How do you eliminate property tax, tax the illegal aliens, the underground, the black market? The only tax that gets us all indiscriminately is a consumption tax. The collection agencies are already in place and doing just that. So, what’s the problem?
The problem is simple and complex. We have politicians with runaway budgets, monstrous pork barrel projects, and more greed than backbone. This would take a dogmatic approach and courage, neither of which is very often present among our elected bureaucracy.
Raising the sales tax would then become a personal issue putting control in the hands of the taxpayer/voter, as it affects everyone and we all would do a better job of voting.
There would obviously need to be a realistic list of necessities that would go tax free but that is not an insurmountable problem. The silent majority simply has to become the screaming majority.
This is, however, a mute point. This would take politicians with some serious courage and voters that actually vote, something that is at the present almost nonexistent.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Instant news.. A Pox..
We lost twice the number of men the first day of the assault on the beaches of Normandy than we have the whole time we’ve been in Iraq. The single day of 9/11 cost us more lives than we’ve lost the whole time in Iraq. The loss of life in just one of our major cities in a month surpasses the military losses per month the whole time in Iraq.
If the power and speed of the news of today were available during WW11 we can only guess at the media outcry at the devastating loss of life. That being the case, we could very easily be speaking German or Japanese.
It’s been said many times but maybe it falls on deaf ears. They do not just want us to leave. They want to kill us, every man woman and child. We listen to the Doves and we could have super centers being blown up, large churches, sports arenas, and the list would never end. This war on terrorism is real and necessary. This war effort needs support, not obstacles.
VP Cheney may have said it best when he said “they cannot beat us militarily. They have to make us quit.” We cannot quit. Quitting is what allows neighborhoods and intercity areas to become uninhabitable by the general public, much to the shame of law enforcement. “Click it or ticket” is much safer and more lucrative, and our kids are the price we pay.
This country was born with courage and loss of life. It remains today due to courage and loss of life. Our enemies are harder to recognize and locate but we can not quit. It will always take courage and loss of life. Without the Hawk the vermin take over.
We are a world of groupies. We give rock stars, movie and TV personalities, decorated war veterans, guitar slingers, pretty people, politicians, etc., more credit than they deserve. None of those attributes guarantees an intelligent brain. All one has to do is (actually) listen to what they (actually) say.
If the power and speed of the news of today were available during WW11 we can only guess at the media outcry at the devastating loss of life. That being the case, we could very easily be speaking German or Japanese.
It’s been said many times but maybe it falls on deaf ears. They do not just want us to leave. They want to kill us, every man woman and child. We listen to the Doves and we could have super centers being blown up, large churches, sports arenas, and the list would never end. This war on terrorism is real and necessary. This war effort needs support, not obstacles.
VP Cheney may have said it best when he said “they cannot beat us militarily. They have to make us quit.” We cannot quit. Quitting is what allows neighborhoods and intercity areas to become uninhabitable by the general public, much to the shame of law enforcement. “Click it or ticket” is much safer and more lucrative, and our kids are the price we pay.
This country was born with courage and loss of life. It remains today due to courage and loss of life. Our enemies are harder to recognize and locate but we can not quit. It will always take courage and loss of life. Without the Hawk the vermin take over.
We are a world of groupies. We give rock stars, movie and TV personalities, decorated war veterans, guitar slingers, pretty people, politicians, etc., more credit than they deserve. None of those attributes guarantees an intelligent brain. All one has to do is (actually) listen to what they (actually) say.
Legal theft..
We should all be tired of the age-old rhetoric of tax breaks for the rich. We need the rich. This in itself is a true statement. You have to have something before they can take it away. Beyond that it became typical class warfare rhetoric.
This “Death Tax” is possibly the most obscene tax we have in this country. It is a tax collected from you, after you have departed this world, on a lifetime of material properties bought and paid for with AFTER TAX DOLLARS. If there were ever an example of illegal taxation this would serve as a textbook example.
My question would be a simple one. This Death Tax is a tax on properties earned over a lifetime, with taxes paid yearly over that lifetime. So where is the legal justification for taxing it again, with sometimes devastating results? Could it possibly be because government needs the money? No? Then could it possibly be because they show little fiscal responsibility (yes..), want a large portion of the worth of your lifetime, and have the power to take it (yes..)? Or could it simply be that to work, taking fiscal risks, creating jobs, and being successful is somehow wrong, with the Death Tax being the punishment?
When was the last time a poor man created a job, built a factory, created spin-off industry, etc? Need I go on? Somehow we need to get beyond envy of the rich. They are entitled to what they end up with after a lifetime of taxes, just as the rest of us should be.
Governments need is to learn to live within their perspective budgets. What governments need are the respect garnered from doing the right thing, and let us keep what we have earned over our lifetime, rather than the dubious distinction of making us all harbor the disrespect for government (their fault..) that they have fostered concerning this type of policy.
If you feel that any of the various levels of government needs more of your money by all means give it to them. That is your legal right. The only right they have to mine lies in the power to make illegal thievery legal.
This “Death Tax” is possibly the most obscene tax we have in this country. It is a tax collected from you, after you have departed this world, on a lifetime of material properties bought and paid for with AFTER TAX DOLLARS. If there were ever an example of illegal taxation this would serve as a textbook example.
My question would be a simple one. This Death Tax is a tax on properties earned over a lifetime, with taxes paid yearly over that lifetime. So where is the legal justification for taxing it again, with sometimes devastating results? Could it possibly be because government needs the money? No? Then could it possibly be because they show little fiscal responsibility (yes..), want a large portion of the worth of your lifetime, and have the power to take it (yes..)? Or could it simply be that to work, taking fiscal risks, creating jobs, and being successful is somehow wrong, with the Death Tax being the punishment?
