03/27/17

The State of Jefferson is a growing movement to Form A More Perfect Union

The goal is to eliminate over-regulation, over taxation, and under representation. We will create a new state that would exercise its rights under the 9th and 10th Amendments to halt the Federal government from over-reaching laws according to the US Constitution. We need to ensure that the income generated in our state stays in our state. We need a state with fewer agencies (CA has over 500!), lower taxes, less bureaucracy, state sovereignty, and personal freedom. But for this freedom we need fair representation.

California: Too Large to Govern

CA’s form of government is not adaptable to CA’s present size. In 1879 the size of the legislature was frozen. There were 1 million people. Now 38+ million people live in CA. Our vote has been diluted almost forty to one. The reactionary California political establishment is clinging to a system constructed to fit the population CA had in 1879. Now we suffer from lack of representation, and dilution of vote. We have been disenfranchised! A small rural state of Jefferson is the answer. We already have 350,000 people that want liberty including Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independants and all those wanting a better life for themselves and their children.

111 state representatives impose regulations on rural California counties and their 9 elected Assembly Members and Senators; laws that benefit cities to the detriment of the rest of the states residents. From these restrictions, much of the northern counties have become impoverished through loss of industry and jobs, and the addition of higher taxes and regulations. CA has approximately 1.1 trillion dollars in debt including unfunded liability. This did not originate nor continually skyrocket from rural CA. The northern mostly rural 21 counties have 9 elected state representatives. The remaining 111 urban elected state representatives make decisions that adversely effect our rural areas. We have 3 representatives where Los Angeles alone has 35. To break it down for you, Northern CA holds only 3 out of 80 seats in the CA Assembly, 3 out of 40 seats in the CA Senate, and 2 out of 53 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. And get this, there are 35 rural counties and 18 urban counties. With no representation at the state level we have no say over how taxes are spent. Elected representatives located in the Los Angeles Basin and San Francisco Bay Area make all of the decisions for rural CA. The fact is our voice, our vote is irrelevant. And that makes now the time!

There is a solution: a legal, constitutional remedy…

Create a 51st state from California’s neglected, over-taxed, deeply-regulated northern counties. Northern California has no chance of proper representation under the current interpretation of the Supreme Court opinions, and our votes will never count due to this imbalance. Urban voters make decisions that adversely affect rural areas, whether intentional or not.

We’ll pay our fair share.

Part of a formal separation includes absorbing our fair share of the current state debt. Our share of existing California debt which Jefferson would inherit is covered! A financial analysis was performed using the actual 2015/2016 budgets from 23 northern counties to show needed expenditures. Without sending this money to Sacramento, the northern counties are indeed viable on our own. The model shows a surplus of $3.5 billion without reducing the current expenditures. Schools, roads, public safety, and infrastructure are accounted for.

The Time Has Come For 51 “A Jefferson State of Mind”

The online official site: soj51.net

For questions, literature and local info: 530-246-9706

03/27/17

WAS THE HEALTHCARE VOTE A LOT TO DO ABOUT NOTHING?

By: Kent Engelke | Capitol Securities

The outcome on the healthcare bill is known. Broad based conclusions have been drawn about the ability to legislate the Trump agenda. I may differ from consensus, but I think the markets will not be held hostage to this bill. Tax reform will quickly move to become center stage.

In my view, there is little doubt about the Republican enthusiasm for deregulation and tax reform, the center piece of Trump’s agenda and this is what should drive the markets.

Radical thought? Why have the markets not sold substantially off in the face of potential defeat?

The first quarter is rapidly coming to an end. Will the markets begin to focus upon results? As noted many times, the ultimate driver of equity and bond prices are interest rates and earnings, both of which are influenced by macroeconomic and geopolitical events.

This week’s economic calendar is comprised of preliminary estimates of first quarter GDP, trade gap, several confidence surveys and personal income/spending data.

Last night the foreign markets were down. London was down 0.66%, Paris was down 0.26% and Frankfurt was down 0.71%. China was down 0.08%, Japan was down 1.44% and Hang Sang was down 0.68%.

The Dow should open lower on concerns that Trump’s pro-growth agenda is in jeopardy given the healthcare defeat. Will US equities rebound after the market’s opening as was the case with European shares? The 10-year is up 11/32 to yield 3.26%.