You might remember the Republican primary in 2012, when Gov. Rick Perry
from TX was running for President. While governor, he mandated that all
girls age 12 and over receive the HPV vaccine. Upon signing and
implementation, 12 girls died in TX. At that time, there was no linkage
between the vaccine and the deaths, but he coined the phrase
"coincidence" in relation to the vaccine and their deaths. The protest
of the law grew so loud, Governor Perry repealed it. The funny thing is,
that if I weren't so into politics, I may not have ever heard about the
risks of this vaccine.
It was then that I began to be
reluctant in getting the vaccine for my girls. Kari, my wife, is a nurse, who at
times, recommended the vaccine for the girls, but I was, and still am,
reluctant. We had discussed it at length, and I voiced my apprehension.
Thus far, we have not had them get the vaccine. To my knowledge, since
my girls are over 12, and law does not require them to notify us, they have not received the vaccine on their own
accord (I have discussed the possible ramifications with them, and trust that they would discuss this with us, however).
This video is pretty powerful. I don't think that the
risks outweigh the reward. Cervical cancer is horrible, no doubt, but I
am happy that we haven't had our girls get the vaccine. We may not have
them today. All I can say, is if you have a little girl or a young woman
in your family, educate yourself on this. Based on these testimonials,
it could be the difference of life and death. The name of the drug is
Gardasil.
Click here to watch a powerful plea from those who have suffered from the Gardasil vaccine.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Quit with the Minimum Wage Talk Already. Or, Why work when I can get Welfare?
Some dude on Twitter was dogging me over a NY Post article that stated it was better in some states in the country to stay on welfare than it was to work; realistically, to even take a wage that the left considers a "fair wage". In fact, the article states that in NY, NJ and HI, it would take at least $20/hr to get off their asses and get a job. In other words, why work, with no education, no plans on climbing the corporate ladder, or even trying to do something different, if the government will pay someone at least $20/hr to sit at home?
His last tweet to me was "forget the bickering. can you agree that raising the minimum wage would help to combat ppl exploiting pub welfare programs?"
My answer to that is a resounding no! I'll explain this simply. Those who work, pick the job, and they are told at the time they take the job what the wage will be. In America, we don't have to take a job, and we are not forced into a job that we do not want to have. If, at the time you are given the opportunity to have employment, you do not like the offer, you can either ask for more money, or you can refuse the opportunity.
Minimum wage jobs were never meant to be a staple of the American Dream. Minimum wage jobs are the lowest rung on the corporate ladder, often times part-time positions, and they are offered to those who are seeking a position with a company where an "evaluation period" is preferred hiring practice for a little while before hiring a person full-time at more money.
The drive for the American Dream should be to look at a position as an opportunity to learn. Perhaps grow in an area of interest, and look forward to growing with the company, or being afforded the opportunity to take on duties which help the company grow and become more efficient. Marco Rubio spoke of his father working years as a hotel bartender, working overtime so that his kids didn't have to. Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage. Michael Dell started making customized computers out of his dorm room. I'm sure all of those guys didn't make much starting out either, but boy did they turn their dreams into reality.
Now, the people today think that by raising the minimum wage, poverty will disappear. By raising the minimum wage, people will go get jobs and get off the public dole. It is such a fallacious premise! Economics 101 teaches everyone how to establish COGS or Cost of Goods Sold. To establish a price at which to sell a good, you must determine how many of the product will be sold, how many people will be required to make the product, what type of technology will be required, and how many hours it takes to make the product.
Taking all of those things into account, let's say that it takes 5 people @ $8/hr to make a product that is sold to the general public at $1/ea. The product starts to take off, and we have to hire on more workers. Those workers all make $8/hr, and we continue to sell the product for $1.
Then, one day, the government decides to up the minimum wage to $9.50. The company now has to make a choice.
1) The company can either keep making the product, keep all of the employees, and lose profit on the product.
2) The company can fire some workers in order to keep the product at $1 sale price, and keep profit margins the same.
3) The company can raise the cost of the product, keep the employees, and hope that people will still buy the product at the elevated cost.
Given those choices, 2 are uncertainties, but one is absolutely certain. The certainty is that the company will cut its losses, fire employees, pay the others overtime and continue to offer the product to the customer at the affordable price.
The reality of the situation with salary and wages in America is that if you don't like your job, find another one. If there is a company that will pay you more for your services, by all means, take that position. No one is telling you you HAVE to work at Walmart, but they pay 1.2 Million people for their services. People have to quit looking at work and wages as though the company owes them something. You are selling yourself when you work. If you feel you are underpaid, ask for a raise or find another company that will pay you what you feel you are worth. It really is that simple.
If you don't want to work 3 jobs, then go to school. Get a certificate that sets you apart from the countless others out there who are just like you. Differentiate yourself from your competition. And above all else, when you decide to take a job at a price offered to you and accepted by you, perform at peak performance all the time. Those are the ones who rise to the top. If you aren't rising fast enough, then look in the mirror, not in the boss's office.
His last tweet to me was "forget the bickering. can you agree that raising the minimum wage would help to combat ppl exploiting pub welfare programs?"
My answer to that is a resounding no! I'll explain this simply. Those who work, pick the job, and they are told at the time they take the job what the wage will be. In America, we don't have to take a job, and we are not forced into a job that we do not want to have. If, at the time you are given the opportunity to have employment, you do not like the offer, you can either ask for more money, or you can refuse the opportunity.
Minimum wage jobs were never meant to be a staple of the American Dream. Minimum wage jobs are the lowest rung on the corporate ladder, often times part-time positions, and they are offered to those who are seeking a position with a company where an "evaluation period" is preferred hiring practice for a little while before hiring a person full-time at more money.
The drive for the American Dream should be to look at a position as an opportunity to learn. Perhaps grow in an area of interest, and look forward to growing with the company, or being afforded the opportunity to take on duties which help the company grow and become more efficient. Marco Rubio spoke of his father working years as a hotel bartender, working overtime so that his kids didn't have to. Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage. Michael Dell started making customized computers out of his dorm room. I'm sure all of those guys didn't make much starting out either, but boy did they turn their dreams into reality.
Now, the people today think that by raising the minimum wage, poverty will disappear. By raising the minimum wage, people will go get jobs and get off the public dole. It is such a fallacious premise! Economics 101 teaches everyone how to establish COGS or Cost of Goods Sold. To establish a price at which to sell a good, you must determine how many of the product will be sold, how many people will be required to make the product, what type of technology will be required, and how many hours it takes to make the product.
Taking all of those things into account, let's say that it takes 5 people @ $8/hr to make a product that is sold to the general public at $1/ea. The product starts to take off, and we have to hire on more workers. Those workers all make $8/hr, and we continue to sell the product for $1.
Then, one day, the government decides to up the minimum wage to $9.50. The company now has to make a choice.
1) The company can either keep making the product, keep all of the employees, and lose profit on the product.
2) The company can fire some workers in order to keep the product at $1 sale price, and keep profit margins the same.
3) The company can raise the cost of the product, keep the employees, and hope that people will still buy the product at the elevated cost.
Given those choices, 2 are uncertainties, but one is absolutely certain. The certainty is that the company will cut its losses, fire employees, pay the others overtime and continue to offer the product to the customer at the affordable price.
The reality of the situation with salary and wages in America is that if you don't like your job, find another one. If there is a company that will pay you more for your services, by all means, take that position. No one is telling you you HAVE to work at Walmart, but they pay 1.2 Million people for their services. People have to quit looking at work and wages as though the company owes them something. You are selling yourself when you work. If you feel you are underpaid, ask for a raise or find another company that will pay you what you feel you are worth. It really is that simple.
If you don't want to work 3 jobs, then go to school. Get a certificate that sets you apart from the countless others out there who are just like you. Differentiate yourself from your competition. And above all else, when you decide to take a job at a price offered to you and accepted by you, perform at peak performance all the time. Those are the ones who rise to the top. If you aren't rising fast enough, then look in the mirror, not in the boss's office.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
A-Rod, Hated Gladiator
I can't stand the Yankees, and I'm no Alex Rodriguez fan. However, I'm not a sterioid hater either. I believe that science has progressed enough that we are now at a point where HGH (Human Growth Hormone) can be beneficial to not just athletes, but to the human race in its entirety. I also believe that some of these supplements out there which target specific areas of health and fitness are also beneficial. We are no longer shooting horse tranquilizers into our system, and we are no longer doing great bodily harm to ourselves if we decide to take a substance which can help us out physically. I can go on and on about the benefits of supplements and medical breakthroughs used today in cell regeneration, recovery and overall health improvement, but that isn't what this is about today.
With that disclaimer out of the way, why is A-Rod hated? I mean, this guy is the poster boy for villain. He is demonized in every article, every newscast, every time the Yankees are on, even by the Yankees announcers themselves. The GM won't even talk to him anymore, because A-Rod is going on offense and is suing the Yankees.
But why is he hated? My take: A-Rod has been kicked around long enough. He doesn't feel that he should be the "example", when he was coming in the league during a culture of steroid use and later PEDs. He wants to give MLB a taste of its own medicine, and I predict by the time it's over, Pandora's box will be opened and nothing will be sacred. A-Rod's going down swinging. And he's taking everyone with him.
Did he lie? Yep. But here's a little secret: So did every other athlete who was part of an investigation into Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Think Sammy Sosa wasn't juicing? How about Mark McGwire? Ryan Braun? Well, he lied to everyone around him, won in arbitration last year, and then did a 180 and is now admitting he used PEDs and is serving a 64 game suspension. Andy Pettite - remember him? He not only admitted it, but he also suggested that it sped up his recovery, and got him back to peak performance in very little time. Whether or not you believe that he quit once he was there is another story.
Fun Fact: A-Rod has never tested positive for PED's. Now, the story behind this little deal would more than reveal that he had taken them, and I get that. However, he has never tested positive. He's willing to take his suspension, but Braun lied too. Why should A-Rod have to take a 1.5 year ban, or even a lifetime ban, as has been suggested? Now, he admitted to using them back in 2003, but he has never tested positive one single time.
