I'll bet that title has you wondering what Typhoid Mary and Jackson Hole, Wyoming have in common. No, not Dick Cheney (although he does live there). In 1963 I was in Jackson Hole. It was little more than an intersection with a lot of elk antlers used to create an arch over that intersection. Nestled at the foot of the Grand Tetons, never was there a more beautiful place anywhere on God's green Earth.
And that is exactly what destroyed it. I revisited Jackson Hole in 2005. It is almost a metropolis, with fast food places on every corner, motels and tourist traps. Unless you get out of town, you cannot even see the Grand Tetons anymore. It seems that a lot of people fell in love with Jackson Hole - so they moved there. And in doing so, they destroyed that which had made it so attractive. The same thing happened to the hamlet of Banff, Alberta, nestled amid the Canadian Rockies.
Now back to Typhoid Mary. Mary was a "carrier". Wherever she went, she spread typhoid unknowingly. As typhoid spread, she would move on to get away from it, and in doing so she brought it with her. Just like all those people who left the smog-ridden cities to move to Jackson Hole. They, too, brought their disease with them.
Now it is a lot easier to understand what has happened to the beautiful, simple life that was found in New Hampshire and Vermont through the 70's. Because those states were conservative and believed in small government, the states were very attractive to those from Massachusetts and New York, where life was hectic, restricted by government, heavily taxed and just plain lousy because of their liberal, progressive ideals. They looked at the great life in New Hampshire and Vermont and decided they wanted that, and so moved into those great, conservative states. And they immediately set out to destroy that which attracted them, because when they moved to New Hampshire and Vermont they brought their progressive "typhoid" ideals with them. And now New Hampshire is flailing for the first time in its history, and Vermont has become the most progressive (socialist) state in the nation. Yes, progressivism is the old word for socialism, made new again by the likes of far-left liberals.
The quality of life in New Hampshire and Vermont has suffered terribly over the last 30-40 years as the "Boston" and "Albany" crowds moved into the quaint countryside. And, like Jackson Hole, the beauty is gone.
This post is a warning to all the conservative states in "middle" America - your future is in jeopardy. The progressives spread their poison until even they can no longer tolerate the mess they have made, and so move on. But they do not move to other progressive areas - that is what they are running from. Instead, they will be looking you over, and when they can no longer tolerate their own polluted pond, they will swim on over to yours, and bring their typhoid with them.
Your only hope: when folks move to your area, let them know they will not be made welcome if they bring their poison with them. Let them know the REASON your state is so nice is because you are NOT progressive; not liberal and you intend to keep it that way. And if they intend to spread their poison, shun them just as you would quarantine Typhoid Mary if she came to your town. If you do not, rest assured your quality of life will suffer greatly.
The difference between a progressive and a conservative: A conservative, upon seeing a beautiful flower would take a moment to enjoy it, and leave it for others to enjoy. The progressive, upon seeing a beautiful flower will pick it and put it in a vase for his own pleasure, where it will soon die. And once dead, the progressive tosses it out, then picks another...
I am a conservative. I left Jackson Hole and Banff the way I found them - beautiful. Progressives did not.
/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
ANOTHER Shot Heard 'Round The World
On April 19 of 1775 at the old North Bridge in Lexington, an unknown colonial minuteman fired the "shot heard 'round the world" - the shot often said to be the beginning of the American Revolution. (Actually, many shots had already been fired on that fateful day).
Well, here we are, 235 years later and once again Massachusetts is responsible for another shot heard 'round the world, with the election of Scott Brown, a Republican who will now take the Senate seat held for nearly a half century by the "Liberal Lion", the late Edward "Teddy" Kennedy.
We are unsure just what the full ramifications will be, just as the Colonists were unsure how their own fight for freedom would end. But one thing is certain - America is not the same as it was yesterday, and a lot of power-grabbers in Washington are suddenly taking note that "We, The People" are angry - and that we still have the power to rid ourselves of the scourge that politicians on both sides of the aisle have foisted upon us.
The irony is that, in losing, the Democrats (or rather, the Progressives) in Washington may have just been saved. Saved from themselves. Now that the brakes are being applied to their socialist agenda, the folks may cool down a bit, be less angry, and maybe - just maybe - the Democrats can survive their attempted suicide reminiscent of all those followers of Jim Jones who drank the Kool-Aid.
That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief coming from all those Democrats that Obama, Pelosi and Reid have been bullying and bribing for a year. Many wanted nothing to do with Cap & Trade or this Health Care debacle, but they had little choice. Now they see a chance to save their own butts. And to think they owe it all to a Republican.
Could you use a laugh? Steny Hoyer (D) House Majority Leader said a win by Brown (R) will only prove how angry the people are at - get this - REPUBLICANS.
Where do these idiots come from? And how do they get elected?
