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Hello, I'm trying to create a tax plan but I need a little help in the details department. I created a simple framework to build off of. I need some more forward thinking ideas! Thank you in advance. Please read my very basic framework.

The American Tax plan

Elimination of federal income tax on service members (active, reserves, National Guard personnel)
Reduction of federal income tax on first responders (firefighter, police officers, medics, and certain medical personnel)
Elimination of federal income tax on veterans with combat experience and veterans with service related injuries

This past Thursday 02/09/12 I was fortunate enough along with some other NC Whig members to hear notorious ex lobbyist and poster boy for corruption in our federal government, Jack Abramoff speak in Raleigh, NC. It was an enlightening experience as Mr. Abramoff made some points I agreed with and others I did not. I for one personally think that he is trying to make a difference by using his recognition as a “villain of the story” to help reform our government. He certainly is not profiting very much from it as he has an enormous restitution to pay after nearly 1,300 days in federal prison.

Last Sunday, in between bouts of funny commercials and the Madonna concert I changed over to The Simpsons for, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Given my that neither my pick or my team made it, I'm rather pleased with the outcome - after all, any day I get to see the smile get wiped off of Tom Brady's smug face is a good day.

The State of the Union address had the theme "build America to last" with heavy emphasis on jobs. I want to know why now? This is where Mr. Obama should have placed his emphasis when he first took office instead of health care reform.

In March of 2009, he said that not only are most of the jobs that were moved offshore not going to come back, but that we did not need or want them to do so because they would be bad for the economy. After three years of continuing high unemployment it would seem Mr. Obama was mistaken about the last part.

As the new year approaches, it is only natural for people to both look to the past and look to the future, and guessing where ourselves and this year will fit in the long term. In fact, I am reading one of my old science-fiction pulp magazines from around the mid 1950s, and some of the guesses they had for our own time.

I wonder if Americans understand why our government is gridlocked. Few 'big' solutions are offered and when one is, such as the Simpson-Bowles Debt Reduction proposal, they are never enacted and put in place.

The reason for this is that for both R's and D's in office and running for office, the 'wiggle' room they've always enjoyed and used is no longer available.

With a debt of 15 trillion dollars and rising and deficit spending every year, small proposals are useless and most people, inside and outside government know it.

Very few people will deny that special interests such as corporations and associations, whether they be for profit or non-profit, exert enormous influence over our elections through PACs and other activities. It has proven almost impossible to control this because most attempts to do so run afoul of the First Amendment and the legal fiction that such organizations are "persons."

It will take an amendment to the Constitution to remove the conflict.

Few people would debate that the Internet is an integral part of the modern world and is perhaps the largest engine for artistic expression, economic growth, scientific advancement and human freedom in the whole of human history, and will likely only become even more so in the future. Of course, with that in mind, it makes all too perfect sense that the government wants to ruin it.

While no doubt many people are paying attention to today for the uniqueness of the numbers on the calender, I hope all of you take the time to remember today is Veteran's Day. While some of you will no doubt celebrate this holiday by going shopping at the holiday sales or lounging about on a day off of work, I do hope you take the time to honor our 21.8 million living military veterans, celebrate their service and sacrifice.

Two polls in three days, my kind of research!