Yes, I was shocked too when I read the headlines on USA Today on Monday, November 23rd: "Ventures a Drain on states, localities; for government run businesses, $3.5 B loss." No way. You mean government run businesses are a drain? Yes way! The article began--
"Government owned businesses that generate revenue for states and cities have taken a sharp turn downward and now are draining money from many struggling governments. . ."
Why does that not surprise me? Sure there are some fine people who really try to keep these entities in the black, but overall--there is no incentive in a government owned business to spend money wisely. They can always apply for a bailout, ask for a tax increase, or ask politicians for pork from other parts of the country.
When are we going to learn?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
"The Will of the People?"
So the U.S. Senate voted 60-39 last night to proceed with debate on the new nationalized "Health Care Reform" proposed by the Democrat leadership in the House. Supporters will say that this is the will of the people. After all, these Senators were legally elected. They followed the rules of the Senate, and they took a vote and it passed. So this is the representatives of the 50 states following the will of the people. Stop your belly-aching, Jeff! This is how "democracy" works. . .right?
This is not the will of the people. Most recent polling (Rasmussen and Foxnews) demonstrates that most Americans do not want these bills to be passed into law. Rasmussen shows 49%-47% oppose this legislation. Foxnews' polls in the last two weeks show anywhere from 54%-52% oppose the House and Senate bills.
The leadership of the Senate lies to us in the name of the "health reform bill." In the cloture vote to consider HR 3950 last night, the actual name of the bill that will takeover your health care is called "Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009." The description in the bill is "a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify first time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes." This is the health reform bill? Yep, according to the liars in the Senate.
The leadership of the Senate buys off the votes of its members in order to gain their support. For example, Mary Landrieux of Louisiana supports Harry Reid's Senate bill because they wrote certain exemptions in the bill just for her state! It's found on page 432 of Reid's bill (see http://blogs.abcnews/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vote.html).
The Senate and House vote on bills they do not even read (or intend to read). They exempt themselves from the same health care legislation.
Both Senate and House bills create a bureaucracy (Health Services Administration) that will control, regulate, and manipulate every aspect of your life. How does that stack up with the "unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"
The leadership says the legislation will cost only $800 billion over the next 10 years. This from the same people who put us $1.4 Trillion in the whole this year alone, and have lied to us about cost projections for decades!
This is not "reform." This is "deform." This is a hostile, purposeful attempt to deform limited, Constitutional government.
A Congress that sets up laws for a free people to be ruled by the decrees of czars violates its own oath to uphold the Constitution, and has lost its authority to govern.
No government under our Constitution as it stands today has the right to enslave its own people.
The leadership of the Congress has no credibility, and their authority should be considered null and void.
This is not the will of the people. Most recent polling (Rasmussen and Foxnews) demonstrates that most Americans do not want these bills to be passed into law. Rasmussen shows 49%-47% oppose this legislation. Foxnews' polls in the last two weeks show anywhere from 54%-52% oppose the House and Senate bills.
The leadership of the Senate lies to us in the name of the "health reform bill." In the cloture vote to consider HR 3950 last night, the actual name of the bill that will takeover your health care is called "Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009." The description in the bill is "a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify first time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes." This is the health reform bill? Yep, according to the liars in the Senate.
The leadership of the Senate buys off the votes of its members in order to gain their support. For example, Mary Landrieux of Louisiana supports Harry Reid's Senate bill because they wrote certain exemptions in the bill just for her state! It's found on page 432 of Reid's bill (see http://blogs.abcnews/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vote.html).
The Senate and House vote on bills they do not even read (or intend to read). They exempt themselves from the same health care legislation.
Both Senate and House bills create a bureaucracy (Health Services Administration) that will control, regulate, and manipulate every aspect of your life. How does that stack up with the "unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"
The leadership says the legislation will cost only $800 billion over the next 10 years. This from the same people who put us $1.4 Trillion in the whole this year alone, and have lied to us about cost projections for decades!
This is not "reform." This is "deform." This is a hostile, purposeful attempt to deform limited, Constitutional government.
A Congress that sets up laws for a free people to be ruled by the decrees of czars violates its own oath to uphold the Constitution, and has lost its authority to govern.
No government under our Constitution as it stands today has the right to enslave its own people.