/
Well, here we are, 235 years later and once again Massachusetts is responsible for another shot heard 'round the world, with the election of Scott Brown, a Republican who will now take the Senate seat held for nearly a half century by the "Liberal Lion", the late Edward "Teddy" Kennedy.
We are unsure just what the full ramifications will be, just as the Colonists were unsure how their own fight for freedom would end. But one thing is certain - America is not the same as it was yesterday, and a lot of power-grabbers in Washington are suddenly taking note that "We, The People" are angry - and that we still have the power to rid ourselves of the scourge that politicians on both sides of the aisle have foisted upon us.
The irony is that, in losing, the Democrats (or rather, the Progressives) in Washington may have just been saved. Saved from themselves. Now that the brakes are being applied to their socialist agenda, the folks may cool down a bit, be less angry, and maybe - just maybe - the Democrats can survive their attempted suicide reminiscent of all those followers of Jim Jones who drank the Kool-Aid.
That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief coming from all those Democrats that Obama, Pelosi and Reid have been bullying and bribing for a year. Many wanted nothing to do with Cap & Trade or this Health Care debacle, but they had little choice. Now they see a chance to save their own butts. And to think they owe it all to a Republican.
Could you use a laugh? Steny Hoyer (D) House Majority Leader said a win by Brown (R) will only prove how angry the people are at - get this - REPUBLICANS.
Where do these idiots come from? And how do they get elected?
/
CITI
Am I the only one asking why CITI bank was able to contribute $5000 to the Coakley campaign, yet they took $46 billion in taxpayer TARP funds that, just today, they say they are having a tough time repaying because of $7.6 billion in losses in the last quarter?
If I were on welfare, as CITI is, and if I were losing $7.6 billion, as CITI is, I'm not sure I would be giving contributions to anyone. Essentially, since CITI is working off taxpayer funds (welfare), the money they contributed was from taxpayer funds. Is that why we gave them the money? That's a lot like the welfare recipient, upon getting his welfare check, uses it to support the local drug dealer.
/
If I were on welfare, as CITI is, and if I were losing $7.6 billion, as CITI is, I'm not sure I would be giving contributions to anyone. Essentially, since CITI is working off taxpayer funds (welfare), the money they contributed was from taxpayer funds. Is that why we gave them the money? That's a lot like the welfare recipient, upon getting his welfare check, uses it to support the local drug dealer.
/
Monday, January 18, 2010
Had to Laugh
Today, as Obama was campaigning for Coakley in the hotly contested Massachusetts Senate race, he said the Republican (Brown) was a friend of the "fat-cat" bankers. And then this quote:
"Bankers don't need another vote in the United States Senate. They've got plenty. "
Well, Mr. Obama, since the Democrats hold a super-majority in the Senate, exactly what are you saying?
I guess he missed this - it was Coakley, not Brown who went to Washington last Tuesday and solicited a $5000 campaign contribution from - you guessed it - CITI Bank. So, I guess Obama is right - we don't need another bank-owned Senator, so MA should vote for Brown.
I always appreciate a good gaffe that gives a chuckle...
If Brown manages to win, I can't wait to see what BS tactics the Democrats try to use to keep from seating him quickly. But they really should think twice - if the seat him, and the health-care bill dies because of it, Brown would actually be saving Democrats from themselves. Unable to keep pissin' off the folks, they might actually survive.
/
"Bankers don't need another vote in the United States Senate. They've got plenty. "
Well, Mr. Obama, since the Democrats hold a super-majority in the Senate, exactly what are you saying?
I guess he missed this - it was Coakley, not Brown who went to Washington last Tuesday and solicited a $5000 campaign contribution from - you guessed it - CITI Bank. So, I guess Obama is right - we don't need another bank-owned Senator, so MA should vote for Brown.
I always appreciate a good gaffe that gives a chuckle...
If Brown manages to win, I can't wait to see what BS tactics the Democrats try to use to keep from seating him quickly. But they really should think twice - if the seat him, and the health-care bill dies because of it, Brown would actually be saving Democrats from themselves. Unable to keep pissin' off the folks, they might actually survive.
/
Saturday, January 16, 2010
What Is Happening To Us?
This afternoon a young man who had been ice fishing down to the pond was driving his truck back up Moy Mo Da Yo road, and slid off the road into the woods.
Without a word, everyone in my family donned our coats and walked over to the truck that was royally stuck, hung up on a huge pine stump. It never even occured to us not to offer a hand.
I am not so proud of something else, however. In the time we were there trying to help this guy get out, several other vehicles drove up from the pond - and drove right by, without so much as a howdy-doo. Each of them stared as they drove by, but none offered a hand.
Where has our humanity gone? Our compassion? We are all so willing to drop a few bucks onto a charity to help the folks in Haiti, but when it comes to actually doing something to help our fellow man, it seems too many draw the line at that.