My point is this. A-Rod is no different than any other liar out there. He lied his butt off to protect his contract, continue to perform in his profession, and to live an all-star kind of life. He got caught. Now, he's fighting hard to not be made an example.
What is it with our society today that desires to see the successful torn down? What is it with our society today, when we revel in the plight of others? I'm just not that way, so I have a hard time with the group hatred of a person.
It disgusted me the other night when Dempster threw at A-Rod not once, not twice, but 4 times, and then finally hit him in the back. Was Dempster thrown out of the game? Nope, but he was warned. Joe Girardi, the manager of the Yankees, promptly went out to dispute the warning, and he was ejected. Meanwhile, the crowd CHEERED at A-Rod getting hit, and began taunting him as well.
Disgusting.
End result? I'm finding myself happy that A-Rod is the antagonist in this whole escapade. I find myself rooting for him; that he does open up the box that let's the truth out regarding sterioids and PED use. I hope he does blow the lid wide open, and then we can see just how two-faced the management, ownership and the league really is. Because, you know what? You just might find out that all of these people who are condemning A-Rod for standing up for himself are the same people encouraging the use of PED's when the door is closed.
With that disclaimer out of the way, why is A-Rod hated? I mean, this guy is the poster boy for villain. He is demonized in every article, every newscast, every time the Yankees are on, even by the Yankees announcers themselves. The GM won't even talk to him anymore, because A-Rod is going on offense and is suing the Yankees.
But why is he hated? My take: A-Rod has been kicked around long enough. He doesn't feel that he should be the "example", when he was coming in the league during a culture of steroid use and later PEDs. He wants to give MLB a taste of its own medicine, and I predict by the time it's over, Pandora's box will be opened and nothing will be sacred. A-Rod's going down swinging. And he's taking everyone with him.
Did he lie? Yep. But here's a little secret: So did every other athlete who was part of an investigation into Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Think Sammy Sosa wasn't juicing? How about Mark McGwire? Ryan Braun? Well, he lied to everyone around him, won in arbitration last year, and then did a 180 and is now admitting he used PEDs and is serving a 64 game suspension. Andy Pettite - remember him? He not only admitted it, but he also suggested that it sped up his recovery, and got him back to peak performance in very little time. Whether or not you believe that he quit once he was there is another story.
Fun Fact: A-Rod has never tested positive for PED's. Now, the story behind this little deal would more than reveal that he had taken them, and I get that. However, he has never tested positive. He's willing to take his suspension, but Braun lied too. Why should A-Rod have to take a 1.5 year ban, or even a lifetime ban, as has been suggested? Now, he admitted to using them back in 2003, but he has never tested positive one single time.
My point is this. A-Rod is no different than any other liar out there. He lied his butt off to protect his contract, continue to perform in his profession, and to live an all-star kind of life. He got caught. Now, he's fighting hard to not be made an example.
What is it with our society today that desires to see the successful torn down? What is it with our society today, when we revel in the plight of others? I'm just not that way, so I have a hard time with the group hatred of a person.
It disgusted me the other night when Dempster threw at A-Rod not once, not twice, but 4 times, and then finally hit him in the back. Was Dempster thrown out of the game? Nope, but he was warned. Joe Girardi, the manager of the Yankees, promptly went out to dispute the warning, and he was ejected. Meanwhile, the crowd CHEERED at A-Rod getting hit, and began taunting him as well.
Disgusting.
End result? I'm finding myself happy that A-Rod is the antagonist in this whole escapade. I find myself rooting for him; that he does open up the box that let's the truth out regarding sterioids and PED use. I hope he does blow the lid wide open, and then we can see just how two-faced the management, ownership and the league really is. Because, you know what? You just might find out that all of these people who are condemning A-Rod for standing up for himself are the same people encouraging the use of PED's when the door is closed.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Sports and Politics. Enough Already!
The lines are blurred ladies and gentlemen. Once upon a time, not so long ago, people used to go out on the first Tuesday of November and vote for politicians every two years to represent them in all forms of government; from local to county to state to national representation. Politicians ran ads stating why you should vote for them, yards had signs telling you who the homeowner supported, all in an attempt to give you something to think about when the curtain closed.
It used to be that music and art were the only extra-cirricular means by which politics were somewhat brought into the fold; generally youths who had all this angst built up and wanted to fight the man. From The Sex Pistols to Bruce Springsteen to Green Day, music was the outlet of anarchy and freedom; a relentless pursuit of the truth through anthems dictating to their audience to fight back hard and to recognize the ills of the country and its leaders. Always from a leftist perspective, the rants were geared toward family values, the ruinous policies of Reagan, Bush, etc., and almost always a war drumbeat that stated how awful it was to venture into foreign lands.
Fast forward just a couple years, and we now have politics intertwined with every aspect of our life. Not through policy, mind you, but through every single that touches us on a daily basis. Michelle Obama presenting the Oscar for Best Picture, Obama making his picks for the Final Four, Presidents throwing out the first pitch in games, Obama's throwing galas at the white house, and inviting stars with which to mingle are all obvious examples. Even the mainstream media brings stars to their events in a game of one-upsmaship to see who can snag the best A-Lister for the dinners in Washington.
These industries are reciprocating for the politico full force. Most notably, the sports profession. From both the players themselves to the reporters and play-by-play guys, politics and social issues are almost a nightly story on ESPN, or during events such as the Daytona 500, NFL Sunday Night Football, and the list goes on. Announcers offering up their opinions on guns, drunk driving, being gay, and basically, telling the low information people what they should think in the coming days and weeks.
Frankly, I'm tired of this crap. Sports and music are my escape. I would like to escape for a couple hours during an event of which I suppliment through tax dollars for the stadiums in which they play, or through a direct purchase of a pay-per-view event or through a ticket, parking and over-priced food when I see an event live. I would like to escape without being told how great it is that a basketball player announced he was gay. I would like to escape without being told that I am a moron for agreeing with what Sarah Palin had to say that week. I would like to escape and watch superior athletes perform on any given day at optimal performance level, leaving only one winner and one loser.
Sports is the epitome, to me, of survival of the fittest. It is the purest sense of competition, in that, men or women, no matter their color or sexual orientation have to work together in harmony, and each person needs to complete their assignments and execute flawlessly to accomplish a goal together. When that is over, each person goes back to their own life, supports their own causes, speaks out for whatever they want until it comes time to perform again. It's awesome. It signifies teamwork, project management, production, and each member is evaluated based on their performance, not who their best friend is, or whether or not they hang out with the boss. There are no politics on the field, and the coaches will put the best players on the floor, court or field who give them the best opportunity to win. If the coach fails numerous times, he will lose his job. If a player fails to perform, there is always someone behind him or her to take their place. It is the way that the world should run.
Mike Lupica, a douchebag of a reporter for the New York Daily News and the biggest blowhard on ESPN, wrote a column decrying the NRA. He called its member contemptible. He called them creepy. He spewed so much vitriol in this opinion piece, that he let us know first hand that he is all in for gun control and for confiscation. I don't need this. He's a moron who has probably never played a down in his life. Yet he critiques those who do. He has probably never fired a gun. Yet he calls all of us who have, contemptible. He has probably never written policy for a school district. Yet he states what is best to keep those in a school safe. He has probably never written a Bill that became a law. Yet, he is telling us what is best for our country.
Mike Lupica, Bob Costas, Michael Waltrip and Tony Dungy have all interjected their thoughts on politics into a sporting event. I realize that they need to talk and provide commentary. However, they need to stick to sports. Offer their perspective on the teams who are playing or the cars that are racing. I'm growing weary of listening to these idiots talk about what's best for me. Especially when their commentary on the game could use a little work in its own right. Sports is an escape for all who love it. Allow us to escape, just for a couple hours a day or week, from the constant drumbeat of all things Obama or Washington. This just needs to stop. It is getting to a point where nothing is enjoyable anymore.
It used to be that music and art were the only extra-cirricular means by which politics were somewhat brought into the fold; generally youths who had all this angst built up and wanted to fight the man. From The Sex Pistols to Bruce Springsteen to Green Day, music was the outlet of anarchy and freedom; a relentless pursuit of the truth through anthems dictating to their audience to fight back hard and to recognize the ills of the country and its leaders. Always from a leftist perspective, the rants were geared toward family values, the ruinous policies of Reagan, Bush, etc., and almost always a war drumbeat that stated how awful it was to venture into foreign lands.
Fast forward just a couple years, and we now have politics intertwined with every aspect of our life. Not through policy, mind you, but through every single that touches us on a daily basis. Michelle Obama presenting the Oscar for Best Picture, Obama making his picks for the Final Four, Presidents throwing out the first pitch in games, Obama's throwing galas at the white house, and inviting stars with which to mingle are all obvious examples. Even the mainstream media brings stars to their events in a game of one-upsmaship to see who can snag the best A-Lister for the dinners in Washington.
These industries are reciprocating for the politico full force. Most notably, the sports profession. From both the players themselves to the reporters and play-by-play guys, politics and social issues are almost a nightly story on ESPN, or during events such as the Daytona 500, NFL Sunday Night Football, and the list goes on. Announcers offering up their opinions on guns, drunk driving, being gay, and basically, telling the low information people what they should think in the coming days and weeks.
Frankly, I'm tired of this crap. Sports and music are my escape. I would like to escape for a couple hours during an event of which I suppliment through tax dollars for the stadiums in which they play, or through a direct purchase of a pay-per-view event or through a ticket, parking and over-priced food when I see an event live. I would like to escape without being told how great it is that a basketball player announced he was gay. I would like to escape without being told that I am a moron for agreeing with what Sarah Palin had to say that week. I would like to escape and watch superior athletes perform on any given day at optimal performance level, leaving only one winner and one loser.