The leadership of the Congress has no credibility, and their authority should be considered null and void.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
"The Enemy Within"
Twenty years ago the Berlin Wall fell. I remember feeling so stunned when we all watched it happen on TV. Then two years later the Soviet Union fell apart. Again, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I never dreamed our enemy, the Communist Empire of Lenin and Stalin, would collapse. Then, like millions of other Americans, I just figured, "Well, communism is dead. Who would dream of endorsing Marxism after the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc nations so clearly showed its total failure?" So, I naively believed that Marxism around the world, except in a few colleges in America, would just wither away.
Boy was I wrong. I was so naive. In the past few years, especially in the last year, I have had one enormous wake-up call. The 1960's marxists who shouted for revolution against "the establishment" never went away. They burrowed deep. Reading Mr. Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" they dug deeply into the educational and governmental establishment. Using "community activism" as another vehicle for revolution, they use ACORN as a tool for corrupting the voting process.
And they sacrificed more, and they gave more, and they were more dedicated--while we were sleepily sunning ourselves on the beach or looking at "church growth charts" or building our portfolios or "flipping" houses in the real estate market. But now they are here in force. In power at many levels across our land.
Using the "global warming/climate change" scam the leftists/progressives and marxists are poised to kneecap our industry through a Cap and Trade Bill. Through a Climate Change Treaty in Copenhagen these people are poised to surrender our national sovereignty (if the U.S. Senate signs on board). Through massive spending and taxation they are ready to drive our industry and standard of living into a third world level of Depression-era poverty. And through government control of your health care, these "New Tyrants" are prepared to regulate every single moment and movement of your life.
Besides listening to talk radio, what are YOU doing about it? The left gave, worked, and sacrificed. Do you believe in the cause of liberty more than they believe in their cause of slavery? Find an organization NOW that is actually fielding candidates and get to work supporting them. Before it is too late.
Boy was I wrong. I was so naive. In the past few years, especially in the last year, I have had one enormous wake-up call. The 1960's marxists who shouted for revolution against "the establishment" never went away. They burrowed deep. Reading Mr. Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" they dug deeply into the educational and governmental establishment. Using "community activism" as another vehicle for revolution, they use ACORN as a tool for corrupting the voting process.
And they sacrificed more, and they gave more, and they were more dedicated--while we were sleepily sunning ourselves on the beach or looking at "church growth charts" or building our portfolios or "flipping" houses in the real estate market. But now they are here in force. In power at many levels across our land.
Using the "global warming/climate change" scam the leftists/progressives and marxists are poised to kneecap our industry through a Cap and Trade Bill. Through a Climate Change Treaty in Copenhagen these people are poised to surrender our national sovereignty (if the U.S. Senate signs on board). Through massive spending and taxation they are ready to drive our industry and standard of living into a third world level of Depression-era poverty. And through government control of your health care, these "New Tyrants" are prepared to regulate every single moment and movement of your life.
Besides listening to talk radio, what are YOU doing about it? The left gave, worked, and sacrificed. Do you believe in the cause of liberty more than they believe in their cause of slavery? Find an organization NOW that is actually fielding candidates and get to work supporting them. Before it is too late.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
"Political Correctness is Literally Killing Americans"
Thirteen Americans are dead. Dozens more are recovering from their wounds. Major Hasan is alive. Our country is fighting at least three major wars right now. Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War Within. The war within is the war against the "fifth column" of enemy agents within our military, government, schools, and neighborhoods. These enemy agents are serious about destroying our nation. Some are Marxists. Some are Muslims. No doubt some people will freak out over such a frank statement, but the facts of recent history bear this out.
Let's start with the story in everyone's mind right now--the terrorist attack by devout Muslim Major Hasan. First of all, let me be clear that I do not believe that all or even most Muslims are terrorists. There are one billion Muslims in this world. It's obvious that not all one billion are attacking us. If they were, most of us would be dead now. We do have strong allies among Muslim nations. King Abdullah in Jordan has been a faithful ally against Islamic jihadists. Turkey is a member of NATO and can be relied upon to fight al-Qaeda. For the past several months, Pakistan has been waging a very serious war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The government in Iraq, led by Prime Minister Al-Maliki, is on our side against both Shiite and Sunni terrorists. And in Afghanistan, for all his faults, Hamid Karzai at least is on our side. We could do a lot worse. He does have an army, and he is against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In our own nation, the 2-3% Muslim population for the most part lives quietly in our nation, going to school, working their businesses, paying their taxes, and not supporting or practicing jihad.