I cut down the trees he was hung up against, and a friend he had called hooked a chain and we finally dragged him out.
In reflection, I am sorely disappointed that no one else offered to help. And in that disappointment I recall something that happened at a recent car show. One gentleman had a dead battery at the end of the show. Of the couple hundred folks attending, only one stopped to offer help when they saw his hood up as everyone else was leaving.
America seems to be changing rapidly, and for the worse. Perhaps we should all make a concerted effort to turn that trend around. The next time you see someone in need, just take one moment to imagine that he is you. Then "do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
When the task is done, you'll feel pretty darn good.
/
Without a word, everyone in my family donned our coats and walked over to the truck that was royally stuck, hung up on a huge pine stump. It never even occured to us not to offer a hand.
I am not so proud of something else, however. In the time we were there trying to help this guy get out, several other vehicles drove up from the pond - and drove right by, without so much as a howdy-doo. Each of them stared as they drove by, but none offered a hand.
Where has our humanity gone? Our compassion? We are all so willing to drop a few bucks onto a charity to help the folks in Haiti, but when it comes to actually doing something to help our fellow man, it seems too many draw the line at that.
I cut down the trees he was hung up against, and a friend he had called hooked a chain and we finally dragged him out.
In reflection, I am sorely disappointed that no one else offered to help. And in that disappointment I recall something that happened at a recent car show. One gentleman had a dead battery at the end of the show. Of the couple hundred folks attending, only one stopped to offer help when they saw his hood up as everyone else was leaving.
America seems to be changing rapidly, and for the worse. Perhaps we should all make a concerted effort to turn that trend around. The next time you see someone in need, just take one moment to imagine that he is you. Then "do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
When the task is done, you'll feel pretty darn good.
/
What's Wrong With This Picture?
According to a recent AP article, Obama plans to tax the top 50 banking institutions.
"The proposed 0.15 percent tax would last at least 10 years and generate about $90 billion over the decade, according to administration estimates. It would apply to about 50 of the biggest banks, those with more than $50 billion in assets"
The problem here is multiple - first, he says the tax is to "repay America for the TARP funds", yet he would be taxing institutions that never took TARP funds in the first place. Second, with the exception of CITIbank, just about every bank has already paid back the TARP funds. Meanwhile, some institutions such as General Motors, which did take TARP funds, are exempt. So it appears this has nothing to do with TARP at all - it is simply a way for the Democrats to tax the folks even more (because any tax on these institutions will be passed on - they always are).
Obama further stated that the banks made too much profit - but as I recall, the entire PURPOSE of the TARP money was to help banks get back on solid ground, with good profits so they COULD pay back the TARP funds.
So, let me get this straight...
Give banks some bailout money so they can get back on their feet and repay the money. They do get back on solid ground, and do pay back the money. And because they did what Obama wanted them to do, he has decided to punish them - and many others that took no money. But he is not going to punish the ones who DID NOT pay the money back.
Sounds about right - for the demented Obama administration
Oh - he also says the tax will "only last for a few years". Now I ask you, in the entire history of America, has ANY temporary tax or toll ever been repealed? Ever? No! Once a tax is in place, the government never lets go of it.
I swear to God that this President and his minions are out to purposely destroy capitalism and the free market in an attempt to force Americans to accept a socialist nanny state. Everything he has done in his first year is designed to either harm the economy, or help the terrorists.
Terrorists read their Miranda rights. Terrorists tried in civilian courts, and provided with the same rights that Americans have. Gitmo being closed. Enhanced interrogations disallowed. Hell, ALL interrogations disallowed, as terrorists lawyer up. CIA satellites taken offline from national security use and used to monitor the global warming farce.
And now with the health care bill the administration is cutting even more unsavory deals and sleeping with the dogs. Senator Nelson should be ashamed he did not get as good a deal as the unions just did. While you and I have to pay for the health care bill with seven new taxes, the unions, because they helped Obama get elected - are exempt. That means those taxes on you and I will be going even higher. We will pay our share, the unions' share, Nebraska's share, Florida's share and Vermont's share.
I guess we have to fire Snowe and Collins - they did not get us Mainer's a damned thing. They should have fought to exempt us from the health care bill, and maybe even get us out of having to pay those pesky income taxes. I'm sure if our esteemed Senators make Obama's job easier by offering to vote for the health care bill that he might even give us Texas.
But with our luck, we would get Haiti. And the BILL for putting it back together.