Sports is the epitome, to me, of survival of the fittest. It is the purest sense of competition, in that, men or women, no matter their color or sexual orientation have to work together in harmony, and each person needs to complete their assignments and execute flawlessly to accomplish a goal together. When that is over, each person goes back to their own life, supports their own causes, speaks out for whatever they want until it comes time to perform again. It's awesome. It signifies teamwork, project management, production, and each member is evaluated based on their performance, not who their best friend is, or whether or not they hang out with the boss. There are no politics on the field, and the coaches will put the best players on the floor, court or field who give them the best opportunity to win. If the coach fails numerous times, he will lose his job. If a player fails to perform, there is always someone behind him or her to take their place. It is the way that the world should run.
Mike Lupica, a douchebag of a reporter for the New York Daily News and the biggest blowhard on ESPN, wrote a column decrying the NRA. He called its member contemptible. He called them creepy. He spewed so much vitriol in this opinion piece, that he let us know first hand that he is all in for gun control and for confiscation. I don't need this. He's a moron who has probably never played a down in his life. Yet he critiques those who do. He has probably never fired a gun. Yet he calls all of us who have, contemptible. He has probably never written policy for a school district. Yet he states what is best to keep those in a school safe. He has probably never written a Bill that became a law. Yet, he is telling us what is best for our country.
Mike Lupica, Bob Costas, Michael Waltrip and Tony Dungy have all interjected their thoughts on politics into a sporting event. I realize that they need to talk and provide commentary. However, they need to stick to sports. Offer their perspective on the teams who are playing or the cars that are racing. I'm growing weary of listening to these idiots talk about what's best for me. Especially when their commentary on the game could use a little work in its own right. Sports is an escape for all who love it. Allow us to escape, just for a couple hours a day or week, from the constant drumbeat of all things Obama or Washington. This just needs to stop. It is getting to a point where nothing is enjoyable anymore.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Plan A for "PlanB"
I have two daughters. They are 15 and 14, and tomorrow, my oldest will be able to purchase the PlanB abortion pill; over the counter, without me knowing. She will not, however, be able to take Ibuprofen without a note from me at school. Irony is thick, ain't it?
At any rate, rather than rant on what an atrocity this is, and how this is just an attempt by the the left to breakup the family, blah, blah, blah, I'm proposing a Plan A for combating this new availability to my daughters.
Tonight, we need to talk to our kids. We need to explain to them what this pill does, and what the side effects are. Of course, those side effects are few and far between, because there is not enough data anywhere that truthfully lists what can happen if you take this thing. Nonetheless, now, more than ever, our lines of communication with our children need to be re-opened. We need to let them know that we care. We need to let them know that this is not the be-all/end all, and that responsibility is imperative to anything in life, especially when choosing a sexual partner.
Tonight, we need to let them know that this pill's availability does not erase the probability of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and it does not reduce the risk of AIDS. This pill may inhibit them from being able to have children in the future. This pill floods their little child bodies with hormones, which may have long-term effects later in life. We need to be open and honest with our kids. We need to be frank with them, and allow them to be frank with us. No boundaries should exist in this talk tonight, because if you really care about your daughters' well being, then they deserve the truth.
We, as parents, are the first line of defense against the left's total attack on the nuclear family, and tonight, we have to stand up to this and let our kids know that we are their parents; not Julia. We have to roll with this folks. What a sad day in America. I just know that I love my daughters more than anything, and I want them to be able to come to my wife and I without thinking. I want them to approach us and ask for help if they need it. I'll do my best tonight, but I encourage all of you to sit them down and explain this to them. I hope it all works out, and I'm praying for positive results. I'm lucky that I have great daughters. This won't be easy. Good luck to all of you parents out there! God Bless!
At any rate, rather than rant on what an atrocity this is, and how this is just an attempt by the the left to breakup the family, blah, blah, blah, I'm proposing a Plan A for combating this new availability to my daughters.
Tonight, we need to talk to our kids. We need to explain to them what this pill does, and what the side effects are. Of course, those side effects are few and far between, because there is not enough data anywhere that truthfully lists what can happen if you take this thing. Nonetheless, now, more than ever, our lines of communication with our children need to be re-opened. We need to let them know that we care. We need to let them know that this is not the be-all/end all, and that responsibility is imperative to anything in life, especially when choosing a sexual partner.
Tonight, we need to let them know that this pill's availability does not erase the probability of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and it does not reduce the risk of AIDS. This pill may inhibit them from being able to have children in the future. This pill floods their little child bodies with hormones, which may have long-term effects later in life. We need to be open and honest with our kids. We need to be frank with them, and allow them to be frank with us. No boundaries should exist in this talk tonight, because if you really care about your daughters' well being, then they deserve the truth.
We, as parents, are the first line of defense against the left's total attack on the nuclear family, and tonight, we have to stand up to this and let our kids know that we are their parents; not Julia. We have to roll with this folks. What a sad day in America. I just know that I love my daughters more than anything, and I want them to be able to come to my wife and I without thinking. I want them to approach us and ask for help if they need it. I'll do my best tonight, but I encourage all of you to sit them down and explain this to them. I hope it all works out, and I'm praying for positive results. I'm lucky that I have great daughters. This won't be easy. Good luck to all of you parents out there! God Bless!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Liberals Are The Smartest People in the Room. Paul, Rubio, and Cruz Aren't Allowed in that Room.
Perhaps it's always been common; however, recently, there have been an abundance of reports of liberals displaying their intellectual capacity. Often times, demeaning the questioner in the process of not answering the question. Of course, the big one was Sen. Feinstein playing on emotion in response to Sen. Ted Cruz's question regarding constitutional application to the propsed "Assault Weapons" ban.
Then we have an "unknown" senator (Leahy/Senator Depends, I presume) mocking Sen. Cruz during his questioning of Sen. Feinstein.
Then we had Nancy Pelosi spouting off about the budget.
Then we had President Obama slapping down one of his own in response to a MI Representative's question regarding the creation of jobs in his district.
Then we move to the press:
Chris Matthews tries to knock Trump about birtherism.
WaPo is in serious crisis mode over the Senator Menendez scandal. The Daily Caller is making them look like the upstart newspaper here. Not the other way around.
Then we have Andrea Mitchell stating that Ted Cruz isn't in a fair fight when it comes to lecturing Feinstein on the Constitution.
This is a 48 hour period you guys. What strikes me the most out of all of these articles is one common thread. The libs are on defense in every single one. I can't recall a time, especially in the last 5 years, where I've seen the libs on defense. What is the sudden turnaround? Why are they back pedalling?
Agree or disagree, Rand Paul's fillibuster has had a profound impact. His 13 hour Randathon was epic in many ways, but first and foremost, he took it to the libs. He didn't play on emotion. He offered his interpretation, presented numerous facts, statistics, and contorted his beliefs by tying the constitution to them. It changed the tone in Washington. 3 Senators on the Republican side have made a stand. They have drawn a clear line, and they have said "we ain't playin'".
The republicans who are causing such a stir are framing their arguments in sound fashion. Much like Rand Paul, the questions they raise are irrefutable. By demanding such an easy answer to an assinine question regarding drone strikes on Americans in America, Senator Paul was able to expose the left for who they are. By taking over a month to answer whether or not the administration thought it was constitutional to kill Americans in America with a drone, the pause was long enough to raise doubt in every mind who heard the story.
McCain and Grahm were right in saying that the question was silly and assinine. That was the point. By defending not answering the question, and after a month of dicking around, Holder finally provided a clear, distinct answer following the fillibuster. Rand Paul won. Big. All the left (and semi-right) had left to do was demean the messenger, demagogue his actions, and name call.
Follow that up with Ted Cruz. Regarding Obamacare, Senator Cruz's ammendment in the Senate to defund Obamacare did not have one defector from the Republican side of the aisle. Not one defector! That's huge you guys. I'm just in awe of what these freshmen Senators are doing in the name of liberty. They are calling out the stupid and exposing them for who they are. It's a great thing.
It gives me hope. Rubio said at CPAC yesterday that we (Republicans, of which I am not) don't need a new idea. We have an awesome idea already. It's name is America, and it always works. These guys keep it up, and we'll get this thing turned around. I commend them for standing up and taking this bull by the horns. They are great Senators, and we need more like them. So, as the libs will sit there and tell you how stupid you are, because they are the smartest people in the room, keep an eye on the guys who are not allowed in that room. Cruz, Rubio and Paul. If this is the future of the Republican Party, I may, at some point, go ahead and register.
Then we have an "unknown" senator (Leahy/Senator Depends, I presume) mocking Sen. Cruz during his questioning of Sen. Feinstein.
Then we had Nancy Pelosi spouting off about the budget.
Then we had President Obama slapping down one of his own in response to a MI Representative's question regarding the creation of jobs in his district.
Then we move to the press:
Chris Matthews tries to knock Trump about birtherism.
WaPo is in serious crisis mode over the Senator Menendez scandal. The Daily Caller is making them look like the upstart newspaper here. Not the other way around.
Then we have Andrea Mitchell stating that Ted Cruz isn't in a fair fight when it comes to lecturing Feinstein on the Constitution.
This is a 48 hour period you guys. What strikes me the most out of all of these articles is one common thread. The libs are on defense in every single one. I can't recall a time, especially in the last 5 years, where I've seen the libs on defense. What is the sudden turnaround? Why are they back pedalling?
Agree or disagree, Rand Paul's fillibuster has had a profound impact. His 13 hour Randathon was epic in many ways, but first and foremost, he took it to the libs. He didn't play on emotion. He offered his interpretation, presented numerous facts, statistics, and contorted his beliefs by tying the constitution to them. It changed the tone in Washington. 3 Senators on the Republican side have made a stand. They have drawn a clear line, and they have said "we ain't playin'".
The republicans who are causing such a stir are framing their arguments in sound fashion. Much like Rand Paul, the questions they raise are irrefutable. By demanding such an easy answer to an assinine question regarding drone strikes on Americans in America, Senator Paul was able to expose the left for who they are. By taking over a month to answer whether or not the administration thought it was constitutional to kill Americans in America with a drone, the pause was long enough to raise doubt in every mind who heard the story.