When was the last time a poor man created a job, built a factory, created spin-off industry, etc? Need I go on? Somehow we need to get beyond envy of the rich. They are entitled to what they end up with after a lifetime of taxes, just as the rest of us should be.
Governments need is to learn to live within their perspective budgets. What governments need are the respect garnered from doing the right thing, and let us keep what we have earned over our lifetime, rather than the dubious distinction of making us all harbor the disrespect for government (their fault..) that they have fostered concerning this type of policy.
If you feel that any of the various levels of government needs more of your money by all means give it to them. That is your legal right. The only right they have to mine lies in the power to make illegal thievery legal.
We become thieves by...Enabling..
When we first saw him he was but a momentary movement among the trees.. As he became more familiar with us he made his presence more known.. We all admired his beauty, his grace of movement, his resourcefulness, his utter disregard for the dogs.. A feline Chuck Norris if you will.. And the dogs knew it.. They raised hell with him but at a safe distance.. He totally ignored them..
The kids were quite taken with him, and him with them.. It wasn’t long until they wanted to feed him.. Their Grampa said no, to enjoy him for what he was.. They didn’t understand soooo, being kids, they went behind Grampa’s back.. and fed him..
It didn’t take long to realize that relying on the kids was easier than trying to catch a bleeping bird or ferret out a rodent so, being the smart cat that he was he became lazy and the back porch became his lair of choice.. Hunting was work, yowling was easy, and it usually brought results. One or more of the kid would bring him something.
Grampa said not a word.. It was much too late. The first tidbit from a child made that truth apparent in short order.. It took but a few weeks until they were all fed up with the demands of their ‘pet’.. When the first child complained Grampa said nothing.. When the second child added his voice Grampa still said nothing.. But when the little girl asked her Grampa just what made the cat yowl all the time he called them all together.
“You kids disobeyed me and became thieves…” He held up his hand as they all began to protest… “Think about it. When you first met him he didn’t rely on you for anything, and you never heard him make much of any kind of sound other than the purr you all like. You saw him as he was, and admired him for it.. He saw you as companionship and loved it, expecting nothing else.. But, when you began to feed him you robbed him of his independence, his self reliance… he became lazy and demanding.. He no longer wanted you for companionship but only as a source of something to eat.. You changed him.. In an adult world they would say you became an enabler, allowing him to become dependent upon you where before, he needed no one..
Grampa knew they were having a hard time understanding, and it had little to do with being a child. It had to do with human nature. Many of us have a hard time separating making ourselves feel good and robbing someone of the desire to be self reliant.. Seeing a need and filling it is much different than being generous just because we can. One can be beneficial and the other can be detrimental. Enabling has become a national disgrace..
The kids were quite taken with him, and him with them.. It wasn’t long until they wanted to feed him.. Their Grampa said no, to enjoy him for what he was.. They didn’t understand soooo, being kids, they went behind Grampa’s back.. and fed him..
It didn’t take long to realize that relying on the kids was easier than trying to catch a bleeping bird or ferret out a rodent so, being the smart cat that he was he became lazy and the back porch became his lair of choice.. Hunting was work, yowling was easy, and it usually brought results. One or more of the kid would bring him something.
Grampa said not a word.. It was much too late. The first tidbit from a child made that truth apparent in short order.. It took but a few weeks until they were all fed up with the demands of their ‘pet’.. When the first child complained Grampa said nothing.. When the second child added his voice Grampa still said nothing.. But when the little girl asked her Grampa just what made the cat yowl all the time he called them all together.
“You kids disobeyed me and became thieves…” He held up his hand as they all began to protest… “Think about it. When you first met him he didn’t rely on you for anything, and you never heard him make much of any kind of sound other than the purr you all like. You saw him as he was, and admired him for it.. He saw you as companionship and loved it, expecting nothing else.. But, when you began to feed him you robbed him of his independence, his self reliance… he became lazy and demanding.. He no longer wanted you for companionship but only as a source of something to eat.. You changed him.. In an adult world they would say you became an enabler, allowing him to become dependent upon you where before, he needed no one..
Grampa knew they were having a hard time understanding, and it had little to do with being a child. It had to do with human nature. Many of us have a hard time separating making ourselves feel good and robbing someone of the desire to be self reliant.. Seeing a need and filling it is much different than being generous just because we can. One can be beneficial and the other can be detrimental. Enabling has become a national disgrace..
Postmarked ....
I respectfully suggest that all mailed payments be accepted by the postmarked date. That puts the responsibility of timely payments on each of us and removes any connection, liability, and suspicion that are an inherent part of the current ‘posting date’ that dictates whether our payments are late or not.
I can see many avenues for the temptation of fraud by the manipulation of posting dates under the current system. The fix is easy, and is one that in endorsed by the IRS. Simply use the postmarked date. This should be applied to all mailed payments, and verification should also be made much cheaper than the present draconian charges.
I can see many avenues for the temptation of fraud by the manipulation of posting dates under the current system. The fix is easy, and is one that in endorsed by the IRS. Simply use the postmarked date. This should be applied to all mailed payments, and verification should also be made much cheaper than the present draconian charges.
A Four Hundred Dollar Haircut..
A four hundred dollar haircut sounds extreme and extravagant. There is, however, an invisible benefit, the ‘trickle down’ side.
That four hundred dollars did not disappear once collected. More than likely it was used in a multitude of ways that touched more people than would the payment for a twelve dollar haircut. The same can be said for almost all ‘extravagant’ lifestyles. Money enters the economy when spent, the more money spent, the better it drives the economy with possibly one exception. That would be if and when it leaves the country.