/
"The proposed 0.15 percent tax would last at least 10 years and generate about $90 billion over the decade, according to administration estimates. It would apply to about 50 of the biggest banks, those with more than $50 billion in assets"
The problem here is multiple - first, he says the tax is to "repay America for the TARP funds", yet he would be taxing institutions that never took TARP funds in the first place. Second, with the exception of CITIbank, just about every bank has already paid back the TARP funds. Meanwhile, some institutions such as General Motors, which did take TARP funds, are exempt. So it appears this has nothing to do with TARP at all - it is simply a way for the Democrats to tax the folks even more (because any tax on these institutions will be passed on - they always are).
Obama further stated that the banks made too much profit - but as I recall, the entire PURPOSE of the TARP money was to help banks get back on solid ground, with good profits so they COULD pay back the TARP funds.
So, let me get this straight...
Give banks some bailout money so they can get back on their feet and repay the money. They do get back on solid ground, and do pay back the money. And because they did what Obama wanted them to do, he has decided to punish them - and many others that took no money. But he is not going to punish the ones who DID NOT pay the money back.
Sounds about right - for the demented Obama administration
Oh - he also says the tax will "only last for a few years". Now I ask you, in the entire history of America, has ANY temporary tax or toll ever been repealed? Ever? No! Once a tax is in place, the government never lets go of it.
I swear to God that this President and his minions are out to purposely destroy capitalism and the free market in an attempt to force Americans to accept a socialist nanny state. Everything he has done in his first year is designed to either harm the economy, or help the terrorists.
Terrorists read their Miranda rights. Terrorists tried in civilian courts, and provided with the same rights that Americans have. Gitmo being closed. Enhanced interrogations disallowed. Hell, ALL interrogations disallowed, as terrorists lawyer up. CIA satellites taken offline from national security use and used to monitor the global warming farce.
And now with the health care bill the administration is cutting even more unsavory deals and sleeping with the dogs. Senator Nelson should be ashamed he did not get as good a deal as the unions just did. While you and I have to pay for the health care bill with seven new taxes, the unions, because they helped Obama get elected - are exempt. That means those taxes on you and I will be going even higher. We will pay our share, the unions' share, Nebraska's share, Florida's share and Vermont's share.
I guess we have to fire Snowe and Collins - they did not get us Mainer's a damned thing. They should have fought to exempt us from the health care bill, and maybe even get us out of having to pay those pesky income taxes. I'm sure if our esteemed Senators make Obama's job easier by offering to vote for the health care bill that he might even give us Texas.
But with our luck, we would get Haiti. And the BILL for putting it back together.
/
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Written On The Wind
Everyone understands that success is something that must be built from a solid foundation on firm ground. So when the Obama administration again tries to pull the slight-of-hand trick of saying, "The Stimulus Has Saved Two Million Jobs", we not only must question writings on the wind, but dismiss them out of hand.
If any jobs could be shown to be directly tied to the stimulus, then there needs to be hard facts and figures to prove it. If there are none, then the administration is simply removing truth from the room in an attempt to make black look like white - to try and convince less educated people into thinking you can actually spend your way out of a recession without fueling the economic engine - small business.
It is worth noting that even the White House knows their statement is bogus - they recently stopped putting out regular updates of the employment benefits of the stimulus package because it has been impossible to find hard numbers to back up its claims.
The Associated Press recently reported being unable to locate any facts at all that would lead anyone to believe a single job has been created. And that is an eye-opener, coming from the liberal AP that worked so tirelessly to get Obama elected.
Obama has often said the stimulus has kept public service employees such as teachers and police from losing their jobs. However, right here in Maine, 7 police officers were laid off in York County, and a few others in Cumberland County. So much for "saving" the public service jobs.
Actually, it was not the Obama administration that saved 2,000,000 jobs. I did that. And I challenge the administration to prove otherwise.
The Obama administration will gain credibility in my eyes when they stop trying to BS everyone and begin to be honest and open, and when they stop hiding behind closed doors, with only members of their own party, working secret deals in the dark.
After all, it was this administration that promised transparency. And it was this administration that promised bipartisanship. Neither of which they have made possible. Republicans are not even allowed in discussions, and there are no transparent "closed doors" in the back halls of Congress and in the White House.
But there seems to be no shortage of liars in those once revered halls.
/
If any jobs could be shown to be directly tied to the stimulus, then there needs to be hard facts and figures to prove it. If there are none, then the administration is simply removing truth from the room in an attempt to make black look like white - to try and convince less educated people into thinking you can actually spend your way out of a recession without fueling the economic engine - small business.
It is worth noting that even the White House knows their statement is bogus - they recently stopped putting out regular updates of the employment benefits of the stimulus package because it has been impossible to find hard numbers to back up its claims.
The Associated Press recently reported being unable to locate any facts at all that would lead anyone to believe a single job has been created. And that is an eye-opener, coming from the liberal AP that worked so tirelessly to get Obama elected.