McCain and Grahm were right in saying that the question was silly and assinine. That was the point. By defending not answering the question, and after a month of dicking around, Holder finally provided a clear, distinct answer following the fillibuster. Rand Paul won. Big. All the left (and semi-right) had left to do was demean the messenger, demagogue his actions, and name call.
Follow that up with Ted Cruz. Regarding Obamacare, Senator Cruz's ammendment in the Senate to defund Obamacare did not have one defector from the Republican side of the aisle. Not one defector! That's huge you guys. I'm just in awe of what these freshmen Senators are doing in the name of liberty. They are calling out the stupid and exposing them for who they are. It's a great thing.
It gives me hope. Rubio said at CPAC yesterday that we (Republicans, of which I am not) don't need a new idea. We have an awesome idea already. It's name is America, and it always works. These guys keep it up, and we'll get this thing turned around. I commend them for standing up and taking this bull by the horns. They are great Senators, and we need more like them. So, as the libs will sit there and tell you how stupid you are, because they are the smartest people in the room, keep an eye on the guys who are not allowed in that room. Cruz, Rubio and Paul. If this is the future of the Republican Party, I may, at some point, go ahead and register.
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Education Crisis... It's fo real dawg!
So, 80 percent of New York City High School graduates can't read. 80 Percent. I'll let that sink in for a minute...
My wife and I went out for drinks last night with my best friend and his wife. Along with us was a good friend of all of ours, and he and my friend's wife are both teachers. Politically, my best friend and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and his wife, although somewhat pragmatic, is a pretty big liberal too. When together, we rarely talk politics, at least when we are couples. The friend, who doesn't go out with us very much, just started a job at Muskegon Heights school. A charter school in Michigan.
He began telling us stories about his first 4 months at the high school, and honestly, I can relate to what he's going through from my time working in the department of corrections. He said there are fights weekly, the kids are very disrespectful, there have been numerous teacher assaults, and attendance is right around 58% on any given day. Total population for the high school is around 350 kids from grades 9-12.
He said that he doesn't teach the kids. He can't. He presents a lesson, and kids who are actually paying attention are outnumbered 3-1 in class. The majority of the kids don't care. The majority of the kids' parents don't care.
He told a story of one of his female students, age 15, who missed school repeatedly over a 2 week period. He reported her truancy, and called her mother. The mother stated that her daughter had been out of school because she had to testify in court against her father in a domestic abuse case, as well as a divorce case. She wouldn't be at school due to complications with her (the child/student's) pregnancy, and her mom (also a single mother) would do what she could to communicate with the school to let them know.
His stories were non-stop. One after the other about the lives of the kids, their upbringings, the parents... It was something that pissed me off more than made me feel sorry for them. I asked the resident educators at the table what can be done. One of the two said "nothing", and the other said "if we can come up with the answer, then we will solve our society's ills." Although I agree with the first answer, it was the 2nd which gave me pause. This really isn't an issue with our education system; it is a societal issue.
Our education system is such a shit hole, I just can't grasp it. 80% of the kids who graduate school in NYC can't effing read! Small little Muskegon Heights High School has an average attendance rate of 58%. The teachers want more money. The unions demand more from the taxpayers. The school budgets are astronomical. I just don't get it.
What is the answer? Standardized testing? Yeah, right. School choice? How do the kids get from home to a better school when their parents don't even know where they are to begin with? More charter schools? Muskegon Heights IS a charter school, and it's pretty symbolic of how the charter schools are in MI.
Society doesn't care, evidently, that our kids are growing up not knowing a thing, that the majority of the parents look at school as a free daycare, and the teachers cannot control the kids. The administrators can't administrate because of union interference, and the unions just demand more and more without impunity. I'm going to think on this one. However, reading about NYC and having dinner last night just shows me what kind of state we're in. It ain't good...
My wife and I went out for drinks last night with my best friend and his wife. Along with us was a good friend of all of ours, and he and my friend's wife are both teachers. Politically, my best friend and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and his wife, although somewhat pragmatic, is a pretty big liberal too. When together, we rarely talk politics, at least when we are couples. The friend, who doesn't go out with us very much, just started a job at Muskegon Heights school. A charter school in Michigan.
He began telling us stories about his first 4 months at the high school, and honestly, I can relate to what he's going through from my time working in the department of corrections. He said there are fights weekly, the kids are very disrespectful, there have been numerous teacher assaults, and attendance is right around 58% on any given day. Total population for the high school is around 350 kids from grades 9-12.
He said that he doesn't teach the kids. He can't. He presents a lesson, and kids who are actually paying attention are outnumbered 3-1 in class. The majority of the kids don't care. The majority of the kids' parents don't care.
He told a story of one of his female students, age 15, who missed school repeatedly over a 2 week period. He reported her truancy, and called her mother. The mother stated that her daughter had been out of school because she had to testify in court against her father in a domestic abuse case, as well as a divorce case. She wouldn't be at school due to complications with her (the child/student's) pregnancy, and her mom (also a single mother) would do what she could to communicate with the school to let them know.
His stories were non-stop. One after the other about the lives of the kids, their upbringings, the parents... It was something that pissed me off more than made me feel sorry for them. I asked the resident educators at the table what can be done. One of the two said "nothing", and the other said "if we can come up with the answer, then we will solve our society's ills." Although I agree with the first answer, it was the 2nd which gave me pause. This really isn't an issue with our education system; it is a societal issue.
Our education system is such a shit hole, I just can't grasp it. 80% of the kids who graduate school in NYC can't effing read! Small little Muskegon Heights High School has an average attendance rate of 58%. The teachers want more money. The unions demand more from the taxpayers. The school budgets are astronomical. I just don't get it.
What is the answer? Standardized testing? Yeah, right. School choice? How do the kids get from home to a better school when their parents don't even know where they are to begin with? More charter schools? Muskegon Heights IS a charter school, and it's pretty symbolic of how the charter schools are in MI.
Society doesn't care, evidently, that our kids are growing up not knowing a thing, that the majority of the parents look at school as a free daycare, and the teachers cannot control the kids. The administrators can't administrate because of union interference, and the unions just demand more and more without impunity. I'm going to think on this one. However, reading about NYC and having dinner last night just shows me what kind of state we're in. It ain't good...
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Make it Hurt... Like a Bee Sting... But Still, Make it Hurt
Without going into a long history lesson, our founding fathers created the 3 branches of CO-EQUAL government to ensure that any legislation would be as difficult as humanly possible to achieve. The legislature creates bills, which may or may not become law. If the bill passes one chamber, it is sent to the other, and if passed, are signed into law by the President. Lawyers may or may not like a law, so they have the right to pursue it deemed unconstitutional, and they bring briefs to the Supreme Court. The court then ultimately determines whether or not the law is legal by tying it to our founding document, The Constitution.
Our founding fathers wanted gridlock. They came from a country and a ruler who farted and then passed laws which taxed those whose flatulence created an odor. When the King, at a whim, wanted to make a law, he did so, and the people were required to oblige. Our founders didn't want that. They wanted anything that was to become law, to be sound, just, and right. Looking back at the history of our country, one can easily see how difficult it used to be to pass a law, let alone make it stand on the grounds of the Constitution. Hell, we even went to war with ourselves over slavery.
Fast forward to 2013, and "our house" is closed for tours. In an announcement yesterday, the White House is officially closed for tours due to the Sequester. No, it's not a joke. The Sequester is so severe, that we the people, cannot tour "the People's House". Sometimes I really wonder what the hell people are thinking when they elect these idiots.
Obama doesn't want to govern all the people. He doesn't want to ensure our greatness. He is a baby. A big, crying, whining, sniveling little brat who doesn't like to be told "no". He's a product of a generation where we all have the right to whatever we want, but shouldn't have to do anything to earn it. He is a stick figure in an empty suit who willfully posits groups of us against each other. He is clearly the most divisive figure in the history of our country.
In October of 2012, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released his Annual Report that highlights government waste. Money that the government spends, which is taken from taxpayers, in an irresponsible manner should be the focus here. Tours of "our house" most certainly is not wasteful spending. Nor will it break the government to keep the guides on staff and run a regular schedule. Nonetheless, here are some things that Senator Coburn highlighted only 5 short months ago:
But that would require governing. Something Obama is incapable of doing. Something Obama will not do. Something that defies his very fabric of divide and conquer, separatist policies, exclusion in lieu of inclusion, and taxing the rich. His administration sent emails to federal agencies instructing them to ensure that the impact of the sequester is what the administration initially proclaimed: ARMAGEDDON! Even the press, "his press", is starting to come around and remind people that the sequester isn't a cut at all. In fact, ALL BUDGETS WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR!
Oh well. Make it hurt as much as possible right? Punish the people for Obama's and congress' inadequacies. Punish us for paying taxes. Punish us for funding their ineptitude. I have a feeling I'll be saying this for a while now, but don't blame me. I voted for Romney.
Our founding fathers wanted gridlock. They came from a country and a ruler who farted and then passed laws which taxed those whose flatulence created an odor. When the King, at a whim, wanted to make a law, he did so, and the people were required to oblige. Our founders didn't want that. They wanted anything that was to become law, to be sound, just, and right. Looking back at the history of our country, one can easily see how difficult it used to be to pass a law, let alone make it stand on the grounds of the Constitution. Hell, we even went to war with ourselves over slavery.
Fast forward to 2013, and "our house" is closed for tours. In an announcement yesterday, the White House is officially closed for tours due to the Sequester. No, it's not a joke. The Sequester is so severe, that we the people, cannot tour "the People's House". Sometimes I really wonder what the hell people are thinking when they elect these idiots.
Obama doesn't want to govern all the people. He doesn't want to ensure our greatness. He is a baby. A big, crying, whining, sniveling little brat who doesn't like to be told "no". He's a product of a generation where we all have the right to whatever we want, but shouldn't have to do anything to earn it. He is a stick figure in an empty suit who willfully posits groups of us against each other. He is clearly the most divisive figure in the history of our country.