All the complaints, the talk show comments, the demanding of explanations, the excuses given are all but example of economic ignorance. Without the rich, nothing happens, making us a third world country. We need the wealthy to spend money, no matter how or what they spend it on, be it a four hundred dollar haircut, a two hundred million dollar house, gold bathroom fixtures or diamond studded teeth.
The problem becomes a problem when the money spent becomes a requirement. Required expenditures can put us all in dire straits. So, you want a four hundred dollar haircut, go for it. Just do not borrow the money to do so.
That four hundred dollars did not disappear once collected. More than likely it was used in a multitude of ways that touched more people than would the payment for a twelve dollar haircut. The same can be said for almost all ‘extravagant’ lifestyles. Money enters the economy when spent, the more money spent, the better it drives the economy with possibly one exception. That would be if and when it leaves the country.
All the complaints, the talk show comments, the demanding of explanations, the excuses given are all but example of economic ignorance. Without the rich, nothing happens, making us a third world country. We need the wealthy to spend money, no matter how or what they spend it on, be it a four hundred dollar haircut, a two hundred million dollar house, gold bathroom fixtures or diamond studded teeth.
The problem becomes a problem when the money spent becomes a requirement. Required expenditures can put us all in dire straits. So, you want a four hundred dollar haircut, go for it. Just do not borrow the money to do so.
Mandate?
“The separation of church and state” is not in our Constitution, regardless of how hard one tries to convince themselves. This country was founded on Christian beliefs. The symbols of those are all over our government buildings as symbols of these founding beliefs. As such they are hardly acts of ‘a mandated religion’. They are references to our past history. To let a very vocal minority to demand successfully that they be removed is a snapshot of the lack of courage of our leaders. As symbols of our past history they deserve the same respect, care and support as any other such symbol.
It is bluntly ridiculous to use the argument that the government maintenance of these Christian symbols of the early foundation of this country somehow means ‘state mandated’, therefore qualifying the erroneous ‘separation of church and state’ argument used in attempts to remove all references to GOD from our currency, schools, public displays, etc.
The definition of ‘mandated’ according to Webster’s finest is “authoritatively commanded or required”. Considering that, could the spineless accommodation by our government to those that would have them removed from public view be viewed as ‘a mandate’?
It is bluntly ridiculous to use the argument that the government maintenance of these Christian symbols of the early foundation of this country somehow means ‘state mandated’, therefore qualifying the erroneous ‘separation of church and state’ argument used in attempts to remove all references to GOD from our currency, schools, public displays, etc.
The definition of ‘mandated’ according to Webster’s finest is “authoritatively commanded or required”. Considering that, could the spineless accommodation by our government to those that would have them removed from public view be viewed as ‘a mandate’?
Not a taxpayer problem..
Life is a four letter word and can be tragic to the limits of ones imagination but we, the taxpayers, do not owe for losses outside our control. The citizens of this country, through their states, cities, and churches, have donated millions toward the Katrina surviving families’ welfare. Now The federal government has taken on the task of reconstruction “for these areas of devastation to be rebuilt better than they were before..” This decision abounds with the lack of any common sense.
The Federal Government owes the millions of taxpayers in this country a sound responsible fiscal policy. For The Federal Government to set a precedent for taking responsibility for natural disasters is to step of into an abyss with no known bottom, all at the expense of taxpayers.
To put this in perspective: the family that loses everything in a tornado in Kansas will not get the same response, nor will the mudslide victim in California, nor the family of a victim of a sniper on an Ohio turnpike. That is blatant discrimination. It didn’t happen with the survivors in Oklahoma City, the USS Cole, the drought induced dustbowl of Oklahoma, the Great Depression, the rupture of Mount St. Helen, etc.
We are already faced with huge expenditures in this War on Terrorism. The gas price increases may be the tsunami of our economic life as we know it. Where is the common sense in this short sided reaction to A NATURAL DISASTER?
Was Katrina tragic? Of course. Were there malfunctions of the system? Of Course, but there will never be anybody, least of all a government body, that will have the ability to predict the necessary responses for any and all tragedies, be they natural or man made.
The surviving families obviously need help and by all reports they are getting it. But what we do not need is for taxpayers to be forced to foot the bill for this pick and chose type of discrimination. The precedent has unfortunately already been set with this same brand of knee jerk reaction with the monies doled out to in the aftermath of 9/11. That in itself is tragic, and reflects poorly as a responsible stance by our government.
The Federal Government owes the millions of taxpayers in this country a sound responsible fiscal policy. For The Federal Government to set a precedent for taking responsibility for natural disasters is to step of into an abyss with no known bottom, all at the expense of taxpayers.
To put this in perspective: the family that loses everything in a tornado in Kansas will not get the same response, nor will the mudslide victim in California, nor the family of a victim of a sniper on an Ohio turnpike. That is blatant discrimination. It didn’t happen with the survivors in Oklahoma City, the USS Cole, the drought induced dustbowl of Oklahoma, the Great Depression, the rupture of Mount St. Helen, etc.
We are already faced with huge expenditures in this War on Terrorism. The gas price increases may be the tsunami of our economic life as we know it. Where is the common sense in this short sided reaction to A NATURAL DISASTER?
Was Katrina tragic? Of course. Were there malfunctions of the system? Of Course, but there will never be anybody, least of all a government body, that will have the ability to predict the necessary responses for any and all tragedies, be they natural or man made.