Obama has often said the stimulus has kept public service employees such as teachers and police from losing their jobs. However, right here in Maine, 7 police officers were laid off in York County, and a few others in Cumberland County. So much for "saving" the public service jobs.
Actually, it was not the Obama administration that saved 2,000,000 jobs. I did that. And I challenge the administration to prove otherwise.
The Obama administration will gain credibility in my eyes when they stop trying to BS everyone and begin to be honest and open, and when they stop hiding behind closed doors, with only members of their own party, working secret deals in the dark.
After all, it was this administration that promised transparency. And it was this administration that promised bipartisanship. Neither of which they have made possible. Republicans are not even allowed in discussions, and there are no transparent "closed doors" in the back halls of Congress and in the White House.
But there seems to be no shortage of liars in those once revered halls.
/
Monday, January 11, 2010
Hm-m-m
Professor Mojib Latif, the author of the United Nation's report on Global Warming has now stated that all computer models now show that we can expect 30 years of Global Cooling. He goes on to say that this should not be taken to mean we are not experiencing Global Warming.
He had to come out with a report on the cooling in order to "explain" why the last 10 years have actually been colder than normal. It's called damage control via "spin".
This is the same man whose earlier computer models showed we would be underwater in 30 years.
These people are freakin' nuts! But I've been saying that for years.
/
He had to come out with a report on the cooling in order to "explain" why the last 10 years have actually been colder than normal. It's called damage control via "spin".
This is the same man whose earlier computer models showed we would be underwater in 30 years.
These people are freakin' nuts! But I've been saying that for years.
/
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Bogus AP Report
Today in the Maine Sunday Telegram is a story by AP reporter Darlene Superville with the headline "Report: Senate health bill would raise costs slightly". The story goes on to say that Americans would pay slightly more according to "government economic experts."
First, stop and think who those "government experts" are. They are the same "experts" who said the stimulus bill would result in 3,000,000 new jobs, which never happened. They are the same "experts" that said unemployment would not rise above 8%.
These so-called "economic experts" are people chosen by the current administration - the same people pushing the health care bill! Talk about a conflict of interest. That's like asking Susan Collins if Susan Collins is a good senator.
The real economic experts - including the ones at the CBO, which is the non-partisan group the Congress uses to determine costs - all say the costs on Americans will rise substantially, and permanently.
The point is this: the liberal media (including Associated Press and Maine Telegram and Portland Herald) will not tell you the truth, simply because they have an agenda that includes helping to push health care.
I am not opposed to health care reform, but the plans offered by Congress have nothing to do with reform. Their plans are political footballs that have two purposes - to control the people by controlling their lives, and to raise taxes on everyone to pay for all their liberal ideals.
If the Democratically controlled Congress, and Obama, truly were interested in actual reform, they would have made this a bipartisan bill by inviting Republicans to bring their input into the discussion, and would consider important issues such as tort reform, and allowing competition by letting the folks shop across state lines for insurance. But Congress has locked all Republicans out of the process - they are not permitted to bring anything to the table. They are shut out of the process, and then because they are not allowed to participate, they are accused of being the party of "no". And that is BS. They are not saying "no" - they are saying "Let us be part of the process so we can get a good bipartisan bill." And it is the Democrats who are saying "no". Republicans simply are not allowed to be part of the process.
And any sane person would have to wonder, why not?
Meanwhile, don't get sucked in by the liberal BS that the media, like the above example proves, is trying to foist upon you. This health care plan is going to cost you big time. This is not reform - it is political highway robbery of both your money and your freedoms. It reforms nothing, guarantees bigger profits for insurance companies (because everyone will be required to buy insurance) and will reduce the quality of care (try adding 34 million people without increasing the number of doctors and facilities).
And even the Mayo Clinic has begun closing their doors to Medicare and Medicaid patients. Under this health plan, many more will follow suit. What good is it to have inexpensive medicare if no doctor or hospital will see you because they don't get paid a fair price from medicare? Have you noticed - it is already difficult to find a doctor who takes new medicare patients. It will get much, much worse.
The government has never been successful in any business venture - Social Security is broke. Medicare is broke. The Postal Service is broke. Amtrak is broke. Now I ask you - why would any sane and reasonable person expect that the government can run health care effectively? If everything you touched were to turn to crap, do you think your boss would put you in control of 1/6 of the company's budget?
Frankly, the entire premise of the Democrats - that our health care system is broken - is bogus at the start. America undeniably has the best health care in the world. The problem is not the health care - it is the cost of that care. America's health care is not only the best, but also the most expensive. So the answer to the problem is not to tear everything down and start over. The answer is as simple as making it less expensive. But even in the AP article today, that will not happen in the Senate plan, in spite of its multi-trillion dollar cost.
