Disappearing Bees And Tax Cheating Federal Employees

Colony Collapse Disorder

There are problems with disappearing bees in California again this spring. Colony Collapse Disorder has suddenly emerged as disappearing bees are not pollinating the almond crop according to the Daily Green. 

Three weeks ago, right after the national meetings, lots of bees looked like they were in good shape. Bee keepers were happy, and growers were assured things were under control. Three weeks later a lot of those boxes were empty of live bees. 

In other boxes lots of dead bees were inside. "Worst in 3 years." That's what one beekeeper said. And it all happened in about two weeks. The disorder has no known cure and appears to be cyclical. After several mild years, it has resurfaced with a vengeance, said Eric Mussen, apiculturist with the University of California at Davis.

"It never went away, but this year a substantial number of beekeepers got walloped again," said Mussen, the state's leading bee expert. "And worse than they had been hit before. "A bee industry official said losses in California vary from 30 percent to 80 percent.

So, as the United States Congress enters its second year discussing a Healthcare Bill that according to Warren Buffett will do nothing to stop the rapidly escalating cost of healthcare, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is back worst than ever and getting little media attention.  

Expect to pay a lot more for almonds this spring and other food staples will experience rapid price inflation. In fact, our entire diet is at risk and the EPA and our national politicians are still sound asleep at the switch.

Tax Cheating Federal Employees

The IRS tracks the voluntary compliance rate of federal employees and retirees each year, and each year the number of federal employees that owe federal taxes is outrageous. What a great gig to have a government job. The government unemployment rate is only 4%, much lower than the nearly 10% national average, the pay is great, the benefits are wonderful, and many federal employees don't even pay their taxes. 

In 2008, 276,300 federal employees and retirees owed the national Treasury $3,042,200,000.   There are delinquent employees from nearly every major federal agency. Federal employees in the U.S. House of Representatives owed more than $5.8 million in unpaid taxes in 2008.

The Senate employees owe more than $2.46 million. Based on percentages, the Department of The Treasury, which includes the IRS, has the best compliance rate. Fewer than 1 percent of Treasury employees didn't pay their taxes in 2008.

There ought to be a law against being a federal employee tax cheat, you say? Well, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah was going to introduce legislation that required that federal employees pay their back taxes or face losing their job. However, the Dems are concerned about offending union voters in an election year and that legislation now looks like a non starter. 

http://www.eworldvu.com