Having said all that, it simply is a fact that there are Muslims around the world and in our own nation who hate us and want us destroyed. We are not at war with Buddhists, Baptists, Hindus, or Native American shamans. It is a portion of Islam that has declared a "fatwah" (a "hit") against us. They derive their inspiration from select passages in the Quran and from western politicians who believe that if we just apologize enough and show enough "good will" we can all be friends. This is a serious and unrealistic mistake that is deadly. ANY sign of weakness--or anything that can be interpreted as weakness or dithering on decisions will become inspiration to the Islamic terrorists. Call this war what it is--the Global War on Islamic Jihadist Terrorism--and go after it with every ounce of determination and military power. In order to WIN.
When we see the warning signs within our own government or military--such as the mountain of evidence that Major Hasan saw himself as a "holy warrior" who must attack the infidel--we must take pro-active measures to remove such people from a position where they can harm or kill others. We cannot let "political correctness" determine whether or not to investigate, arrest, or fight and prevail over such dangerous criminals. In the next blog--more on the fifth column of the Marxist threat within our country.
Let's start with the story in everyone's mind right now--the terrorist attack by devout Muslim Major Hasan. First of all, let me be clear that I do not believe that all or even most Muslims are terrorists. There are one billion Muslims in this world. It's obvious that not all one billion are attacking us. If they were, most of us would be dead now. We do have strong allies among Muslim nations. King Abdullah in Jordan has been a faithful ally against Islamic jihadists. Turkey is a member of NATO and can be relied upon to fight al-Qaeda. For the past several months, Pakistan has been waging a very serious war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The government in Iraq, led by Prime Minister Al-Maliki, is on our side against both Shiite and Sunni terrorists. And in Afghanistan, for all his faults, Hamid Karzai at least is on our side. We could do a lot worse. He does have an army, and he is against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In our own nation, the 2-3% Muslim population for the most part lives quietly in our nation, going to school, working their businesses, paying their taxes, and not supporting or practicing jihad.
Having said all that, it simply is a fact that there are Muslims around the world and in our own nation who hate us and want us destroyed. We are not at war with Buddhists, Baptists, Hindus, or Native American shamans. It is a portion of Islam that has declared a "fatwah" (a "hit") against us. They derive their inspiration from select passages in the Quran and from western politicians who believe that if we just apologize enough and show enough "good will" we can all be friends. This is a serious and unrealistic mistake that is deadly. ANY sign of weakness--or anything that can be interpreted as weakness or dithering on decisions will become inspiration to the Islamic terrorists. Call this war what it is--the Global War on Islamic Jihadist Terrorism--and go after it with every ounce of determination and military power. In order to WIN.
When we see the warning signs within our own government or military--such as the mountain of evidence that Major Hasan saw himself as a "holy warrior" who must attack the infidel--we must take pro-active measures to remove such people from a position where they can harm or kill others. We cannot let "political correctness" determine whether or not to investigate, arrest, or fight and prevail over such dangerous criminals. In the next blog--more on the fifth column of the Marxist threat within our country.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"How Did We Get Here?"
It doesn't take a genius to look at our country and notice that we are in a real mess. It's not all one party's fault. It's not one person's fault. There is not one single cause. But there are reasons why America is facing trillions of dollars of debt, is about to enslave future generations in a government run health care scam, and is afraid to label Islamic terrorists what they are (just to name a few enormous problems facing our country right now).
We surrendered truth in bits and pieces over a period of several generations. We have largely seen the expanse of federal government-controlled welfare state, the marginalization of Christianity in our country, and a moral paralysis because people who knew truth, wanted to essentially take a vacation from their responsibilities and let others take care of running the country for them.
For many in churches across the land, "piety" meant that God is concerned only with our private lives, and not with the world around us. Certainly God is not concerned with good government, so we let the professional party bosses take care of that for us. Absolute truth like "Thou shalt not covet, or steal, or bear false witness" just doesn't have a place in politics. That's not God's bag, you know.
We punted the ball of our children's spiritual formation to the Sunday School teacher or the clergy. "It's their job," you know. One hour of religious instruction a week ought to vaccinate them against the sewage they encounter in school or in the media. Unless of course, the one hour of worship/religion conflicts with the sports program. Then, of course, we go to the sports program. God will understand, you know. We teach our children values by our example.
We punted the ball of education to professionals who were more interested in indoctrination than true classical education that actually taught people real history, math, English, literature, and science. Our children are daily being brainwashed in their duties to "save the planet" but they know nothing about our Constitution, how our government is supposed to function, or that free markets provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
We have become more concerned with our vacations, portfolios, entertainment, and trinkets. Does this sound a bit too harsh? How then do we who supposedly explain the triumph of the "progessive" marxist/communist/leftists in our country? In the last presidential election 50 million Americans who could have voted stayed home. In the 2009 election in Ohio, 800,000 Ohioans who could have voted against casinos stayed home. If only a fraction of these people who had voted against casinos in 2006 had come out to vote in 2009, Ohio would not have lost to the casino industry.
