MILK IS TOXIC ACCORDING TO THE EPA

The bureaucrats at EPA, which has a $9 billion budget and employees 17,000 government workers had determined that cows milk was bad for the environment and could taint the earth.

Even though cows milk is 90% water, the EPA determined that it was essentially an oil and subject to regulations that control toxic spills. Fortunately the lobbyists from the dairy and small business were able to convince the agency to reconsider. This foolishness could have cost the economy more than $1.4 billion per year.

When you have 17,000 workers that are trying to justify their jobs we get these crazy rules. It seems that the government is trying to regulate every iota of our lives and there is danger everywhere.

CONGRESS AGAIN PLAYS POLITICS

MAJOR FLAW IN THE VOW TO HIRE VETERANS ACT LOST IN POLITICAL POPLARITY

The VOW to Hire Heroes Act includes tax incentives intended to lower the unemployment rate of this country's veterans which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, stands at 7.7% (860,000 workers). Not surprisingly, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs is already singing the act's praises (see Comprehensive Legislation to End Veteran Unemployment.

However, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act has one major problem: The design does not prevent abuse by employers which could result in no net reduction in veteran unemployment whatsoever. As the Tax Foundation reported after the President's proposal of the American Jobs Act, tax credit programs-without proper checks put into place-given to businesses who hire unemployed workers can easily be gamed. Unfortunately, this bill includes such credits.

These incentives include:
• A tax credit of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months
• A $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than four weeks, but less than six months
• A tax credit of up to $9,600 for hiring veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months

Targeted incentives are poor policy in general, but are especially wasteful in this case. Why? Legislators failed to include a provision saying that business must increase net employment in order to receive the credit. Given the lack of such a provision, a business could hire a veteran and fire one on the same day, eventually collect a government check of up to $9,600, and not reduce veteran unemployment by a single job.

Though unemployment is high (9% nationally, 12% among young veterans), politically popular legislation which has not been properly thought through is not the answer. After serving their country, veterans should benefit from a sustainable growing economy rather than political gimmicks that will do little to serve anyone.

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Ben Kingsley played compassionate accountant Itzhak Stern in the Oscar-winning 1993 Steven Spielberg movie, "Schindler's List." Stern was a real-life accountant who worked for German industrialist Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson. The accountant typed and maintained the list of names of his fellow Jews who were hired to work in Schindler's factories, preventing them from being sent to the Nazi death camps. The real Itzhak Stern appeared in the movie, along with the surviving people on Oskar Schindler's real-life list.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Most of All

Thanksgiving Day brings to mind
the blessings in our lives
that usually go unnoticed:
a home that surrounds us
with comfort and protection;
delicious food, for pleasure
in both eating and sharing;
clothes to snuggle up in,
books and good entertainment
to expand our minds;
and freedom to worship our God.
Most of all we are thankful
for our family and friends,
those treasured people
who make our lives extra special.
You are part of that cherished group.
On Thanksgiving, (and every day)
we appreciate you.

Happy Thanksgiving
Kopsa Otte

NEW ADDITION

We are excited to announce that
Megan had a beautiful little girl yesterday.

Adelynn Lauren
7lbs 8oz. and 20 inches long

NEBRASKA IRRIGATED FARMLAND VALUE UP 40%

No surprise here.

The Journal Star reports that "the average value of irrigated farmland in Nebraska was up 40% from a year earlier in the third quarter, according to a survey of banks by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City." Moreover, "almost half of those surveyed in Nebraska expected farmland values would continue to climb." I just spoke to an attorney and he told me that a farm in Seward county was appraised at $10,250 per acre.


To read more: Journal Star

AG EXPORTS BOOM - U.S. ECONOMY STRUGGLES

As you read this think about the number.

According to the Economic Collapse every day the U.S. national debt is increasing by roughly $4 billion every single day. And as shown below our total Ag export is $137 billion for the year.

(AP/Google.com) -- The AP reports that "U.S. agricultural exports are projected to reach a record $137 billion this year and hit that same mark next year. The U.S. agricultural trade surplus is expected to top $42 billion." Ag makes up close to 10% "of U.S. exports, compared with about 80% for manufacturing. But Commerce Department data show farm exports grew much faster than manufacturing exports during the past decade -- by 123% compared to 68%." According to the AP, "high prices for farm products explains much of the increase in value for agriculture exports; the same products shipped overseas are worth much more today than they were 10 years ago."