Asking the Right Questions
Would you rather be strangled or stabbed to death? Take a moment and think it over.... With stabbing it would probably be very painful but you could still breathe....unless you got blood in your lungs. Stabbing may be a faster death if you were stabbed in the head. I supposed it depends on where one is being stabbed. Also, in the strangling option who would be the aggressor? Is it like getting hung because that's really more like breaking your neck.... Which would be over faster? Okay, got your answer?
While some of you may prefer strangulation to stabbing, I feel fairly confident in saying that most if not all of you would prefer not to be murdered at all. Of course, that wasn't really the question posed. Perhaps that is the issue. Just maybe, we're asking the wrong questions. This concept of asking the right questions could revolutionize the way in which we view issues. Many of the most bitterly fought issues may become a moot point if we could just ask the right questions.
Nearly everyone has an opinion as to whether or not we should be sending more troops into Iran, but there has been no option offered as to whether or not we should pull troops OUT of Iran (not to mention the other 129 countries in which we have military bases).
There is constant debate as to how to fix the ever failing educational system and yet when was the last time you stopped to ponder exactly what constitutional power gives our national government the right to create and operate an educational system in the first place.
Dozens of protests are organized every year to advocate for and against gay marriage. Votes are swayed solely on this issue, and yet I have rarely if ever heard a debate as to whether or not the government should be involved in marriage to begin with.
So, what is the right question? I would propose that it is relatively simple: What does the constitution say? Jefferson explained saying this, "On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invited against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." Some say that the constitution is old or outdated and is no longer applicable in which case our congressional representatives are free to try to amend it. However, to ignore the constitution or aspects of it, is to denounce the entire document and thereby condemn the rules and restraint on which our government is founded, giving them virtually free reign over us.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Reuse, Reduce, and Repeat?
After the media buzz around presidents Obama’s health care speech to congress, as well as his own egging that he wanted us all to “tune in”, one would have expected a little more from Wednesday night’s speech. While, as always, Mr. Obama presented a well written and well spoken speech, it basically outlined the same bill that American’s have already been debating for the past month and a half. (Come-on Mr. President, I could have been watching “So you think you can Dance.”) I was hoping to hear something new, but fear not avid prune juice readers, I still have a thing or two to say about this little health care topic.
I can appreciate president Obama’s frustration with the rumors that have been flying around with this proposal. Opponents are exaggerating of the possibilities that could result from the passing of HR 3200 or a similar health care bill. While there are not literally panels of angry bureaucrats plotting to torture our grandparents to death, there are a number of issues that do require further discussion.
The public option that has been proposed for the purpose of providing competition has a few gaping holes in it. First and for most, its success is dependent on a set of rules and restrictions limiting private insurance company’s freedom and mandating that they insure people with preexisting conditions. If, as the president is suggesting, the public option could provide lower costs than what the insurance companies are currently offering, it would not be necessary to set up mandates for private companies that would drive up their costs. If a public option could provide better coverage at lower costs, competition and the free market would drive down costs for private insurance companies. Secondly, the public option would offer nationwide coverage while private companies are banned for crossing state lines. We cannot expect fair competition when the government plan not only has the benefit of enforcing the mandates on everyone else, but isn’t even expected to play by the same rules as private companies.
President Obama’s proposal is revolutionary in the fact that it would mandate that every American purchase health care. He compared this requirement to car insurance saying, “Individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance - just as most states require you to carry auto insurance”. Ah yes, but what he failed to mention is that car insurance is only required if you own/drive a car. This would be the very first tax in the history of the United States of America that taxes individuals for being alive. Let me repeat that, this bill would require American’s to pay just for being alive. However, while we are on the subject of comparing car insurance to health insurance, let’s look at the proposed mandate to require insurance companies to insure those with preexisting conditions. It would be like crashing your car and then attempting to purchase insurance to pay for it (which by the way is considered fraud). But as President Obama said “Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part.” If that isn’t socialism, I don’t know what is.
Then there is the issue of cost. President Obama promises to pay for this estimated 8 trillion dollar proposal by “finding it” in the budget. Is it true that there are billions of wasted dollars in our budget? Absolutely, but if it was so easy to find and remove this waste, why has no other president in history ever thought of this genius idea as a way to fund their budget? Thomas Jefferson once said, "never spend your money before you have it." Until we have secured this money, or at least secured a realistic plan of weeding it out, we cannot commit to spending it.
Near the end of his speech, President Obama threw the conservative base a small bone saying, “I know that the Bush Administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these issues. It's a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.” However, this comes just days after saying this about conservatives “I-I’ve got a question for all those folks. What’re you gonna do? What’s your answer? What’s your solution? And ya’ know what, they don’t have one! Their answer is to do nothing!” and weeks after this “I don’t want the folks who created the mess to do a lot of talking. I want them to get out the way so we can clean up the mess. I don’t mind cleaning up after them, but don’t do a lot of talking.” This kind of switch hitter language makes me leery about trusting a promise that president will address tort reform when he isn’t suggesting it be incorporated into any bill or volunteering any details as to how is plan will work or how it will substantially affect medical liability.