But the sad fact for right now is this: The left and their stooges in this country are more dedicated and more sacrificial than we are. We have a long, long road back. Are we more concerned about retirement and living on a beach in Florida, or more concerned about preserving freedom and the rule of law? If the latter, then what are we DOING about it?
We surrendered truth in bits and pieces over a period of several generations. We have largely seen the expanse of federal government-controlled welfare state, the marginalization of Christianity in our country, and a moral paralysis because people who knew truth, wanted to essentially take a vacation from their responsibilities and let others take care of running the country for them.
For many in churches across the land, "piety" meant that God is concerned only with our private lives, and not with the world around us. Certainly God is not concerned with good government, so we let the professional party bosses take care of that for us. Absolute truth like "Thou shalt not covet, or steal, or bear false witness" just doesn't have a place in politics. That's not God's bag, you know.
We punted the ball of our children's spiritual formation to the Sunday School teacher or the clergy. "It's their job," you know. One hour of religious instruction a week ought to vaccinate them against the sewage they encounter in school or in the media. Unless of course, the one hour of worship/religion conflicts with the sports program. Then, of course, we go to the sports program. God will understand, you know. We teach our children values by our example.
We punted the ball of education to professionals who were more interested in indoctrination than true classical education that actually taught people real history, math, English, literature, and science. Our children are daily being brainwashed in their duties to "save the planet" but they know nothing about our Constitution, how our government is supposed to function, or that free markets provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
We have become more concerned with our vacations, portfolios, entertainment, and trinkets. Does this sound a bit too harsh? How then do we who supposedly explain the triumph of the "progessive" marxist/communist/leftists in our country? In the last presidential election 50 million Americans who could have voted stayed home. In the 2009 election in Ohio, 800,000 Ohioans who could have voted against casinos stayed home. If only a fraction of these people who had voted against casinos in 2006 had come out to vote in 2009, Ohio would not have lost to the casino industry.
But the sad fact for right now is this: The left and their stooges in this country are more dedicated and more sacrificial than we are. We have a long, long road back. Are we more concerned about retirement and living on a beach in Florida, or more concerned about preserving freedom and the rule of law? If the latter, then what are we DOING about it?
Friday, November 6, 2009
"Ft. Hood Massacre--a Hate Crime?"
Thirteen Americans murdered in cold blood. Another 30 wounded. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan shot them down without warning. Or was there a warning that should have been heeded? For years he had made his hatred of American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan known. On websites he had justified the actions of Muslim homicide bombers as they murdered people in pizza parlors or school buses. Years ago he had described his nationality as "Palestinian" even though he was born and raised in Virginia. The day before the massacre he had handed out copies of the Quran to his neighbors. He shouted "Allahu Akhbar" before he pulled the trigger and as he was murdering people.
But this was not a hate crime. No, no, just an "isolated incident" of a deranged killer who somehow just innocently slipped through our security. No, he probably did not hate anyone as he blew them away and shouted "Allahu Akhbar." I wonder how our government, which can no longer even properly name or identify an enemy we are fighting, will prosecute Major Hasan if he is able to stand trial. (I am glad that millions of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan do fight on our side against the jihadist terrorists, but this man clearly saw the U.S. as an enemy.)
If a soldier had "KKK" or Nazi symbols tattooed on his body he would be booted out (rightly so). If a soldier had been spouting off death threats to our government officials he would be arrested or discharged (rightly so). But this man for months and years had a pattern of siding with Islamic-fascist-jihadists, and nothing was done. Why?
Will our government have the nerve to actually call our War Against Islamic-Jihadist Terror what it really is? Will we ever have the guts to truly identify potential terrorists (of whatever religion or belief system) and remove them before they can cause harm? Or are certain religions "off limits" because we might make their advocates mad at us? Right now I'm not very optimistic that we the people--especially our representatives in the Federal Government--have the nerve to do so. We can't even call a massacre what it is--instead it's constantly called a "tragedy." Why? Where is our moral compass and common sense?