The surviving families obviously need help and by all reports they are getting it. But what we do not need is for taxpayers to be forced to foot the bill for this pick and chose type of discrimination. The precedent has unfortunately already been set with this same brand of knee jerk reaction with the monies doled out to in the aftermath of 9/11. That in itself is tragic, and reflects poorly as a responsible stance by our government.
The Obscenity of Property Tax..
This is what is wrong with property tax. You work all your life to build an estate, all the while struggling to pay for it. When you get to retirement age you run head on into the reality of your misconception. You do not own anything, They allow you to think so as long as you keep paying the property taxes.
Your lifelong struggle goes for nought if you retire with enough to live on but not enough for the property taxes, thanks to the ineptness of taxing entities fiscal policies, and the infamous power of the appraisal districts.
Think about it. Your lifelong struggle was a wasted effort. You really do not own anything. What you paid for all those years was the right to use it as long as you stay in favor with the taxing entities. There is something wrong with that.
A consumption tax works like the fuel taxes. You only pay them if you buy the product. In that case you have a choice. With property taxes you have no choice. When destitute, the social programs will not work for you either, unless you have the correct last name.
This needs to be changed. Will it? When was the last time you had a politician act responsibly with tax money?
Your lifelong struggle goes for nought if you retire with enough to live on but not enough for the property taxes, thanks to the ineptness of taxing entities fiscal policies, and the infamous power of the appraisal districts.
Think about it. Your lifelong struggle was a wasted effort. You really do not own anything. What you paid for all those years was the right to use it as long as you stay in favor with the taxing entities. There is something wrong with that.
A consumption tax works like the fuel taxes. You only pay them if you buy the product. In that case you have a choice. With property taxes you have no choice. When destitute, the social programs will not work for you either, unless you have the correct last name.
This needs to be changed. Will it? When was the last time you had a politician act responsibly with tax money?
It's about Freedom..
Yes, it is about personal freedom. When you allow the government at any level to micro-manage your life to protect you from yourself it quickly becomes about personal freedom.
It is typical of us to become government control advocates when the subject at hand does not affect us. The motorcycle helmet and automobile seat belt laws become reality only because they are easy public sales. When challenged as to their constitutionality they have always failed. The biased, discriminatory arguments in favor of these laws have some validity but if one allows the government to protect you from yourself then the question arises as to just where does it end.
Poor eating habits, lifestyles, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, fast food, etc. are all health issues that cost this country tremendous amounts of money. As targets for government control they would never succeed for they would impact all of us. Helmets and seat belts are the easy target.
NASCAR safety equipment would keep us all safer in vehicle accidents but our hair is more important than our safety. If you ever have a bee or wasp fly up in your helmet at road speed it will take nerves of steel to come to a stop before ripping it off.
Common sense may be an endangered attribute but you want the government making you r choices for you?
It is typical of us to become government control advocates when the subject at hand does not affect us. The motorcycle helmet and automobile seat belt laws become reality only because they are easy public sales. When challenged as to their constitutionality they have always failed. The biased, discriminatory arguments in favor of these laws have some validity but if one allows the government to protect you from yourself then the question arises as to just where does it end.
Poor eating habits, lifestyles, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, fast food, etc. are all health issues that cost this country tremendous amounts of money. As targets for government control they would never succeed for they would impact all of us. Helmets and seat belts are the easy target.
NASCAR safety equipment would keep us all safer in vehicle accidents but our hair is more important than our safety. If you ever have a bee or wasp fly up in your helmet at road speed it will take nerves of steel to come to a stop before ripping it off.
Common sense may be an endangered attribute but you want the government making you r choices for you?
Treason..
Prior to 911 we did not have an ‘under the microscope’ campaign against terrorism. Since 911 we have not had another successful terrorist attack on our homeland. What short memories we have.
Nobody in their right mind enjoys war, be it with your neighbor, school yard bullies, or such mundane groups as our current terrorists. However, unless one can accept current situations or even escalations of current situations, sometimes war of some sort is necessary. Regardless of ones stance on the current war on terrorism, it almost defines treason to advocate the refusal to fund our troops, regardless of where they are or what their mission is.
If we have soldiers dying from lack of funding to keep them in the supplies they need to survive then the blame lies with those that would refuse funding.
I have yet to see any; responsibility in the passing of laws, reality of any common sense, or the feasibility of ending the war on terrorism by any action of our spineless Congress.
The bill to fund our troops was necessary. The dictation of a date to bring the troops home was not. Any such date would warrant a veto to the whole bill, since we have not had the good sense to give any President the required line item veto. The majority Democratic Party knew this, yet guaranteed a veto by the addition of a withdrawal date. The subsequent lack of funds for our troops is now the sole responsibility of the Democratic Party. If it were up to me I would try them all for treason.
If you disagree, just remember the fact that we have had no terrorism on our homeland since 911. Bring an end to the pressure we keep on the terrorist groups and you will, almost of a certainty, have such successful acts again. Keeping in mind that you let the Democrats have their way, when their ‘way’ is nothing but ‘anti Bush’, the question begs an answer, will you still blame President Bush?
Hind sight can be fatally late.
Nobody in their right mind enjoys war, be it with your neighbor, school yard bullies, or such mundane groups as our current terrorists. However, unless one can accept current situations or even escalations of current situations, sometimes war of some sort is necessary. Regardless of ones stance on the current war on terrorism, it almost defines treason to advocate the refusal to fund our troops, regardless of where they are or what their mission is.
If we have soldiers dying from lack of funding to keep them in the supplies they need to survive then the blame lies with those that would refuse funding.
I have yet to see any; responsibility in the passing of laws, reality of any common sense, or the feasibility of ending the war on terrorism by any action of our spineless Congress.