President Obama repeatedly talked about the issue of people losing insurance when they move or change jobs. This reform plan does nothing to address that issue. Health insurance will still, in most cases, be tied to jobs. The issue of rising costs is poorly addressed, suggesting that this one additional competing company will significantly curb ever increasing costs. While this plan would increase the number of Americans that have coverage, without a successful plan to lower costs, and a way to let Americans keep their insurance when changing jobs, while not restricting the rights of individuals in private companies, we still have a failing plan.
Don’t let the frustration that this is the only plan you’ve been offered limit your open-mindedness to the option of revolutionizing the health care system in a successful way. Some may say “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” That is a nice way of saying, “settle”. Settle for a plan that takes away your rights and options, costs more in taxes and coverage, and discourages personal responsibility. I’m not ready to settle and you shouldn’t be either. Let's fix it.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Is Healthcare a Right?
It's the million dollar question. While it is easy to declare that health care ought to be a right for every American, it is first necessary to explore what qualifications and limitations pertain to inalienable or individual rights.
Just as the right to pursue happiness is limited to that which does not infringe upon the rights of others, so must the promise of health care. By declaring heath care a right, one guarantees that, by some means, care will be provided to anyone who desires it. This begs the question, if health care is a right, what quality of care is guaranteed with that right? How do we maintain that level of care if we don't have the personnel to provide it? If health care is a right, others must be required to provide that care, which is an obvious violation of our right to liberty. For any right to have substantive value it must not encroach upon the rights of others, otherwise how can any right have value?
Rights are intended as a means to limit government power. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not provisions given to us by government, but are natural born rights that are constitutionally protected from government violation.
Just as we are given the right to pursue happiness, and not the right TO happiness, so it must be with health care. We have the right to pursue health care, but cannot provide the right to heath care due to the fact that it is dependant upon the labors of others. Therefore, health care cannot be a right.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. "
Barry Goldwater
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Republican [Con]census
The Republican [Con] census
Although I consider myself a libertarian, since libertarian politicians such as Ron Paul have been known to run under the republican ticket, I am registered as a republican. This being said, I recently received what was entitled the 2009 Republican Party Census Document: a letter requesting that you fill out a census questionnaire and donate money to the republican party. While it was immediately apparent to me that the Republican National Committee has done nothing to deserve a donation of any kind, I thought perhaps filling out the census questionnaire could help redirect them onto the right path.
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Although I consider myself a libertarian, since libertarian politicians such as Ron Paul have been known to run under the republican ticket, I am registered as a republican. This being said, I recently received what was entitled the 2009 Republican Party Census Document: a letter requesting that you fill out a census questionnaire and donate money to the republican party. While it was immediately apparent to me that the Republican National Committee has done nothing to deserve a donation of any kind, I thought perhaps filling out the census questionnaire could help redirect them onto the right path.
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By Question four I was too irritated to continue. Not that I don't agree that the stimulus package is wasteful or that the federal government should not be involved in private business however, completely weighted obviously biased questions, like the tripe that consumes this "census", do not provide accurate unbiased statistics for the republican party to judge their party's views. It's not a census if the intended or "correct" answer is clearly outlined in the wording.
After reading the last question (number 3 under Republican Party) I was forced to conclude that this survey is nothing short of a rouse to coerce money out of ignorant unsuspecting republicans for the republican national committee to throw into the air and roll around in. According to this, it cost's $12 for someone to read my 25 question multiple choice survey? Really? And if I chose not to pay for to cover this obviously necessary cost, the only possible alternative is that I will be voting for "liberal democrats" for the next 10 years. Yes, it really says that (see image 4).
Seriously republicans, are you guys effing kidding me? aaaand that is why Democrats rule all three branches of government because despite unlikely odds, you guys have found a way to be even bigger douche bags. Congratulations. That is quite an accomplishment.
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Image 4 Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Party Politics
With the heath care battle raging full force both sides are shooting to kill. The republicans are raving about about lines in the proposed bill that would supposedly advice the elderly about suicide tactics, while the democrats wring their hands declaring that anyone who does not support the bill hates poor children. While the charade is no surprise, perhaps, after decades of bickering that would put even the bitterest of married couples to shame, it's time to abandon twisted truths and guilt trips as political tactics.To the Republicans: Stop making stuff up. While you could argue that there is a grain of truth found in your twisted interpretations and presentations of the content of HR 3200, these unfounded claims do nothing in making a defence against government controlled health care. Try to remember, the point of the health care discussion isn't so you can listen to how good you sound, it is to educate people on the topic.
To the Democrats: Stop assuming that all the problems will be solved by this bill. Educate yourself on the actual content and use critical thinking to discern how it would realistically affect our nation given the historic success of other nationally run socialized programs. The blind trust I see floating around the democratic party not only defies logic, but it is historically the foundation of tyranny throughout history.