But this was not a hate crime. No, no, just an "isolated incident" of a deranged killer who somehow just innocently slipped through our security. No, he probably did not hate anyone as he blew them away and shouted "Allahu Akhbar." I wonder how our government, which can no longer even properly name or identify an enemy we are fighting, will prosecute Major Hasan if he is able to stand trial. (I am glad that millions of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan do fight on our side against the jihadist terrorists, but this man clearly saw the U.S. as an enemy.)
If a soldier had "KKK" or Nazi symbols tattooed on his body he would be booted out (rightly so). If a soldier had been spouting off death threats to our government officials he would be arrested or discharged (rightly so). But this man for months and years had a pattern of siding with Islamic-fascist-jihadists, and nothing was done. Why?
Will our government have the nerve to actually call our War Against Islamic-Jihadist Terror what it really is? Will we ever have the guts to truly identify potential terrorists (of whatever religion or belief system) and remove them before they can cause harm? Or are certain religions "off limits" because we might make their advocates mad at us? Right now I'm not very optimistic that we the people--especially our representatives in the Federal Government--have the nerve to do so. We can't even call a massacre what it is--instead it's constantly called a "tragedy." Why? Where is our moral compass and common sense?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
"NY 23 and the Rebirth of Conservatism"
So the Bill Owens/Dede Scozzafava faction won two days ago. I can hear some Republicans now telling me, "See?! If the conservatives had just endorsed Dede, she would have won!" So what? We still would have had a member of Congress who would have voted with a liberal/leftist agenda. Proof? Whom did Dede endorse at the 11th hour? She endorsed Bill Owens and the socialist agenda of the current Democrat majority in Congress.
But notice how many people voted for a man whose candidacy stood no chance just two weeks ago. Roughly 54,000 people told Newt Gingrich to take a hike. Over 50,000 people in New York's 23rd Congressional district told the Republican Party brahmins that they were going to take charge of their own lives, and they don't have to take what "the Party" offers them anymore. And Doug Hoffman in less than two weeks went from zero to just losing by a hair--this time.
Next year is another election in the same district. And I think Doug's supporters will be very, very busy over the next 12 months seriously planning and working for victory.
But notice how many people voted for a man whose candidacy stood no chance just two weeks ago. Roughly 54,000 people told Newt Gingrich to take a hike. Over 50,000 people in New York's 23rd Congressional district told the Republican Party brahmins that they were going to take charge of their own lives, and they don't have to take what "the Party" offers them anymore. And Doug Hoffman in less than two weeks went from zero to just losing by a hair--this time.
Next year is another election in the same district. And I think Doug's supporters will be very, very busy over the next 12 months seriously planning and working for victory.
Monday, November 2, 2009
"The Revolution Continues"
Well, well, well. So Dede Scozzafava has bowed out of New York's 23rd District House race. She cited lack of money and falling poll numbers. Could it be that just maybe--I know this is a real stretch--she just did not believe what a full third (probably more) of what her constituents believe? Her poll numbers fell because she had no real convictions over the issues that truly matter, and her constituents basically said, "Why should I vote for a liberal Republican? It's the same as voting for a liberal Democrat?"
To be honest with you, we were faced with almost the same choice a year ago in the Presidential election. And we are constantly being confronted with this kind of nonsense in other state-wide elections across the country. Vote for Candidate A who is liberal/leftist/clueless or Candidate B who is maybe not as liberal/leftist/but still clueless.
But in Doug Hoffman, maybe the cycle is beginning to break. Here is an independent who seems to be a real choice. By the way, thanks Dede for showing your true colors and endorsing the liberal Bill Owens. That ought to bring in a whole bunch more conservatives over to Doug Hoffman. We'll see tomorrow. Even if Hoffman loses, he still wins to a certain degree in my book. His candidacy has told the party elites that the people who truly believe the Constitution and the protection of life, liberty, and property are not going to take their bilge anymore.
The Revolution Continues.
To be honest with you, we were faced with almost the same choice a year ago in the Presidential election. And we are constantly being confronted with this kind of nonsense in other state-wide elections across the country. Vote for Candidate A who is liberal/leftist/clueless or Candidate B who is maybe not as liberal/leftist/but still clueless.
But in Doug Hoffman, maybe the cycle is beginning to break. Here is an independent who seems to be a real choice. By the way, thanks Dede for showing your true colors and endorsing the liberal Bill Owens. That ought to bring in a whole bunch more conservatives over to Doug Hoffman. We'll see tomorrow. Even if Hoffman loses, he still wins to a certain degree in my book. His candidacy has told the party elites that the people who truly believe the Constitution and the protection of life, liberty, and property are not going to take their bilge anymore.
The Revolution Continues.
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