The bill to fund our troops was necessary. The dictation of a date to bring the troops home was not. Any such date would warrant a veto to the whole bill, since we have not had the good sense to give any President the required line item veto. The majority Democratic Party knew this, yet guaranteed a veto by the addition of a withdrawal date. The subsequent lack of funds for our troops is now the sole responsibility of the Democratic Party. If it were up to me I would try them all for treason.
If you disagree, just remember the fact that we have had no terrorism on our homeland since 911. Bring an end to the pressure we keep on the terrorist groups and you will, almost of a certainty, have such successful acts again. Keeping in mind that you let the Democrats have their way, when their ‘way’ is nothing but ‘anti Bush’, the question begs an answer, will you still blame President Bush?
Hind sight can be fatally late.
We've lost our gonads..
The basic reasons and blame for our immigration mess can be directly and correctly placed on our various governing bodies, that have for decades used liberal processes, supported by our judicial system, placating illegal immigrants. For that reason alone makes reform very difficult.
We’ve been told that we cannot refuse to rent to an illegal immigrant, which would appear to reek of the aiding and abetting of criminals by none other than our courts. Illegal immigrants appear to have free access to our health care system and social programs while those of us that were born, lived, and paid taxes here all our lives are apparently discriminated against for being here legally.
They can openly parade their demands, insult our flag, and bankrupt our system with apparent impunity. I look at these parades as missed opportunities for sweeping arrests and deportation.
The idea of fences is ridiculous, and would be successfully ineffective and an economic disaster. It would be much simpler to eliminate all benefits of being here illegally. The confiscation of ‘ill gotten gains’ is used effectively against crime, and in my mind an illegal immigrant is a criminal. The tool is effective. Use it.
We’ve been told that we cannot refuse to rent to an illegal immigrant, which would appear to reek of the aiding and abetting of criminals by none other than our courts. Illegal immigrants appear to have free access to our health care system and social programs while those of us that were born, lived, and paid taxes here all our lives are apparently discriminated against for being here legally.
They can openly parade their demands, insult our flag, and bankrupt our system with apparent impunity. I look at these parades as missed opportunities for sweeping arrests and deportation.
The idea of fences is ridiculous, and would be successfully ineffective and an economic disaster. It would be much simpler to eliminate all benefits of being here illegally. The confiscation of ‘ill gotten gains’ is used effectively against crime, and in my mind an illegal immigrant is a criminal. The tool is effective. Use it.
Katrina was a mirror..
Katrina was a mirror of the present and we are blind. We do not see what our society has become. There are lessons to be learned and, sadly, we are not up to it.
Rather than the independent, self-reliant, strong in faith and fiber individuals that founded this country we found ourselves. Instead of personal independence we found dependency. Instead of personal responsibility we found constant complaining, finger pointing, and desertion by law enforcement. Instead of decisive decisions we found confusion, hesitancy, chest-thumping, and more shirking of responsibility.
Rather than be self-reliant we do nothing but complain loudly that somebody else should have taken care of us. Rather than be more responsible for ourselves when given plenty of warning, we do little but point fingers of blame in all directions but at ourselves.
Did we learn that our law enforcement job is still our responsibility even when things go badly? Did we learn that our moral values are most visible when things go bad? Did we learn that we can not eat or drink TV’s and DVD players?
Did we learn to become tenaciously vocal when the knee-jerk reaction is to rebuild a house of cards on a bed of shifting sand? Did we learn that Mother Nature will bite us each time we build something without consulting Her? Did we learn that all the passionate rhetoric to rebuild has little effect on changing sea level and controlling hurricanes? Did we learn anything?
Well, yes we did. We learned that we can not trust our elected leaders to think, to honor their oath of office, to be responsible, to do little but react to every situation with a blank check or the demanding of one. We learned there is little respect for the hard work that results in the tax dollars that are being thrown into the open pit of natural disasters. We learned that the ego of elected office takes precedence over common sense and fiscal responsibility. We learned that, as of 911, the pocketbooks of taxpayers are responsible for everything of any media interest. Not the farm lost in Kansas with scant media attention but the worthless neighborhood property in New Orleans with constant media attention..
We learned that the media controls the country while blaming President Bush for everything 24/7.
Rather than the independent, self-reliant, strong in faith and fiber individuals that founded this country we found ourselves. Instead of personal independence we found dependency. Instead of personal responsibility we found constant complaining, finger pointing, and desertion by law enforcement. Instead of decisive decisions we found confusion, hesitancy, chest-thumping, and more shirking of responsibility.
Rather than be self-reliant we do nothing but complain loudly that somebody else should have taken care of us. Rather than be more responsible for ourselves when given plenty of warning, we do little but point fingers of blame in all directions but at ourselves.
Did we learn that our law enforcement job is still our responsibility even when things go badly? Did we learn that our moral values are most visible when things go bad? Did we learn that we can not eat or drink TV’s and DVD players?
Did we learn to become tenaciously vocal when the knee-jerk reaction is to rebuild a house of cards on a bed of shifting sand? Did we learn that Mother Nature will bite us each time we build something without consulting Her? Did we learn that all the passionate rhetoric to rebuild has little effect on changing sea level and controlling hurricanes? Did we learn anything?
Well, yes we did. We learned that we can not trust our elected leaders to think, to honor their oath of office, to be responsible, to do little but react to every situation with a blank check or the demanding of one. We learned there is little respect for the hard work that results in the tax dollars that are being thrown into the open pit of natural disasters. We learned that the ego of elected office takes precedence over common sense and fiscal responsibility. We learned that, as of 911, the pocketbooks of taxpayers are responsible for everything of any media interest. Not the farm lost in Kansas with scant media attention but the worthless neighborhood property in New Orleans with constant media attention..
