foresters when they graduate?

Don’t miss the updates on the Elliott State Forest that is supposed to be making the state millions. Yes. The Elliott State Forest is supposed to generate money. Not cost money. Can it?  Yes.  Is it?  You’ll hear about that and what the future may bring for this vital state resource and how it could pave the way for other states. If they just listen.

Pacific Legal: Fighting Leftist Policies

But first up: Ethan Blevins. Mr. Blevins is an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. This is a group that we’ve been following for a long time. No, we’re not stalkers. But this our first time to have them on I Spy Radio.  Pacific Legal Foundation has been growing leaps and bounds and are now all across America, working to hold the government accountable. Just our kind of group.

Oregon’s New Rent Control: Ignoring Science AND Economics

Mr. Blevins litigates cases involving the First Amendment, property rights, school choice, and the separation of powers.  So we talk to him about the new rent control Oregon’s legislature just passed and why its policies will end up raising costs of living—the exact opposite of what they propose to do.

Why? Because the policy completely ignores one of the most basic elements of economics. Not one of those fancy a computer models that predict global cooling—wait, no, warming, er, no, change!—but from long-tested and proven economic science.  But what do we know?

And don’t miss our conversation with Mr. Blevin about Oregon’s supermajority and the potential abuse of powers that come with it. Yes, the Democrats have a 3/5ths supermajority in the House and Senate and yes they hold the governorship. But there’s still hope. And from a surprising source. And it’s why Republicans can’t and shouldn’t give up.

Podcast Version

Links & Further Info

Ethan Blevins (Segments 1–3)

  • Unelected bureaucrats must follow the law, too (Pacific Legal Foundation, Dec 19, 2018)
  • Supreme Court vacates 9th Circuit ruling against EPA victim, Joe Robertson (Free Range Report, April 23, 2019) This is a Pacific Legal Foundation case
  • The Hill: Environmental regulations have become impossible to follow (The Hill, March 18, 2019) found on PLF’s newsroom webpage
  • Ethan Blevins article: Beware the false promise of rent control (Fox News, March 30, 2019)
  • OVERVIEW: How Rent Control Works in New York City (via Oh My Apartment)
    • “People in New York City who have the advantage of renting a rent stabilized apartment, have a very hard time parting with them. Monthly rent under $2000 in New York City is very, very cheap – even for a studio or small one bedroom.” = lack of mobility; prevents people from moving to a better job or moving closer to their current job, thereby increasing commuting distance, time, and expense.
  • Some basic history of Rent Control (via Wikipedia): “In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Price Control Act into law. The goal of the act was to prevent inflation in the booming, fully employed wartime economy by setting price controls nationwide. ”
    • (Don’t forget: long-time listeners of I Spy Radio know that this is about the time the IRS screwed up the health care system forever. Due to World War II and wage controls in effect, the IRS decided to allow employers to offer health care as a means around wage restriction policies in order to entice workers.

Bob Zybach (Segments 4–6)

Oregon Democrats want your money
Oregon Democrats: It’s Not Your Money

Oregon Democrats: It’s Not Your Money

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Show Summary: Oregon Democrats appear to have taken the position that no matter how much or how little you make, it really all belongs to the state. A look at the taxes they have in store for 2019.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of Nov 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Six Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: Jan. 19 & 20, 2019 | Jonathan Williams

Oregon Democrats appear to think that if you earn money, it’s really not your money. It belongs to the state. You can tell because Oregon Democrats—who have super-majorities in Oregon’s house and senate plus the governorship—have billions in new taxes they want to unleash. Billions to extract from the 3.3 million Oregonians.

The Short List of Oregon Democrats New Taxes

Doubling the gas tax. Tripling taxes on beer and cigarettes. Fees (i.e. taxes) on restaurants. Vending machines. First in the nation carbon tax — plus a California-style cap-and-trade. (Hello $5 per gallon gasoline.) Fees (taxes) on bed and breakfasts. Spa visits. Fees (taxes) on tourism. Fees on small business. Middle business. Big business. Mining permit fee increases. Fees on timber lands. Fees on public utilities. Fees on home heating oil. Fees on

And if that isn’t enough, Oregon Democrats even want to remove property tax exemptions for non-profits and churches.

Yes, even God doesn’t pay enough in taxes.

At this rate, pretty soon, the State and Oregon Democrats will want to tax money you didn’t earn.