In October of 2012, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released his Annual Report that highlights government waste. Money that the government spends, which is taken from taxpayers, in an irresponsible manner should be the focus here. Tours of "our house" most certainly is not wasteful spending. Nor will it break the government to keep the guides on staff and run a regular schedule. Nonetheless, here are some things that Senator Coburn highlighted only 5 short months ago:
- Tax loopholes for the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL) and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) – professional sports leagues that generate billions of dollars annually in profits ($91 million in taxes)
- Corporate welfare for the world’s largest snack food producer, PepsiCo Inc. ($1.3 million)
- $4.5Billion in allowable spending in Food Stamps which allow individuals receiving the benefit to buy goods at Starbucks, Kentucky Fried Chicken and other establishments.
But that would require governing. Something Obama is incapable of doing. Something Obama will not do. Something that defies his very fabric of divide and conquer, separatist policies, exclusion in lieu of inclusion, and taxing the rich. His administration sent emails to federal agencies instructing them to ensure that the impact of the sequester is what the administration initially proclaimed: ARMAGEDDON! Even the press, "his press", is starting to come around and remind people that the sequester isn't a cut at all. In fact, ALL BUDGETS WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR!
Oh well. Make it hurt as much as possible right? Punish the people for Obama's and congress' inadequacies. Punish us for paying taxes. Punish us for funding their ineptitude. I have a feeling I'll be saying this for a while now, but don't blame me. I voted for Romney.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Drudge Crashes Rush!
Heh... Drudge with a headline that Rush said for the first time in his life, he's ashamed of his country. Rush's site is down. Those are 2 powerful people who tend to crash servers on a daily basis. Kudos to Drudge for crashing Rush, and kudos to Rush for speaking your truth.
NRA, Coalitions, and Dealers. Or, Why Do I Own a Gun?
Weird. I used to work in law enforcement, and yet the only gun I owned was given to me when my grandpa died when I was 12. I used to work in Corrections, and during that time, I had a CCW, used strictly for work purposes. I was issued a .38 for transportation runs of inmates to and from the hospital, to and from different prisons, etc. The weapon wasn't issued to me; it was state property, and I had to turn it back into the arsenal after each transportation run.
To obtain the CCW certification, I had to run through the law enforcement training corps gun safety course, which included shooting about 28.5 million rounds (OK, a slight exaggeration), loading, reloading, low light firing, barricade firing, situational awareness, etc. I was also part of the regional Emergency Response Team, where I underwent other training for building clearing, search and rescue, hostage situations, and internal gun squad readiness, which required an ability to use a 12 gauge Remington 870. I left the department in 2005 to venture out into IT consulting (great decision, BTW).
I've never had a problem with guns. It wasn't like I was scared of them, but we never had one in our house growing up (even though my mom had a psycho ex husband), and it was never impressed upon me to work, live, and breathe firearms. I just never thought about it. I didn't look at people who owned guns as nuts, and I didn't view those who didn't as elitists. I just lived.
We bought our first gun about a month ago. We went to a local show, and we were able to walk away with a nice Ruger 380. I wanted it for my wife. A nearby business has been broken into twice since we've moved to our house, and the owner of the business walked in on the robbers when one of the robberies was in progress. They got away, and he's lucky they weren't armed when he encountered them. We have also had increased violence in the Grand Rapids area, and a town about 5 miles away recently had a double homicide of an elderly couple. Violence is increasing, and even though the violence may not be gun related, I feel my wife and I need to be protected.
We chose to buy a gun for the home, one that my wife can handle and feels comfortable holding and shooting. I will be purchasing a .40 within the next couple days, and we will introduce them to our 2 daughters once we start going to the range. I want them to be able to protect themselves too. I have started writing a protocol for situational awareness for our family to follow, and we will go to the range together, as a family.
I am also planning on buying an AR-15, a .308 and a 12 gauge. Mostly for protection, but the AR and .308 will be because I want one before I can no longer get one. It's sad that this country has dwindled down to the depths of the stupid lately. These plays on emotion, the elitist, ruling class dictating what is best for us, when they really don't know what they are talking about. Banning guns because they look scary, or have a suppressor, or can shoot <x> amount of rounds... Just idiotic.
So why the shift? Why have I gone from not thinking about owning a gun, to wanting to amass what amounts to a mini-arsenal to me? Well, because it's my right. As an American, we are given certain rights, and were given them at the start of this great nation. We Americans were given the right to speak freely, worship who or what we want, the right to assemble, and the right to bear arms. We are not given the right to hunt. We are not given the right to whisper. We are not given the right to gather with a couple of people around the water cooler. We are not given the right to pray in silence, behind a curtain, in the basement of our home.
The right to bear arms affords us the ability to speak freely, assemble in large groups, worship our God, and it is a foundation to keep tyranny in check. I have many liberal friends and relatives who think that I am nuts for my stance on the second amendment. They ask "how many guns do you own?" When I told them up until a month ago that I owned none, they were shocked that I would support the NRA, gun coalitions and the right for citizens to carry wherever they want. "WHY?!?!?!" I would just say simply, "it's their right." It amazes me that only Gays have the right to marry. That only the liberal press has the right to write what it wants. That only Occupy <whatever> has the right to assemble. That only the president and legislature have the right to decide what is a right or best for me and my family.
I joined the NRA at the gun show where I bought my wife her 380. I joined for a year. I will be a member for life, but I didn't have the cash for a lifetime membership. They aren't nuts. They are there for people like me. They are an organization who speaks up for my right, to ensure that my right to bear arms is not infringed, as it says in the constitution. I don't want my wife unable to protect herself. I can't bear the thought of some evil person attempting to harm my little girls. Having the ability to protect themselves and myself from an individual intent on harming me or us is very important. Protecting myself from a government intent on telling me what is best for me is my right. Thank God for the NRA, Coalitions and Dealers who are now standing up for us. Go spend $25 and join the NRA. Even if you don't own a gun. They need the money to defend our right. And it needs defending right now.
To obtain the CCW certification, I had to run through the law enforcement training corps gun safety course, which included shooting about 28.5 million rounds (OK, a slight exaggeration), loading, reloading, low light firing, barricade firing, situational awareness, etc. I was also part of the regional Emergency Response Team, where I underwent other training for building clearing, search and rescue, hostage situations, and internal gun squad readiness, which required an ability to use a 12 gauge Remington 870. I left the department in 2005 to venture out into IT consulting (great decision, BTW).
I've never had a problem with guns. It wasn't like I was scared of them, but we never had one in our house growing up (even though my mom had a psycho ex husband), and it was never impressed upon me to work, live, and breathe firearms. I just never thought about it. I didn't look at people who owned guns as nuts, and I didn't view those who didn't as elitists. I just lived.
We bought our first gun about a month ago. We went to a local show, and we were able to walk away with a nice Ruger 380. I wanted it for my wife. A nearby business has been broken into twice since we've moved to our house, and the owner of the business walked in on the robbers when one of the robberies was in progress. They got away, and he's lucky they weren't armed when he encountered them. We have also had increased violence in the Grand Rapids area, and a town about 5 miles away recently had a double homicide of an elderly couple. Violence is increasing, and even though the violence may not be gun related, I feel my wife and I need to be protected.
We chose to buy a gun for the home, one that my wife can handle and feels comfortable holding and shooting. I will be purchasing a .40 within the next couple days, and we will introduce them to our 2 daughters once we start going to the range. I want them to be able to protect themselves too. I have started writing a protocol for situational awareness for our family to follow, and we will go to the range together, as a family.
I am also planning on buying an AR-15, a .308 and a 12 gauge. Mostly for protection, but the AR and .308 will be because I want one before I can no longer get one. It's sad that this country has dwindled down to the depths of the stupid lately. These plays on emotion, the elitist, ruling class dictating what is best for us, when they really don't know what they are talking about. Banning guns because they look scary, or have a suppressor, or can shoot <x> amount of rounds... Just idiotic.
So why the shift? Why have I gone from not thinking about owning a gun, to wanting to amass what amounts to a mini-arsenal to me? Well, because it's my right. As an American, we are given certain rights, and were given them at the start of this great nation. We Americans were given the right to speak freely, worship who or what we want, the right to assemble, and the right to bear arms. We are not given the right to hunt. We are not given the right to whisper. We are not given the right to gather with a couple of people around the water cooler. We are not given the right to pray in silence, behind a curtain, in the basement of our home.
The right to bear arms affords us the ability to speak freely, assemble in large groups, worship our God, and it is a foundation to keep tyranny in check. I have many liberal friends and relatives who think that I am nuts for my stance on the second amendment. They ask "how many guns do you own?" When I told them up until a month ago that I owned none, they were shocked that I would support the NRA, gun coalitions and the right for citizens to carry wherever they want. "WHY?!?!?!" I would just say simply, "it's their right." It amazes me that only Gays have the right to marry. That only the liberal press has the right to write what it wants. That only Occupy <whatever> has the right to assemble. That only the president and legislature have the right to decide what is a right or best for me and my family.
I joined the NRA at the gun show where I bought my wife her 380. I joined for a year. I will be a member for life, but I didn't have the cash for a lifetime membership. They aren't nuts. They are there for people like me. They are an organization who speaks up for my right, to ensure that my right to bear arms is not infringed, as it says in the constitution. I don't want my wife unable to protect herself. I can't bear the thought of some evil person attempting to harm my little girls. Having the ability to protect themselves and myself from an individual intent on harming me or us is very important. Protecting myself from a government intent on telling me what is best for me is my right. Thank God for the NRA, Coalitions and Dealers who are now standing up for us. Go spend $25 and join the NRA. Even if you don't own a gun. They need the money to defend our right. And it needs defending right now.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It is the Messaging
Last night I went to a town hall with my US Representative, Justin Amash. He's known for being a wild-card, disagrees with leadership frequently, and was in the news here lately on a couple of different occasions. Elected as part of the 2010 Tea Party wave that gave Republicans an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives, he was nominated by a grass roots movement, and easily won re-election in 2012. I voted for him in 2012, but lived in WI in 2010.