I say, let us do only those things that decrease the cost of health care. Effective tort reform would not cost taxpayers one dime, but is estimated to reduce costs of health care by as much as 12-18%. And it would save additional taxpayer money by reducing court cases. Tearing down the laws that allow states to determine which policies you can and cannot buy would increase competition and reduce costs by at least another 8-12%. Those two simple things, alone, would cost taxpayers nothing, but would reduce costs by a minimum of 20%.
The only thing wrong with such common sense changes - they are part of what the Republicans want to include, but the Democrat Congress will not permit it.
Why not?
/
First, stop and think who those "government experts" are. They are the same "experts" who said the stimulus bill would result in 3,000,000 new jobs, which never happened. They are the same "experts" that said unemployment would not rise above 8%.
These so-called "economic experts" are people chosen by the current administration - the same people pushing the health care bill! Talk about a conflict of interest. That's like asking Susan Collins if Susan Collins is a good senator.
The real economic experts - including the ones at the CBO, which is the non-partisan group the Congress uses to determine costs - all say the costs on Americans will rise substantially, and permanently.
The point is this: the liberal media (including Associated Press and Maine Telegram and Portland Herald) will not tell you the truth, simply because they have an agenda that includes helping to push health care.
I am not opposed to health care reform, but the plans offered by Congress have nothing to do with reform. Their plans are political footballs that have two purposes - to control the people by controlling their lives, and to raise taxes on everyone to pay for all their liberal ideals.
If the Democratically controlled Congress, and Obama, truly were interested in actual reform, they would have made this a bipartisan bill by inviting Republicans to bring their input into the discussion, and would consider important issues such as tort reform, and allowing competition by letting the folks shop across state lines for insurance. But Congress has locked all Republicans out of the process - they are not permitted to bring anything to the table. They are shut out of the process, and then because they are not allowed to participate, they are accused of being the party of "no". And that is BS. They are not saying "no" - they are saying "Let us be part of the process so we can get a good bipartisan bill." And it is the Democrats who are saying "no". Republicans simply are not allowed to be part of the process.
And any sane person would have to wonder, why not?
Meanwhile, don't get sucked in by the liberal BS that the media, like the above example proves, is trying to foist upon you. This health care plan is going to cost you big time. This is not reform - it is political highway robbery of both your money and your freedoms. It reforms nothing, guarantees bigger profits for insurance companies (because everyone will be required to buy insurance) and will reduce the quality of care (try adding 34 million people without increasing the number of doctors and facilities).
And even the Mayo Clinic has begun closing their doors to Medicare and Medicaid patients. Under this health plan, many more will follow suit. What good is it to have inexpensive medicare if no doctor or hospital will see you because they don't get paid a fair price from medicare? Have you noticed - it is already difficult to find a doctor who takes new medicare patients. It will get much, much worse.
The government has never been successful in any business venture - Social Security is broke. Medicare is broke. The Postal Service is broke. Amtrak is broke. Now I ask you - why would any sane and reasonable person expect that the government can run health care effectively? If everything you touched were to turn to crap, do you think your boss would put you in control of 1/6 of the company's budget?
Frankly, the entire premise of the Democrats - that our health care system is broken - is bogus at the start. America undeniably has the best health care in the world. The problem is not the health care - it is the cost of that care. America's health care is not only the best, but also the most expensive. So the answer to the problem is not to tear everything down and start over. The answer is as simple as making it less expensive. But even in the AP article today, that will not happen in the Senate plan, in spite of its multi-trillion dollar cost.
I say, let us do only those things that decrease the cost of health care. Effective tort reform would not cost taxpayers one dime, but is estimated to reduce costs of health care by as much as 12-18%. And it would save additional taxpayer money by reducing court cases. Tearing down the laws that allow states to determine which policies you can and cannot buy would increase competition and reduce costs by at least another 8-12%. Those two simple things, alone, would cost taxpayers nothing, but would reduce costs by a minimum of 20%.
The only thing wrong with such common sense changes - they are part of what the Republicans want to include, but the Democrat Congress will not permit it.
Why not?
/
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Census Nonsense
2010 is the year of the census. And harrassment.
The Constitution of the United States clearly states, and I quote, "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. "
In raw terms, the enumeration, i.e. COUNT, shall be taken in such MANNER, i.e MEANS as the law requires.
"Manner" is defined as "means". In other words, the count can be taken by going house to house, or by mail, or by fax or any other means.
What does all this come down to? In a nutshell, the law can only require you to give a COUNT of the persons in your household. No other information need be given up. The Constitution also states that the government has no rights that are not expressed stated in the Constitution, so Congress cannot expand on the census without violating the law of the land.
For valid reasons, however, it is considered part of the census to also offer up the ages and gender of each person, so that the government has some means by which to determine the possibility of enlisting a strong militia.
Other than that, the government has no legal right to require any other information in the census, even if Congress passes a bogus law that does require it.