Oregon Democrats 2019 Tax Plans

We talk this week to Jonathan Williams, the Vice President for the Center for State Fiscal Reform at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC.org) to get some insight into what all these taxes the Oregon Democrats have planned will do to the state’s economy.

Some of what we talk about includes Oregon’s cap-and-trade scheme, the fees, and the endless taxes.

Don’t worry. There’s hope. But you’ll have to listen.

Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—the podcast version will be right here after the show airs.

Links Mentioned

Covert financial warfare. Is the wild stock market more than meets the eye?
Stock Market Roller Coaster: Covert Financial Warfare?

Stock Market Roller Coaster: Covert Financial Warfare?

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Show Summary: The wild stock market ride continues. Is The Fed playing politics? Or is this covert financial warfare happening all over again? Plus new A.I. innovations may make things worse with the rise of 5G. Is Terminator Day coming? Plus, the war for the technology the future will be built on.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of Nov 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, Six Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: Jan. 12 & 13, 2019 | Kevin Freeman

This Week: If there’s one thing in life that’s consistent, it’s that government is consistently wrong.

In the late 1700s, you had Thomas Malthus predicting overpopulation, which would exceed the means of agricultural production and lead to starvation. They were wrong. Because Malthus—a preacher and mathematician and not a farmer—didn’t take into account advances in farming technology. Or advances in science and improved understanding of plant biology. And yet Malthus’s opinion has dominated Western government thinking for two centuries.

And yet the Left wholeheartedly believes it. The Left believes in depopulation, and to solve it some 6 billion humans just need to go away.

And there’s the Industrial Revolution. Once again, government “experts” believed people were going to be put out of work as machines did what people used to do. More people went to work than ever before. And at higher wages than ever before. Which meant they had more money to spend, which meant more businesses could open. And on and on and on.

These are just two examples of why government is so often wrong about so many things. It’s why they’re slow to react to advances in technology because—like Malthus who was no farmer—government bureaucrats are making decisions and recommendations about things they don’t fully understand. It’s why the market, which makes millions of buying and selling decisions every day is more efficient than any government bureaucrat could ever be.

This is precisely why socialism always fails. Markets are always better than bureaucrats.

Government and the Market

But that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be some sort of control. Because a market running amok can cause damage within any market, there are potentially some bad actors who will, can, and do exploit things to their own advantage.

But what about The Fed? They’ve been raising interest rates since Trump got elected. Is this politics? Are they trying to sabotage Trump? You’ll have to tune in to hear what’s really going on.

Artificial Intelligence: New Tool in Covert Financial Warfare?

Take, for example, a relatively new phenomenon, computerized, algorithm-controlled stock trades. Basically, computer programs that watch the market to buy or sell based on a set of criteria. But here’s the thing. They can make millions of trades in seconds, before you can even refresh the Dow Jones web page.

And they don’t care whether the market goes up or down. Because if their predictive program guesses correctly, they can make money whether the market goes up or down.

Think George Soros—who made billions by betting against the Bank of England and that the British Pound would go down. Now think George Soros with a super computer. See the potential problem?

While these “trader bots” have a lot of potential, they also represent the potential for tremendous problems. And the potential for problems are only going to get worse due to the rise of new technologies that will make things even faster and more connected than ever before.

5G Dangers? Not Quite what you think…

The potential for good or ill includes 5G technology that will have your head spinning. Your cell phone used to have 3G technology, which essentially used to have dialup speeds. But then they went to 4G, which meant your cell phone could handle video downloads. 5G? It’s 100 times faster than 4G.

And it will be everywhere. Toasters connected to cell phones? Yes. It’s being called the Internet of Things.

China’s War for 5G

So why is China so interested in this new technology? Why are they pushing to dominate the world with their version of 5G? And what dan

Because who controls that new technology will control the new future that is coming. And right now there is a war between China and the U.S. for the future.

Tune in to hear the dangers, and potential, for what is happening in the market and where this is headed.

Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—the podcast version will be right here after the show airs.

Links Mentioned

Kevin’s website is www.EconomicWarRoom.com

Economic War Room, now airs on BlazeTV. To learn more about the Economic War Room Show, visit www.EconomicWarRoom.com. You can get a FREE one-month trial and $20 off an annual subscription now through year end. Go to the website for more details.