What I found humorous last night, was that he gave an update to the full room (don't ask how many, all I know is that all the seats were taken, and people were left standing) on the sequestration and then took questions. I'm sure that with Obama touting how catastrophic these looming cuts would be if the sequestration went through, Representative Amash expected to be peppered with numerous questions on the topic. There was one:
"Do you feel that the cuts should happen?"
Amash said in summary: I do, because it was put forth as a bill, passed, signed into law. I did not vote for it. I don't think that it's the best way to balance the budget, but these cuts won't be catastrophic. In fact, they're not cuts in spending, they are a cut in the rate of GROWTH of spending.
So, in short, no one cares about the sequester. It's true. EVERYONE says we have a spending problem, even those getting free crap. They just aren't smart enough to realize that it isn't free and the money to give them free crap comes from people like you and me. I think it is funny that everyone was like "yeah, OK, more political theater, the US will shut down if we cut one penny, blah, blah, blah." I really do think Obama whining every time he doesn't get something he wants is getting old, and people, even the ones getting free crap, realize that their lives will go on.
He took on numerous questions, and even answered mine. Mine was as follows:
"Today, the Tea Party Patriots sent out an email wherein there were links to pictures and one of these pictures had Karl Rove photoshopped dressed in a Nazi uniform. There is open bickering between the moderates and conservatives in the Republican party. Because of your voting record, you were kicked off of committee [for this congress]. You, yourself, have gone on MSNBC and bashed fellow Republicans.
My question is this - when will Republicans unite behind a message, and can you guys ever come together and get the message out without fighting? I don't care what you do behind closed doors, but the media is killing you guys when you air it out in public."
His response was very good! He denounced the Tea Party Patriots' actions, and stated that he had never been on MSNBC, so that was false. I have to admit that I saw him say his remarks about the sequester and stating that it was wrong to just blame Obama for the sequester when everyone voted for it to become law. However, those remarks must have been taped at the time I viewed the clip. I'll cede that, and I do watch MSNBC from time to time to see how the enemy thinks. Representative Amash then let the room in on a little secret. He said that the unified message that leadership wants to pump out would be a mistruth to the people. He couldn't do that to his constituents, and he was elected to serve us, not lie to us.
So, herein lies the dilemma. We all know the Dems lie. They lie whenever they talk. They lie in their sleep. They lie when they're pondering how to lie while taking a nice pause during one of their recesses. But they lie together. They lie the same lie. The media reports the same lie for them. It is in the same tone, the same context, the same emphasis points. The same EVERYTHING!
Republicans, well, most of them, do have a conscience. Thus, they cannot compete with lying liars who lie about the lies they tell. The Republicans eat their own. The Republicans tell the truth (somewhat), and so, well, the truth has many variations. Therefore, poor messaging. The Republicans absolutely SUCK at messaging, and they need to step it up.
It was clear from Justin's answer that his convictions far outweigh the wants of the party. I can respect that, but for us to take back our country, I have to respectfully disagree. In my profession, teamwork is important. There are many key players to get a project through to completion. We may not agree all the time, but for the good of the business, to save money, time and make our customers happy, we have to deliver. We deliver the product, and then we address how to do it better the next time in lessons learned documentation.
We take on each other behind closed doors to air our dirty laundry. I have had many fingers pointed at me (literally), and I have had harsh words for many a consultant. But I've never directed that to them, nor they to me, in front of the customer. It's just bad business. We want to show a solid, finished product that the customer is happy with; not let them know what it took to get it for them. Because, in the end, it's the customer who decides whether or not they want to keep you around. They pay your salary, in essence, through buying your product.
So, respectfully, and as much as I like Representative Amash, I have to disagree with bashing each other on the open airwaves. Much like in business, we the people decide whether or not we like the product when it comes to politicians too. I do like Justin. I voted for him, and I would vote for him again. There are rumors here in MI that he is toying for a run for Senate. I would support him there too. But, and this is a BUT bigger than Michelle's (sorry, cheap pot shot...), we need to get a better product out of the Republican party's representatives. I don't know what it will take to get there, but it has to happen. And quickly. People just don't like the product anymore.
What I found humorous last night, was that he gave an update to the full room (don't ask how many, all I know is that all the seats were taken, and people were left standing) on the sequestration and then took questions. I'm sure that with Obama touting how catastrophic these looming cuts would be if the sequestration went through, Representative Amash expected to be peppered with numerous questions on the topic. There was one:
"Do you feel that the cuts should happen?"
Amash said in summary: I do, because it was put forth as a bill, passed, signed into law. I did not vote for it. I don't think that it's the best way to balance the budget, but these cuts won't be catastrophic. In fact, they're not cuts in spending, they are a cut in the rate of GROWTH of spending.
So, in short, no one cares about the sequester. It's true. EVERYONE says we have a spending problem, even those getting free crap. They just aren't smart enough to realize that it isn't free and the money to give them free crap comes from people like you and me. I think it is funny that everyone was like "yeah, OK, more political theater, the US will shut down if we cut one penny, blah, blah, blah." I really do think Obama whining every time he doesn't get something he wants is getting old, and people, even the ones getting free crap, realize that their lives will go on.
He took on numerous questions, and even answered mine. Mine was as follows:
"Today, the Tea Party Patriots sent out an email wherein there were links to pictures and one of these pictures had Karl Rove photoshopped dressed in a Nazi uniform. There is open bickering between the moderates and conservatives in the Republican party. Because of your voting record, you were kicked off of committee [for this congress]. You, yourself, have gone on MSNBC and bashed fellow Republicans.
My question is this - when will Republicans unite behind a message, and can you guys ever come together and get the message out without fighting? I don't care what you do behind closed doors, but the media is killing you guys when you air it out in public."
His response was very good! He denounced the Tea Party Patriots' actions, and stated that he had never been on MSNBC, so that was false. I have to admit that I saw him say his remarks about the sequester and stating that it was wrong to just blame Obama for the sequester when everyone voted for it to become law. However, those remarks must have been taped at the time I viewed the clip. I'll cede that, and I do watch MSNBC from time to time to see how the enemy thinks. Representative Amash then let the room in on a little secret. He said that the unified message that leadership wants to pump out would be a mistruth to the people. He couldn't do that to his constituents, and he was elected to serve us, not lie to us.
So, herein lies the dilemma. We all know the Dems lie. They lie whenever they talk. They lie in their sleep. They lie when they're pondering how to lie while taking a nice pause during one of their recesses. But they lie together. They lie the same lie. The media reports the same lie for them. It is in the same tone, the same context, the same emphasis points. The same EVERYTHING!
Republicans, well, most of them, do have a conscience. Thus, they cannot compete with lying liars who lie about the lies they tell. The Republicans eat their own. The Republicans tell the truth (somewhat), and so, well, the truth has many variations. Therefore, poor messaging. The Republicans absolutely SUCK at messaging, and they need to step it up.
It was clear from Justin's answer that his convictions far outweigh the wants of the party. I can respect that, but for us to take back our country, I have to respectfully disagree. In my profession, teamwork is important. There are many key players to get a project through to completion. We may not agree all the time, but for the good of the business, to save money, time and make our customers happy, we have to deliver. We deliver the product, and then we address how to do it better the next time in lessons learned documentation.
We take on each other behind closed doors to air our dirty laundry. I have had many fingers pointed at me (literally), and I have had harsh words for many a consultant. But I've never directed that to them, nor they to me, in front of the customer. It's just bad business. We want to show a solid, finished product that the customer is happy with; not let them know what it took to get it for them. Because, in the end, it's the customer who decides whether or not they want to keep you around. They pay your salary, in essence, through buying your product.
So, respectfully, and as much as I like Representative Amash, I have to disagree with bashing each other on the open airwaves. Much like in business, we the people decide whether or not we like the product when it comes to politicians too. I do like Justin. I voted for him, and I would vote for him again. There are rumors here in MI that he is toying for a run for Senate. I would support him there too. But, and this is a BUT bigger than Michelle's (sorry, cheap pot shot...), we need to get a better product out of the Republican party's representatives. I don't know what it will take to get there, but it has to happen. And quickly. People just don't like the product anymore.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
I'm Hated
I grew up in a single parent family, the youngest of 7, and my parents divorced shortly after I was born. My dad was a deadbeat dad. I never knew him, but I know that he never paid any child support. He told my mom that he "would break [her]". His goal in life was to provide misery for her wherever she went, and to ensure that she struggled financially every day of her life. At the time they divorced, he was forced to pay $35/week child support, and he never paid a dime. My mom never raised it for fear of the wrath that could follow.
When I turned 18, my mom received a letter from the friend of the court that she would lose what was owed to her unless she filed a motion. I happened to read the letter and pushed her to file. She was owed a little over $35,000. I took her to the court house. I helped her with the case, and not to toot my own horn, but because of me, she finally started getting a little bit of money when he retired. The state garnisheed his social security checks.
I say all of this because throughout all of that, my mom did everything on her own. She never applied for WIC, welfare, or any type of government aid. I was the youngest of 7. 7 kids, who my mom raised on her own, and did what she could for us in every possible way. She never missed any of our games. She went to all of our conferences. She cooked every meal. Yet, she worked like a dog in a factory to provide for us. I was the youngest of 7 kids. My mom, God bless her, retired when she was 65, paid off her house, and now enjoys her grandkids. She has 16 of them.
I learned a lot from her. I received my tenacity from my dad, I think, because my mom would rather let things go than fight for what's right. I learned that to make a living in this world, you have to work hard, provide for your family, and never count on anyone but yourself. I learned that the government isn't there for you, but if you want to make it in the world, you need to do what you can to contribute. My mom had too much pride to take any assistance. She was the 53% before the 53% was cool.
Today, I work for a fortune 500 company, I paid my own way through college, I'm married, and I have 3 children. I pay my taxes, I donate to charities, I donate to my church, and I have also coached youth sports for 15 years. I do what I can to make sure that my family doesn't have to live the life that I had to live. I provide the best I can.