The current census asks a lot of very personal questions of which the only purpose is to decide where the pork goes so votes can be bought, or where the best places are to discriminate.
The problem is this: although the government assures us of privacy, they really cannot assure it at all. Hackers break into the Pentagon. Secret CIA documents are leaked to the New York Times on a regular basis. And there is always the possibility that even America's democracy can fall some day, leaving all those records to some maniacal regime.
Imagine if Hitler had had access to records showing exactly where every person of Jewish descent was living. Do you really want the government to have access to such information about you and your family? Do you really want that info to fall into the wrong hands?
It's like the DNA bank that local, state and federal agencies are building. Eventually they want a sample of everyone's DNA on file. But then what happens when society gets to the point where only the most fit can be allowed to survive - or even be born? Those DNA samples can be a death warrant for millions, in an attempt to "cleanse" Mankind of diseases or mental problems. Or even races.
It matters not what the government says the information can be used for. What matters is that it could fall into the wrong hands because the government is not even close to being infallible.
That is why in 2000 when I received a 24 page census, I only listed names, number, age and gender. I left everything else blank. For the next two months I was harrassed by census takers. They called; they came to my door. Each time I refused to cooperate further. Then they began with threats of fines, even jail. At that point I wrote a letter and sent it by registered mail to the census bureau, stating that if even so much as one more census person or government employee harrassed me about this, I would sue. I further stated that if they believe they can legally subvert the Constitution and use punitive measures for not cooperating, to go right ahead - that I would look forward to getting this into the courts.
I never heard from them again.
The government has no right to know my ethnic background, the state of my marriage or family, what I do for a living, how much I earn, or what color my socks are. Nor will they get any of that information from me.
This year I will provide the same information as in 2000, nothing more. And I expect once again to get harrassed and threatened. Only this time, I will send that letter the first time they come back...
/
The Constitution of the United States clearly states, and I quote, "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. "
In raw terms, the enumeration, i.e. COUNT, shall be taken in such MANNER, i.e MEANS as the law requires.
"Manner" is defined as "means". In other words, the count can be taken by going house to house, or by mail, or by fax or any other means.
What does all this come down to? In a nutshell, the law can only require you to give a COUNT of the persons in your household. No other information need be given up. The Constitution also states that the government has no rights that are not expressed stated in the Constitution, so Congress cannot expand on the census without violating the law of the land.
For valid reasons, however, it is considered part of the census to also offer up the ages and gender of each person, so that the government has some means by which to determine the possibility of enlisting a strong militia.
Other than that, the government has no legal right to require any other information in the census, even if Congress passes a bogus law that does require it.
The current census asks a lot of very personal questions of which the only purpose is to decide where the pork goes so votes can be bought, or where the best places are to discriminate.
The problem is this: although the government assures us of privacy, they really cannot assure it at all. Hackers break into the Pentagon. Secret CIA documents are leaked to the New York Times on a regular basis. And there is always the possibility that even America's democracy can fall some day, leaving all those records to some maniacal regime.
Imagine if Hitler had had access to records showing exactly where every person of Jewish descent was living. Do you really want the government to have access to such information about you and your family? Do you really want that info to fall into the wrong hands?
It's like the DNA bank that local, state and federal agencies are building. Eventually they want a sample of everyone's DNA on file. But then what happens when society gets to the point where only the most fit can be allowed to survive - or even be born? Those DNA samples can be a death warrant for millions, in an attempt to "cleanse" Mankind of diseases or mental problems. Or even races.
It matters not what the government says the information can be used for. What matters is that it could fall into the wrong hands because the government is not even close to being infallible.
That is why in 2000 when I received a 24 page census, I only listed names, number, age and gender. I left everything else blank. For the next two months I was harrassed by census takers. They called; they came to my door. Each time I refused to cooperate further. Then they began with threats of fines, even jail. At that point I wrote a letter and sent it by registered mail to the census bureau, stating that if even so much as one more census person or government employee harrassed me about this, I would sue. I further stated that if they believe they can legally subvert the Constitution and use punitive measures for not cooperating, to go right ahead - that I would look forward to getting this into the courts.
I never heard from them again.
The government has no right to know my ethnic background, the state of my marriage or family, what I do for a living, how much I earn, or what color my socks are. Nor will they get any of that information from me.
This year I will provide the same information as in 2000, nothing more. And I expect once again to get harrassed and threatened. Only this time, I will send that letter the first time they come back...
/
Stuff
Last week we got a wet snow that was perfect for snowballs and snowmen. So I built a nice little snowman out in the yard. You shoulda seem him smile when he saw the snowblower coming.