We learned that the media controls the country while blaming President Bush for everything 24/7.
Not a 'poll' puppet..
I would be appalled if I had a President that ran the country based solely on “the polls”. We have had several generations now that regard “responsibility” as a foreign language.
This President is doing a great job with what he has to work with. Contrary to the screaming multitudes he is not responsible for Acts of Nature, the mindset of terrorists, your economic situation, the spineless stance of much of the rest of the world, nor many of the other things the spin doctors lay at his feet.
To his credit he is doing his job while walking the minefield of blame, blame that would not be his if Responsibility were able to walk tall in this country. The true virus responsible for many of the ills of this country has the telltale stench of the personal greed of our long term politicians to whom The Constitution is but an old piece of history, the goal being getting re-elected with the price being pork barrel spending. The “good of the country” is little more than empty rhetoric.
We sit in our snug, safe little office and heap blame on President Bush. I thank God daily that he is The President and immune to the howling of the banshees that hound his every move with heaps of criticism. 9/11 proved that we are vulnerable and hated. Sticking your head in the sand simply means that the last memory you will have is the taste of sand.
This President is doing a great job with what he has to work with. Contrary to the screaming multitudes he is not responsible for Acts of Nature, the mindset of terrorists, your economic situation, the spineless stance of much of the rest of the world, nor many of the other things the spin doctors lay at his feet.
To his credit he is doing his job while walking the minefield of blame, blame that would not be his if Responsibility were able to walk tall in this country. The true virus responsible for many of the ills of this country has the telltale stench of the personal greed of our long term politicians to whom The Constitution is but an old piece of history, the goal being getting re-elected with the price being pork barrel spending. The “good of the country” is little more than empty rhetoric.
We sit in our snug, safe little office and heap blame on President Bush. I thank God daily that he is The President and immune to the howling of the banshees that hound his every move with heaps of criticism. 9/11 proved that we are vulnerable and hated. Sticking your head in the sand simply means that the last memory you will have is the taste of sand.
What the word 'hero' really means..
The news media has bandied about the use of the term “hero” about to the point that it has become meaningless. They have made it synonymous with “survivor”. What a shame, for they mean entirely different things. Being a survivor means doing what one has to do with little choice. Being a hero means making the choice of risking loss to oneself for the benefit of another.
Walking five miles in snake infested waters to safety makes you a survivor. Carrying someone on your back for five miles in snake infested waters can make you a hero as does but walking five miles in that same water, picking someone up and then carrying them.
A purple heart means you were injured doing your job. The Congressional Metal of Honor means you risked all you had for the benefit of others, which is far beyond simply doing your job.
All that survive a POW camp certainly are survivors while only a few may actually be heroes. The news media would hail them all as heroes. What a shame. They have taken a very special word and made it meaningless.
Walking five miles in snake infested waters to safety makes you a survivor. Carrying someone on your back for five miles in snake infested waters can make you a hero as does but walking five miles in that same water, picking someone up and then carrying them.
A purple heart means you were injured doing your job. The Congressional Metal of Honor means you risked all you had for the benefit of others, which is far beyond simply doing your job.
All that survive a POW camp certainly are survivors while only a few may actually be heroes. The news media would hail them all as heroes. What a shame. They have taken a very special word and made it meaningless.
Apathy
If we were to think the biggest problems our country faces today are drugs, terrorism, the war, the economy, health care, social security, illegal immigrants, etc., we would be wrong. All of those and more are certainly important and daunting problems but our single biggest problem in this country today is apathy.
All the afore mentioned problems thrive on our apathy as a super nutrient. And thrive they do, to the point that very few have failed to grow to a size so monstrous as to be uncontrollable. We refuse to learn from pointed lessons. Worse, we do not care. Apathy has become a way of life for the vast majority.
We let a vocal few dictate to the masses. They have stripped us of our right to freedom of religion along with our freedom of speech, and we do not care. We allow our government to spend trillions on a drug war policy that prohibition should have taught us will not work and we do not care. We allow our government to “aid and abet” our enemies and diplomatically chase problems until the “problems” grow larger than the solution...and we do not care.
We allow the news media to force-feed us biased/slanted; half-truth news and we do not care. We allow insurance and health care fraud to push us toward bankruptcy, and we do not care. We allow our politicians to become gluttonous and ineffective and we do not care. We allow our children to be corrupted by prime time programming, the ‘new wave’ cartoons, gross behavior in advertising...and we do not care.
Vulgar, antisocial slogans on our clothing are acceptable, prayer in a public place is not, and we do not care. Those that take a stand may be admired but from afar for we are afraid but, we really...do not care.
Apathy is a viral malignant cancer to our way of life, and we simply do not care. One day we will, but it will be much too late.
All the afore mentioned problems thrive on our apathy as a super nutrient. And thrive they do, to the point that very few have failed to grow to a size so monstrous as to be uncontrollable. We refuse to learn from pointed lessons. Worse, we do not care. Apathy has become a way of life for the vast majority.
We let a vocal few dictate to the masses. They have stripped us of our right to freedom of religion along with our freedom of speech, and we do not care. We allow our government to spend trillions on a drug war policy that prohibition should have taught us will not work and we do not care. We allow our government to “aid and abet” our enemies and diplomatically chase problems until the “problems” grow larger than the solution...and we do not care.
We allow the news media to force-feed us biased/slanted; half-truth news and we do not care. We allow insurance and health care fraud to push us toward bankruptcy, and we do not care. We allow our politicians to become gluttonous and ineffective and we do not care. We allow our children to be corrupted by prime time programming, the ‘new wave’ cartoons, gross behavior in advertising...and we do not care.