Today, I read that there are 1Million less jobs, more people on disability than ever, the highest number of people ever on food stamps, and that I am not paying my fair share. I realized while reading this, that I am hated. Things have flipped somewhere down the line. What was once good is now bad. What was once right is now wrong. What was once black is now white. What was once up is now down. Because I am a provider, and one who contributes to society in a positive way, works hard to make a living, and pays my "fair share" in taxes, I now find myself hated.
I'm hated by the president. I'm hated by the takers. I'm hated for my beliefs. I'm hated for having a foundation in a belief of God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I'm hated for being a producer. I'm hated for earning what I earn. I'm hated because I pay taxes, but it isn't enough. I'm hated because I have a job. It's alright though. I've learned from my mom that you can make it. She was hated by an evil man. She was told that she would be broken. She was told that she will not make it in life. She did. She told the world to kiss her ass without saying it, because she perservered. She taught me a lot. I learned from her. I will make it too. And because of the tenacity I inherited from a father I never knew, I'll tell the world to kiss my ass too. Only I'll yell it from the top of the mountain. Hate me all you want. There are those who do what I do and believe what I believe. Together, we'll right this ship. We'll take our country back, and we'll make sure that what was once shall be again. We'll get this thing going again... and they will hear us loud and clear. I'm hated, but I'm hated for the right reasons; because I am doing right by my mom. I'm the youngest of 7 kids.
When I turned 18, my mom received a letter from the friend of the court that she would lose what was owed to her unless she filed a motion. I happened to read the letter and pushed her to file. She was owed a little over $35,000. I took her to the court house. I helped her with the case, and not to toot my own horn, but because of me, she finally started getting a little bit of money when he retired. The state garnisheed his social security checks.
I say all of this because throughout all of that, my mom did everything on her own. She never applied for WIC, welfare, or any type of government aid. I was the youngest of 7. 7 kids, who my mom raised on her own, and did what she could for us in every possible way. She never missed any of our games. She went to all of our conferences. She cooked every meal. Yet, she worked like a dog in a factory to provide for us. I was the youngest of 7 kids. My mom, God bless her, retired when she was 65, paid off her house, and now enjoys her grandkids. She has 16 of them.
I learned a lot from her. I received my tenacity from my dad, I think, because my mom would rather let things go than fight for what's right. I learned that to make a living in this world, you have to work hard, provide for your family, and never count on anyone but yourself. I learned that the government isn't there for you, but if you want to make it in the world, you need to do what you can to contribute. My mom had too much pride to take any assistance. She was the 53% before the 53% was cool.
Today, I work for a fortune 500 company, I paid my own way through college, I'm married, and I have 3 children. I pay my taxes, I donate to charities, I donate to my church, and I have also coached youth sports for 15 years. I do what I can to make sure that my family doesn't have to live the life that I had to live. I provide the best I can.
Today, I read that there are 1Million less jobs, more people on disability than ever, the highest number of people ever on food stamps, and that I am not paying my fair share. I realized while reading this, that I am hated. Things have flipped somewhere down the line. What was once good is now bad. What was once right is now wrong. What was once black is now white. What was once up is now down. Because I am a provider, and one who contributes to society in a positive way, works hard to make a living, and pays my "fair share" in taxes, I now find myself hated.
I'm hated by the president. I'm hated by the takers. I'm hated for my beliefs. I'm hated for having a foundation in a belief of God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I'm hated for being a producer. I'm hated for earning what I earn. I'm hated because I pay taxes, but it isn't enough. I'm hated because I have a job. It's alright though. I've learned from my mom that you can make it. She was hated by an evil man. She was told that she would be broken. She was told that she will not make it in life. She did. She told the world to kiss her ass without saying it, because she perservered. She taught me a lot. I learned from her. I will make it too. And because of the tenacity I inherited from a father I never knew, I'll tell the world to kiss my ass too. Only I'll yell it from the top of the mountain. Hate me all you want. There are those who do what I do and believe what I believe. Together, we'll right this ship. We'll take our country back, and we'll make sure that what was once shall be again. We'll get this thing going again... and they will hear us loud and clear. I'm hated, but I'm hated for the right reasons; because I am doing right by my mom. I'm the youngest of 7 kids.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Te'o and the Media
I'm putting this out there. I was duped, along with the rest of America, into believing a gut-wrenching story about a star linebacker who lost his grandmother and his girlfriend within hours of each other; about the typical football player who uses adversity to his advantage. He goes out, has a spectacular year, brings in the team to feed off of that, and collectively, they overperform for the entire season.
What amazes me about this story, is that the media is now demonizing Manti Te'o into oblivion, making him out to be some decrepit individual who will pay for the rest of his career for lying about having a girlfriend. Another aspect of this story is that this same media who perpetuated this story every chance it got, from the days before the Michigan State/Notre Dame (9/15/12) game through the BCS National Championship game (1/7/13), is now eating crow, washing the pie from its face, and throwing out unsourced stories to cover its ass. A "non-mainstream" site, Deadspin, scooped the rest of the sports world with the story of Manti Te'o, and how he made up his girlfriend. Now? Watch out Manti, the national media is pissed they got scooped and they will come for you. On all 4 horses. To crush you in every way possible.
This story, if nothing else, exposes the lack of journalistic integrity anymore. This story exposes everything we need to know about a media today, and a public willing to believe whatever is written or put on Sportscenter. The Manti stories from before the hoax was reported were numerous; from local to national, and were even the centerpiece of a couple of pre-game segments of the National Championship. It was always mentioned in conjunction with Manti's name. Whenever you heard "Manti", you also heard a variation of "who played so valiantly this year when..."
I guess, now that the shock of what is bizarre at the most and a lie at the least is out there for public consumption, what needs to be brought to this story is a little perspective. First, who cares if Manti lied about having a girlfriend? Was anyone hurt? Did anyone lose any money? Were there any crimes committed? The answer is no to all of those questions. If this is a lie, then Manti will be haunted by this for the rest of his career, and the media has been exposed as an empty boilerplate for not doing some basic fact checking. If it turns out that Manti can cover his tracks and provide a plausible timeline of events, it should be good enough. He's a great linebacker, and up until this week, he was a golden child playing at the golden dome. No one thought anything adverse about him, and he was going to be a great star at the next level.
12 years ago, after Super Bowl XXXIV (that's 34), another great linebacker was charged with conspiracy to murder. Ray Lewis is a celebrated icon in the NFL, and he recently played what would have been his last home game for the Baltimore Ravens. They are still in the playoffs, and they will play the Patriots in the AFC Championship game on 1/20. Ray Lewis is a certified 1st ballot hall of famer, racking up great statistics in a great football career. The media loves Ray, and I have no doubt that he will be a great analyst in the years that follow football. He is well spoken, has great football acumen, and is a very entertaining interview. Yet, to get out of murder charges, he had to testify against his then co-defendants in the crime of murder. He plead guilty to a misdemeanor, served out his probation, and went on for another 12 years to play some great football.
Manti Te'o, at worst, lied about having a girlfriend who died of leukemia. At worst, he pulled the wool over the nation's eyes, used it to fuel his teams successes, and might have embelished a little bit more for a sympathy vote for the Heisman trophy, college football's most prestigious award. Nobody was murdered. The media was exposed as a hackjob of an institution. The nation was duped. That's it.
So, in the scheme of things, can the media just do its job of reporting factual information for the masses, remind the nation that people can overcome adversity in the mold of a Ray Lewis, and move on to some real news? Remember, the only people who look silly here are the entire sports media (Deadspin excluded) and Manti Te'o. Why perpetuate a story that was totally mishandled, distributed without fact checking, and destroy somebody in the process? No matter what happens, the media will be more scrutinized (as they should be), and they will have to scrutinize those subjects of a future story. Let's just move on, shall we? The media has done more to hurt its credibility by trying to cover its tracks than Manti Te'o will ever do in the first 10 tackle game of his rookie season. Funny how when a guy has a good game, the media forgets that he almost got away with something... even murder.
What amazes me about this story, is that the media is now demonizing Manti Te'o into oblivion, making him out to be some decrepit individual who will pay for the rest of his career for lying about having a girlfriend. Another aspect of this story is that this same media who perpetuated this story every chance it got, from the days before the Michigan State/Notre Dame (9/15/12) game through the BCS National Championship game (1/7/13), is now eating crow, washing the pie from its face, and throwing out unsourced stories to cover its ass. A "non-mainstream" site, Deadspin, scooped the rest of the sports world with the story of Manti Te'o, and how he made up his girlfriend. Now? Watch out Manti, the national media is pissed they got scooped and they will come for you. On all 4 horses. To crush you in every way possible.
This story, if nothing else, exposes the lack of journalistic integrity anymore. This story exposes everything we need to know about a media today, and a public willing to believe whatever is written or put on Sportscenter. The Manti stories from before the hoax was reported were numerous; from local to national, and were even the centerpiece of a couple of pre-game segments of the National Championship. It was always mentioned in conjunction with Manti's name. Whenever you heard "Manti", you also heard a variation of "who played so valiantly this year when..."
I guess, now that the shock of what is bizarre at the most and a lie at the least is out there for public consumption, what needs to be brought to this story is a little perspective. First, who cares if Manti lied about having a girlfriend? Was anyone hurt? Did anyone lose any money? Were there any crimes committed? The answer is no to all of those questions. If this is a lie, then Manti will be haunted by this for the rest of his career, and the media has been exposed as an empty boilerplate for not doing some basic fact checking. If it turns out that Manti can cover his tracks and provide a plausible timeline of events, it should be good enough. He's a great linebacker, and up until this week, he was a golden child playing at the golden dome. No one thought anything adverse about him, and he was going to be a great star at the next level.
12 years ago, after Super Bowl XXXIV (that's 34), another great linebacker was charged with conspiracy to murder. Ray Lewis is a celebrated icon in the NFL, and he recently played what would have been his last home game for the Baltimore Ravens. They are still in the playoffs, and they will play the Patriots in the AFC Championship game on 1/20. Ray Lewis is a certified 1st ballot hall of famer, racking up great statistics in a great football career. The media loves Ray, and I have no doubt that he will be a great analyst in the years that follow football. He is well spoken, has great football acumen, and is a very entertaining interview. Yet, to get out of murder charges, he had to testify against his then co-defendants in the crime of murder. He plead guilty to a misdemeanor, served out his probation, and went on for another 12 years to play some great football.