Will The Federal Reserve Provide Us With The Next Abuse Of Power Scandal? (Forbes, Jul 19, 2013)

Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2017 (govtrack, 2017)

Financial Warfare and the Float of China’s Yuan. Weaponization of the Forex Market (Global Research, Nov 1, 2018)

Stock market 2018: Expect Dow volatility as trade war, Trump talk spark fear (USA, April 8, 2018)

  • Links go here

Related Links

  • Related links go here
Leadership and Prosperity | Plus Oregon’s War on Business

Leadership and Prosperity | Plus Oregon’s War on Business

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Show Summary: Oregon’s Democrat Governor Kate Brown is unleashing hell on small businesses. Find out what small businesses are up against and how candidate Greg Wooldridge says he’ll stop it. Plus: can it be? How one of those “it will start a trade war with China” tariffs  actually paid off big for Oregon and Oregon workers. If they can survive Kate Brown.

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Never miss a show! All stations stream live!
11:00AM Saturday: KBKR (Baker City) | KLBM (La Grande) | Live Feed
8:00AM Sunday: KWVR (Enterprise) | KWVR’s Tune In Live Feed
7:00PM Sunday: KAJO (Grants Pass) | KAJO’s Live Feed

Original Air Dates: Apr. 28 & 29, 2018 | Capt. Greg Wooldridge & Jeff Ferry

This Week:  It’s politics and trade deals—and how good leadership can lead to good deals and prosperity.

Pundits on the Left and Right spewed economic doom and disaster after Trump announced tariffs on China.  Once again, Trump proves the critics wrong as China largely gave in and there was no trade war. But there’s more to the story than just tariffs.

In fact, the tariffs are the least scary aspect of trade with China.

Candidate Greg Wooldridge for Oregon Governor

Greg Wooldridge, Republican candidate for Oregon Governor
Greg Wooldridge, Republican candidate for Oregon Governor

Before we get to those scarier aspects of the trade war, there’s a war being waged in Oregon. Against Oregon businesses and especially small business owners.

We start our show with Captain Greg Wooldridge, a Republican running for Oregon governor. We ask him many of the same questions we asked last week of his primary opponent, businessman Sam Carpenter.  Our goal is to bring you as much information about these two conservatives that we possibly can so that when you fill out your ballot you feel confident of your decision about whom you think can win in November.

We talk with Greg about Oregon’s economics thanks to the Democrats:

  • Kate Brown’s decision to punish small businesses in Oregon by eliminating the Trump tax break (kept by all the other states);
  • The possible Internet Sales Tax that was just heard before the Supreme Court (and how Oregon’s Democrat Attorney General quietly signed the Amicus Brief in favor of it), which will force businesses in Oregon, which has no sales tax, to collect sales taxes — for other states
  • And the suicide-vest of State funding, PERS — which all of us are about to spend a lot more on just to bail out years of Democrat overspending on it

And it’s Governor Kate Brown who’s led us to this financial cliff.

Mentioned on the show: See Knute Buehler’s flyer sent not to Republicans but to Independents

Tariffs are the Least Scary Part of a China Trade War

As the saying goes, love him or hate him, President Trump is delivering.  And it has to drive his detractors crazy to see him succeed time and again. And it’s both sides of the aisle.

When Trump proposed huge tariffs on China, many on the Right screamed foul. Tariffs are always bad, or so goes the meme. Except the supposed trade war that was supposedly about to be unleashed… never happened. In fact, it’s about to benefit a company right here in Oregon. All thanks to one of those evil, “trade-war” tariffs.

How One of those “Trade War” Tariffs is a Win for Oregon

Recently, a solar company in California — which had been making panels in Asia and which was adamantly against Trump’s tariffs — suddenly realized the tariffs meant it was cheaper to make them in the good ol’ U.S.A. They just announced the purchase of a solar manufacturing company right here in Hillsboro, Oregon.

So, yes elections matter.  Whether you personally love him or hate any politician, you need to determine your vote on what you think they’ll deliver for the state or country.

Podcast Version

Links & More Info

Greg Wooldridge (Segments 1–3)

Knute Buehler Independent Party flyer
Knute Buehler flyer sent to members of the Independent Party. Why not Republicans.

More info on Greg Wooldridge for Governor:

Greg Wooldridge’s campaign website: WooldridgeforOregon.com
Greg’s Facebook page.
Follow Greg Wooldridge on Twitter: @greg_wooldridge.

Knute Buehler’s flyer sent to members of the Independent Party. “Compassionate, pro-choice, pro-marriage equality medical doctor.” Why not send this to Republicans?

Jeff Ferry Segments (4–6)

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