The entire nation is in the cold - even Miami is only 40 degrees. Believe it or not, one of the warmest spots in the country is Caribou ,Maine. But that's not all - it seems that China, Russia, Europe, the UK - virtually the entire world is suffering abnormally cold weather. I wonder if Al Gore has noticed. This makes 12 years in a row where Earth's "fever" has been cooling. Perhaps we should take steps to INCREASE our carbon footprints.
In December, another 37 American businesses decided to pull up stakes and move operations to other countries because the heavy burden of high taxes, stiff regulations and strong unions do not let them prosper here. With those businesses go thousands more American jobs that can never return. One such business, Evergreen Solar of Ayer MA is moving facilities to China because they can no longer be competitive in the U.S. The government's response: increase taxes further, stiffen regulations more, and empower the unions even further. Where did they get THAT playbook - from Karl Marx?
I have always said that political correctness would poison America, and it has. Too many folks are afraid to say what they really think, resulting in deeper suspicions and prejudices. It's the same as putting a lid on a boiling pot - it just makes it boil harder. The phrase "Honest Injun" cannot be tolerated. Illegal aliens are now "undocumented workers". What's next - calling a drug dealer an unlicensed pharmacist? Does anyone really believe that the fat person being called "calorically challenged" doesn't know you are still calling him fat? Drop the PC BS and put some honesty back into the conversation. I hear Pelosi and Reid now want to change the word "transparency" to "optical illusion". At least that would be accurate in their case.
Dodd and Dorgan, both long-time Democrats from "safe" democrat districts have said they will not run again in 2010. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but there are no longer any "safe" democrat districts after the fiasco Washington is involved in lately. If "strong" democrats are quitting in "safe" districts, it would appear they understand how badly the administration and Congress has poisoned the political waters. And don't forget the Democrat that recently jumped ship to the Republican party...rats know when to desert a sinking ship.
As I cruise all the blogs and chat boards, I have noticed a tremendous number of people who are taking up my call to vote against every incumbent, regardless of party. While I do not really expect that to happen, I am pleased to see so many folks finding the sense in it. It goes to show that America is not yet lost.
We still have about 15 million Americans unemployed. We also still have about 15 million illegal aliens who are "working the jobs Americans won't do". Of course, sane folks know that is untrue - there is no such thing as a job Americans will not do. Now if we could just shut the liberals up long enough to force the illegals out by refusing them jobs, that would solve the unemployment problem in America and we could get the show back on the road.
/
The entire nation is in the cold - even Miami is only 40 degrees. Believe it or not, one of the warmest spots in the country is Caribou ,Maine. But that's not all - it seems that China, Russia, Europe, the UK - virtually the entire world is suffering abnormally cold weather. I wonder if Al Gore has noticed. This makes 12 years in a row where Earth's "fever" has been cooling. Perhaps we should take steps to INCREASE our carbon footprints.
In December, another 37 American businesses decided to pull up stakes and move operations to other countries because the heavy burden of high taxes, stiff regulations and strong unions do not let them prosper here. With those businesses go thousands more American jobs that can never return. One such business, Evergreen Solar of Ayer MA is moving facilities to China because they can no longer be competitive in the U.S. The government's response: increase taxes further, stiffen regulations more, and empower the unions even further. Where did they get THAT playbook - from Karl Marx?
I have always said that political correctness would poison America, and it has. Too many folks are afraid to say what they really think, resulting in deeper suspicions and prejudices. It's the same as putting a lid on a boiling pot - it just makes it boil harder. The phrase "Honest Injun" cannot be tolerated. Illegal aliens are now "undocumented workers". What's next - calling a drug dealer an unlicensed pharmacist? Does anyone really believe that the fat person being called "calorically challenged" doesn't know you are still calling him fat? Drop the PC BS and put some honesty back into the conversation. I hear Pelosi and Reid now want to change the word "transparency" to "optical illusion". At least that would be accurate in their case.
Dodd and Dorgan, both long-time Democrats from "safe" democrat districts have said they will not run again in 2010. Pardon me for stating the obvious, but there are no longer any "safe" democrat districts after the fiasco Washington is involved in lately. If "strong" democrats are quitting in "safe" districts, it would appear they understand how badly the administration and Congress has poisoned the political waters. And don't forget the Democrat that recently jumped ship to the Republican party...rats know when to desert a sinking ship.
As I cruise all the blogs and chat boards, I have noticed a tremendous number of people who are taking up my call to vote against every incumbent, regardless of party. While I do not really expect that to happen, I am pleased to see so many folks finding the sense in it. It goes to show that America is not yet lost.
We still have about 15 million Americans unemployed. We also still have about 15 million illegal aliens who are "working the jobs Americans won't do". Of course, sane folks know that is untrue - there is no such thing as a job Americans will not do. Now if we could just shut the liberals up long enough to force the illegals out by refusing them jobs, that would solve the unemployment problem in America and we could get the show back on the road.
/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)