Manti Te'o, at worst, lied about having a girlfriend who died of leukemia. At worst, he pulled the wool over the nation's eyes, used it to fuel his teams successes, and might have embelished a little bit more for a sympathy vote for the Heisman trophy, college football's most prestigious award. Nobody was murdered. The media was exposed as a hackjob of an institution. The nation was duped. That's it.
So, in the scheme of things, can the media just do its job of reporting factual information for the masses, remind the nation that people can overcome adversity in the mold of a Ray Lewis, and move on to some real news? Remember, the only people who look silly here are the entire sports media (Deadspin excluded) and Manti Te'o. Why perpetuate a story that was totally mishandled, distributed without fact checking, and destroy somebody in the process? No matter what happens, the media will be more scrutinized (as they should be), and they will have to scrutinize those subjects of a future story. Let's just move on, shall we? The media has done more to hurt its credibility by trying to cover its tracks than Manti Te'o will ever do in the first 10 tackle game of his rookie season. Funny how when a guy has a good game, the media forgets that he almost got away with something... even murder.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Are We Ready (for another 4 years)?
We are a week away from the end of arguably the worst presidential term in the history of the US. One week from today will mark the beginning of the 2nd term of the King of America, and with it, there is only one question that will be answered by the end of it. Will the years 2013-2016 be worse than 2009-2012?
I wrote last time about what we nobodys can do to become effective. I assigned some tasks to myself for the coming years to ensure that, at the very least, I've done my part. I saw the open agenda items remaining from President Obama's first term, and cannot help but wonder if we are really ready as a people for what is coming. I understand the knee-jerk reaction to opposing all things Obama/Democrat. After all, I've had a lifetime of capitulation from the right equaling compromise, while the left has not once come our way, even a speck.
I look at items such as gun control, immigration, court appointments, cabinet appointments, racial divide, class warfare, and our move toward "assisting" countries in Africa, and I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming. I look at who has left Obama's cabinet and where they went following their departure. I look at who will be implementing policy over the next four years, and I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
The fact is, half of this country can't stand the guy in the white house. I look at the map from the 2012 election, and I can't help but see that 12% of our land mass is dictating what the rest of us must do. It is so frustrating! Nonetheless, I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
I look at how my family reacts to the coming agenda items, and I wonder if I'll be able to articulate why certain things are bad to my children. They are old enough to think for themselves, and they ask solid questions and push me to answer them. We don't always agree, but I don't dismiss them either. I try to provide them with foundation to come to their own conclusions, and if they disagree with me, I ground them. Is that wrong? :) As these items start coming to the forefront, and with hyperspeed ferocity, I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
I look at the conservative movement, gearing up already for 2014, blowing every argument, and losing to a media and narrative that is overtly false, as well as in your face, and I wonder what our chances are to restore the US. I wonder if we will be able to out maneuver the left, even a couple of times, to ensure that our most basic liberties are not infringed. I wonder if our Speaker will suddenly grow a spine, and if he will call out the President and the Senate for their inadequacies and failure of leadership. I wonder if our only sane section of government will begin to lead and propose real solutions to ensure that there is fiscal sanity in our spending. I wonder if the House will begin to come together to develop a sound majority, instead of a fractured body of legislatures meandering down different paths. If there is any time to stand together, these next four years are it. Because, I wonder if they're ready for what's coming...
So, do your part. Get involved. Support organizations that will help your causes. Invest in companies that support your lifestyle. Get to know your school boards. Get to know your city council members. Get to know your representatives. Hold all of their feet to the fire. Let them know that they are but a piece of the puzzle for your community, state, and country. If ever there was a time to stand firm, this is it. If we all do our part, then I know we'll be ready for what's coming. We must be ready... and armed.
I wrote last time about what we nobodys can do to become effective. I assigned some tasks to myself for the coming years to ensure that, at the very least, I've done my part. I saw the open agenda items remaining from President Obama's first term, and cannot help but wonder if we are really ready as a people for what is coming. I understand the knee-jerk reaction to opposing all things Obama/Democrat. After all, I've had a lifetime of capitulation from the right equaling compromise, while the left has not once come our way, even a speck.
I look at items such as gun control, immigration, court appointments, cabinet appointments, racial divide, class warfare, and our move toward "assisting" countries in Africa, and I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming. I look at who has left Obama's cabinet and where they went following their departure. I look at who will be implementing policy over the next four years, and I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
The fact is, half of this country can't stand the guy in the white house. I look at the map from the 2012 election, and I can't help but see that 12% of our land mass is dictating what the rest of us must do. It is so frustrating! Nonetheless, I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
I look at how my family reacts to the coming agenda items, and I wonder if I'll be able to articulate why certain things are bad to my children. They are old enough to think for themselves, and they ask solid questions and push me to answer them. We don't always agree, but I don't dismiss them either. I try to provide them with foundation to come to their own conclusions, and if they disagree with me, I ground them. Is that wrong? :) As these items start coming to the forefront, and with hyperspeed ferocity, I can't help but wonder if we're ready for what's coming.
I look at the conservative movement, gearing up already for 2014, blowing every argument, and losing to a media and narrative that is overtly false, as well as in your face, and I wonder what our chances are to restore the US. I wonder if we will be able to out maneuver the left, even a couple of times, to ensure that our most basic liberties are not infringed. I wonder if our Speaker will suddenly grow a spine, and if he will call out the President and the Senate for their inadequacies and failure of leadership. I wonder if our only sane section of government will begin to lead and propose real solutions to ensure that there is fiscal sanity in our spending. I wonder if the House will begin to come together to develop a sound majority, instead of a fractured body of legislatures meandering down different paths. If there is any time to stand together, these next four years are it. Because, I wonder if they're ready for what's coming...
So, do your part. Get involved. Support organizations that will help your causes. Invest in companies that support your lifestyle. Get to know your school boards. Get to know your city council members. Get to know your representatives. Hold all of their feet to the fire. Let them know that they are but a piece of the puzzle for your community, state, and country. If ever there was a time to stand firm, this is it. If we all do our part, then I know we'll be ready for what's coming. We must be ready... and armed.
Friday, January 4, 2013
What Do We Do Now? (Ode to a Political Nobody)
Two months. It's been almost two months since I've posted something. I started this blog in a fit of rage over the election, and then realized it wasn't who I was. I needed to regroup. I needed to just take some time and look at what was happening, get an idea of where we were going as a country, decide whether or not I wanted to still pay attention to what was going on in the world, or just go on disability, collect food stamps, apply for section 8 housing, and get a free phone.
I chose to come back, because I do give a shit. I do care about what is going on. The problem is that I'm a nobody. No connections. No money. I feel alone in my voicing concerns, even though there are those bloggers and new media who represent about 85% of what I feel inside. Oh well, at least this is therapy for me. I can get an outlet going, and maybe someone will stumble upon it, start nodding, and then say "hey, I get what he's saying. Me too dammit!"
So, what do we do? What can we nobodys do to make sure we are heard? What can we do to save ourselves? What can we do to save our country? What can we do to make sure that we maintain this last ounce of sanity remaining in the world? Well, I've made a list; it is as follows:
1. Get closer to God.
2. Volunteer - gotta start somewhere.
3. If there is a vote that takes place that affects me, I'm going to let my representative and senator know.
4. Take time out and forget the world at least once per day. Play a game, watch a movie with the kids, take the wife out to dinner, crank up some Disturbed and lift some weights... anything to just zone out for a sense of semblence.
5. Buy a gun, or 2, or 100.
6. Buy some ammo.
7. Don't back down, and stand my ground. It's my country too, dammit!
8. Go to my representative's office and introduce myself.
9. Introduce myself to my neighbors (I've been at my new place for 4 months, and I have not met them yet).
10. Join some groups in my church.
11. Start going to school board meetings.
12. Attend city council meetings.
I've heard on numerous occasions that "you can only change the world if you believe in yourself, or else be a damned good salesman." What we have in DC right now are great salesmen/saleswomen. We have very few with any integrity whatsoever, but we do have those few. Hold them to account, but start with yourself. From there, the sky is the limit. Start small, grow bigger, think biggest, and be an example. We nobodys can make a difference. It's time we start. Let's change this thing around.
I chose to come back, because I do give a shit. I do care about what is going on. The problem is that I'm a nobody. No connections. No money. I feel alone in my voicing concerns, even though there are those bloggers and new media who represent about 85% of what I feel inside. Oh well, at least this is therapy for me. I can get an outlet going, and maybe someone will stumble upon it, start nodding, and then say "hey, I get what he's saying. Me too dammit!"
So, what do we do? What can we nobodys do to make sure we are heard? What can we do to save ourselves? What can we do to save our country? What can we do to make sure that we maintain this last ounce of sanity remaining in the world? Well, I've made a list; it is as follows:
1. Get closer to God.
2. Volunteer - gotta start somewhere.
3. If there is a vote that takes place that affects me, I'm going to let my representative and senator know.
4. Take time out and forget the world at least once per day. Play a game, watch a movie with the kids, take the wife out to dinner, crank up some Disturbed and lift some weights... anything to just zone out for a sense of semblence.
5. Buy a gun, or 2, or 100.
6. Buy some ammo.
7. Don't back down, and stand my ground. It's my country too, dammit!
8. Go to my representative's office and introduce myself.
9. Introduce myself to my neighbors (I've been at my new place for 4 months, and I have not met them yet).
10. Join some groups in my church.
11. Start going to school board meetings.
12. Attend city council meetings.
I've heard on numerous occasions that "you can only change the world if you believe in yourself, or else be a damned good salesman." What we have in DC right now are great salesmen/saleswomen. We have very few with any integrity whatsoever, but we do have those few. Hold them to account, but start with yourself. From there, the sky is the limit. Start small, grow bigger, think biggest, and be an example. We nobodys can make a difference. It's time we start. Let's change this thing around.
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