Vulgar, antisocial slogans on our clothing are acceptable, prayer in a public place is not, and we do not care. Those that take a stand may be admired but from afar for we are afraid but, we really...do not care.
Apathy is a viral malignant cancer to our way of life, and we simply do not care. One day we will, but it will be much too late.
What do we need them for?
This is the realization that we all need to focus on. Most of our economic problems, be it health fraud, social security, illegal immigration, social programs etc, (pick your favorite) are a direct result of the ineptness of 584 people to do their job, a job for which we pay them quite well. I am talking about our Federal Government.
They have had DECADES to fix these ill conceived, ineptly run, discriminatory social programs and yet, just what have they accomplished? Things get worse by the day. They fail to be there at roll call, have made protocol rules with the emphasis on personal power with little regard for the good of the country, and ignored their government responsibilities for any number of personal reasons, one of which is ripping us off as they get PAID for a job they are not there to do so that they may run for re-election.
We have been paying for this ineptness for DECADES. Their total lack of fiscal responsibility with our tax money is, at the very least, the pinnacle of irresponsibility.
The latest favorite crusade of this illustrious group is this ridiculous surge to apologize for slavery.
Some 143 years ago, The Civil War, while more about states rights than slavery, cost us thousands of men, mostly white. What more cost must be paid? If they think they need to apologize for slavery then what about all the OTHER Federal Government debacles that are STILL costing us dearly and no, I am not bashing the war in Iraq. We HAVE to make the terrorists keep their heads down over there rather than dealing with them over here.
I am talking about the absolute mess our government has made with almost everything it touches. They have shred The Constitution, being in violation of that precious document in most of what they do. They want to apologize for slavery? They want more social programs for these descendants? The ones presently in place have done little but make them dependent and may bankrupt us in the process. Might I suggest they apologize for things that matter by simply reverting back to doing their job as outlined by our Constitution? Discrimination is illegal yet every social program for special interest groups is blatantly discriminatory. Payouts to select groups with taxpayer money is little more than discriminatory theft against the taxpayer, and the list never ends.
This would be a meaningless apology, much like it would be to apologize to England for dumping all that tea.
They have had DECADES to fix these ill conceived, ineptly run, discriminatory social programs and yet, just what have they accomplished? Things get worse by the day. They fail to be there at roll call, have made protocol rules with the emphasis on personal power with little regard for the good of the country, and ignored their government responsibilities for any number of personal reasons, one of which is ripping us off as they get PAID for a job they are not there to do so that they may run for re-election.
We have been paying for this ineptness for DECADES. Their total lack of fiscal responsibility with our tax money is, at the very least, the pinnacle of irresponsibility.
The latest favorite crusade of this illustrious group is this ridiculous surge to apologize for slavery.
Some 143 years ago, The Civil War, while more about states rights than slavery, cost us thousands of men, mostly white. What more cost must be paid? If they think they need to apologize for slavery then what about all the OTHER Federal Government debacles that are STILL costing us dearly and no, I am not bashing the war in Iraq. We HAVE to make the terrorists keep their heads down over there rather than dealing with them over here.
I am talking about the absolute mess our government has made with almost everything it touches. They have shred The Constitution, being in violation of that precious document in most of what they do. They want to apologize for slavery? They want more social programs for these descendants? The ones presently in place have done little but make them dependent and may bankrupt us in the process. Might I suggest they apologize for things that matter by simply reverting back to doing their job as outlined by our Constitution? Discrimination is illegal yet every social program for special interest groups is blatantly discriminatory. Payouts to select groups with taxpayer money is little more than discriminatory theft against the taxpayer, and the list never ends.
This would be a meaningless apology, much like it would be to apologize to England for dumping all that tea.
Slavery is REALLY old...
Slavery is, and was, a crime against humanity. But for one to thunder from a pulpit or offer a personal opinion that it is `a wrong that has never been made right' is to assume a proprietary right to think that slavery was one-sided.
From the first raid of one village by another where captives were taken you had slavery. With that thought in mind, there is not a person alive on this planet that has not had relatives somewhere in their family lineage that was a slave. This is not unique to Black Americans. To try to make it so is to show ignorance of the facts.
Slavery is a part of history that predates an earth bound Christ by many years. I would think that; if a Grandfather of mine, many times removed, had survived a slave ship long enough to plant the seed that allowed me to be a part of this great country, I should be proud of him, and maybe even thank the sorry beggar that sold him into slavery.
In regards to the Black American fixation on the past slavery in this country I would like to ask the question; "If there had never been a single black African native transported from the likes of countries such as Kenya or Uganda to this country as a slave, where would their relatives be today?" The next question might be; "where would they rather be?" A truthful answer puts the question of a `righted wrong' to rest.
As far as racism is concerned many of us would probably prefer a voluntary segregation. The proof of this is the way we tend to migrate toward neighborhoods that offer some familiarity. Racism is a personal thing that is based on a multitude of stimuli and will always be with us. To say "America is ready for a black President" is racial, for to elect someone based on his or her race is blatantly racism. The use of the 'race card' is down to a science, and we have many skilled in its use.
From the first raid of one village by another where captives were taken you had slavery. With that thought in mind, there is not a person alive on this planet that has not had relatives somewhere in their family lineage that was a slave. This is not unique to Black Americans. To try to make it so is to show ignorance of the facts.
