obama

It's possible that Barack Obama might start to develop a complex - what with nose-diving approval ratings, a crumbling economy, international scandal, and now - his favorite D.C. burger joint is closing.

At the end of 2012, President Obama increased the Social Security Tax by 2% - meaning that your take-home paychecks in 2013 are less than they once were.  The move happened without much fanfare, but many Americans have been wondering what they can do to counter the loss of income.

(Photo by Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images)With the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act - or Obamacare - everyone will be mandated to buy health insurance or pay a tax to the Internal Revenue Service.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.  And sometimes, cause and effect aren't what they really seem to be. Automobiles need roads to drive on.  Roads cost money.  In the past, state governments have raised money for these roadways via gasoline tax money.

It seems we live in interesting times.  Or, maybe we should say expensive times.  First it was gas.  Then it was our paychecks.  Next was the price of milk.  Now, it appears that the prices we pay for tomatoes might be getting ready to double - if a trade agreement that the United States has with Mexico falls through.

Seven-hundred cases of milk are on their way to Superior, with a planned-giveaway to happen on Wednesday January 23rd - starting at 10AM.  Superior and Douglas County residents in need will be able to pick up a case or two for free, outside of the Solid Rock Mission.

Observers close to the food and restaurant industry are watching their bottom line shrink, with profits expected to be lost due to new taxes that went into effect on January 1st.  With Obamacare putting a halt to hiring and forcing some managers to cut staff and hours, the industry was already forecasting a pale 2013.  But now with the reversal of the payroll tax holiday that eats an additional 2%

Apparently they weren't empty threats.  When The Obama administration pushed for the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act, some of the nations largest employers said that the costs associated with the new mandate would force them into reducing hours, a cut-back on hiring, or worse...

Over 80% of the nations food supply will now be subject to new regulations.

An update on a post from two weeks ago:  Congress has passed a deal to extend the 2008 Farm Bill that heads off rising milk prices in 2013.

No matter which side of the gun-control issue you're on, the recent sales figures released by ammunition supplier Brownells is both staggering and telling.  The store has disclosed that in a recent 72 hour period, they sold more ammunition than they do in an average three year period.

Revamped menus and marketing didn't help Florida-based Darden Restaurants boost their sales in the most-recent quarter.  The parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Longhorn Steakhouse posted numbers that were even lower than analysts had forecasted.