Slavery is a part of history that predates an earth bound Christ by many years. I would think that; if a Grandfather of mine, many times removed, had survived a slave ship long enough to plant the seed that allowed me to be a part of this great country, I should be proud of him, and maybe even thank the sorry beggar that sold him into slavery.
In regards to the Black American fixation on the past slavery in this country I would like to ask the question; "If there had never been a single black African native transported from the likes of countries such as Kenya or Uganda to this country as a slave, where would their relatives be today?" The next question might be; "where would they rather be?" A truthful answer puts the question of a `righted wrong' to rest.
As far as racism is concerned many of us would probably prefer a voluntary segregation. The proof of this is the way we tend to migrate toward neighborhoods that offer some familiarity. Racism is a personal thing that is based on a multitude of stimuli and will always be with us. To say "America is ready for a black President" is racial, for to elect someone based on his or her race is blatantly racism. The use of the 'race card' is down to a science, and we have many skilled in its use.
We NEED term limits..
Our naivety concerning our beloved Government has come full circle and is now staring us in the face. Our representatives are duly elected to represent the people of this country. At this they fail miserably. They are little more than professional politician/lawyers. That they are out of touch with mainstream America is painfully obvious.
What we have is an incumbent government lead by the nose by special interests groups that represent a very small percentage of mainstream America hawked by a very liberal, very biased news media. They allow this to happen through the greed of personal gain.
Your beloved Democratic controlled Congress has a lower performance rating than does President Bush. Every step taken to correct a problem is stopped in mid-stride by this inept, pork bloated, self-centered, micro-managing excuse of a government.
Our very astute forefathers foresaw this and restricted the government with very specific powers while leaving most of the power in the hands of state governments. The Civil War changed a lot of that leaving the Federal Government in firm control. Our Great Society social programs of FDR have finished it off by almost bankrupting us and the lack of any headway with the illegal immigration will make that a certainty.
We have had the same problematic issues for decades and they do little but get worse. We allow this do-nothing, inept government to vote themselves pay raise after pay raise, none of which are merited by job performance and yet we do not demand term limits, which on it’s own would cure a lot of what ails us.
We allow our politicians to run our wars. The rest of the world laughs at us for our Jimmy Carters and Bill Clintons. They will laugh harder with Obama and his plans to sweet talk the terror out of the terrorists. Talk does not work, the proof of that is our decades of talk.
McCain was not the best choice but he is now the only choice. Nader has been messing things up for fifty years. Barr has shown his real colors by starting just late enough to be suspect. Obama is the darling of the groupie crowd that knows very little about him. What a mess.
Vance Cline
What we have is an incumbent government lead by the nose by special interests groups that represent a very small percentage of mainstream America hawked by a very liberal, very biased news media. They allow this to happen through the greed of personal gain.
Your beloved Democratic controlled Congress has a lower performance rating than does President Bush. Every step taken to correct a problem is stopped in mid-stride by this inept, pork bloated, self-centered, micro-managing excuse of a government.
Our very astute forefathers foresaw this and restricted the government with very specific powers while leaving most of the power in the hands of state governments. The Civil War changed a lot of that leaving the Federal Government in firm control. Our Great Society social programs of FDR have finished it off by almost bankrupting us and the lack of any headway with the illegal immigration will make that a certainty.
We have had the same problematic issues for decades and they do little but get worse. We allow this do-nothing, inept government to vote themselves pay raise after pay raise, none of which are merited by job performance and yet we do not demand term limits, which on it’s own would cure a lot of what ails us.
We allow our politicians to run our wars. The rest of the world laughs at us for our Jimmy Carters and Bill Clintons. They will laugh harder with Obama and his plans to sweet talk the terror out of the terrorists. Talk does not work, the proof of that is our decades of talk.
McCain was not the best choice but he is now the only choice. Nader has been messing things up for fifty years. Barr has shown his real colors by starting just late enough to be suspect. Obama is the darling of the groupie crowd that knows very little about him. What a mess.
Vance Cline
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
I’ve never been more disappointed in my fellow man. We sue after smoking for some forty plus years with daily reminders of the health factor, we sue because we spill a hot cup of coffee in our laps, we sue because we are fat, we sue to remove any reference to God from the face of the earth, and this absurd list goes on.
We all (this would include judges, juries, and lawyers) need a course in Responsibility 101 and the virtues of free speech. About the only time we see the right of our Freedom of Speech defended is as a defense for pornography in its many forms. The way I understand it, we also have the right to Freedom of Religion and the Freedom of Speech, even when speech is coupled with religion.
Art can be blatantly vulgar and profane and be protected. Let the term God show up and these same protecting aspects of our Constitution and Bill of Rights are twisted to satisfy this stupidly misguided interpretation of the separation of church and state, the meaning of which is simple: NO STATE MANDANTED RELIGION! It’s a pox on our intelligence to allow this to mean anything else.
It takes a MAN to be responsible for our actions, regardless of the consequences. Look around you. The finger points everywhere but at ourselves.
We all (this would include judges, juries, and lawyers) need a course in Responsibility 101 and the virtues of free speech. About the only time we see the right of our Freedom of Speech defended is as a defense for pornography in its many forms. The way I understand it, we also have the right to Freedom of Religion and the Freedom of Speech, even when speech is coupled with religion.
Art can be blatantly vulgar and profane and be protected. Let the term God show up and these same protecting aspects of our Constitution and Bill of Rights are twisted to satisfy this stupidly misguided interpretation of the separation of church and state, the meaning of which is simple: NO STATE MANDANTED RELIGION! It’s a pox on our intelligence to allow this to mean anything else.
It takes a MAN to be responsible for our actions, regardless of the consequences. Look around you. The finger points everywhere but at ourselves.
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