To both sides: Lets remember that politics is not sports. You can't just pick a team and root for them. This isn't an I win, you lose situation. Either we all win, or we all lose.
"If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be....If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed."
-Thomas Jefferson
Thursday, July 30, 2009
If You Give Congress a Cookie...
...they're going to ask for your health care. It seems congress has grown weary of nibbling away at our personal rights bit by bit. They have decided it's time to feast, and so HR 3200 was born.
HR 3200 proposes the creation of a public government run health insurance program that would "compete" with private plans. It would require every American to have government approved health care or pay a penalty tax. Meaning, after 2013 you have two options: keep your current health care plan for the rest of your life, or switch to one in which the government decides what treatments and benefits you should get. If you want to switch insurance in the private sector (non government approved) you will be taxed to pay for the socialized care as well as a penalty tax for not buying into the system, and will still have to pay the private insurance premiums. This system ensures that the vast majority of Americans will have no choice but to purchase a government approved insurance plan, which have no set cost limits. By setting/enforcing the rules while competing in the system, the government is virtually giving themselves the right to play umpire in their own baseball game, and we're just supposed to trust that they'll play fair.
Socialized health care will devastate the level of care that most Americans receive today. As with education, the poor will receive the worst level of care while the very wealthy will use the private sector to provide the best for their family. Notice you don't see any crappy private schools, because no one would voluntarily pay for them. Yet we see devastated public schools across the nation that, regardless of the level of funding, continue to struggle due to the corruption and greed that couldn't survive in the private sector. The same would be true with health care.
Medicare and Medicaid costs are sky high with no realistic plan to curb costs, and we are planning to cut funding to these programs to help pay for the trillion dollar proposed health insurance reform. How can we trust a government that cannot operate the medical programs it has in place to successfully manage our health care?
No other insurance system in the US works like the health care system and none of the other systems seem to be struggling the way health care is. Take, for instance, car insurance. You don't expect your car insurance to pay for routine maintenance like an oil change or new tires, yet you expect your medical insurance to pay for your yearly physical. Insurance is intended as a means of indemnity against the occurrence of an uncertain event (for instance a car crash in the case of car insurance, or a cancer diagnosis in the case of medical insurance). By returning health coverage to health insurance we would lower costs by reducing the over treatment that now drives up health care costs and encourage affordable rates and a high level of care through increased competition.
Even if HR 3200 were an effective medical reform plan, the reality is that we cannot afford it. How can we raise taxes in an already struggling economy that promises to get worse once the commercial real estate market crashes? This plan is predicted to cost almost $1,000,000,000,000,000 (trillion) and would add costs by creating number of new government agencies, each of which has building, operations, and employee costs that must be paid for by the tax payers. It would further reduce competition, thereby encouraging health care and insurance costs to rise even higher.
We all agree that we cannot afford to continue down the road we are currently on. However, we cannot afford this plan either! We need to retract laws and restrictions put in place by special interest groups that favor large companies (for instance, laws stating that we cannot purchase generic drugs from other countries at 1/10th the cost). Allow the free market to do its job for once, and we can resolve these issues. Don't take my word on it, research for yourselves. This is some of the most important legislation to pass through congress in our lifetime. Ours family's future is in your hands. Write your local representatives, and let them know your views.
HR3200 text below:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
HR2454
HR 2454
Below is my latest letter to my congressman regarding HR 2454, the Cap and trade bill.
Dear Congressman Scott;
I am emailing you on what I suspect to be a futile attempt to dissuade you from voting for HR 2454. This “Cap and Trade” bill will raise the cost of, among other things, electricity and gas for every American. President Obama estimated the cost of this legislation to be over 850 billion dollars, which is, no doubt, a very conservative estimate and would realistically amount to a fraction of the actual cost.
You and your fellow politicians have spent the past year huffing and puffing to pass the bailout and the stimulus bills in order to “take strain off of the tax payers”. In fact, you have spent over a trillion (1,000,000,000,000,000) of our tax dollars over the past year with your arrogant theory that you have the power to “jump start” the economy. Great job. My home state of Michigan currently has a 14% unemployment rate. A trillion dollars and an unemployment rate of 14%. Our money hard at work.
Sarcasm aside, seeing as you have usurped so much of our money, why not use some of it to provide tax breaks and incentives to companies who curb their carbon footprints enough to fall under the arbitrary “cap” amount. Instead of taking our money, why not give some back?
The government has created a commodity and is now taxing those who chose not to buy it. These costs will be passed onto consumers, similar to when gas prices rose and costs of goods increased. Do you believe the average American to be ignorant enough to not notice a difference? I would like to believe your claims that the taxes and charges for this "cap and trade" commodity will be used to make energy consumption more efficient. However, if social security tells us anything it’s that funds collected for one specific tax can be used on any form of government spending through inter-governmental loans. Yes, the public knows about these.
So, again, I will ask you not to burden your constituents with higher costs and the layoffs that would certainly come from burdening businesses with higher taxes. Please remember, you work for us, not for Washington. Please oppose HR 2454.
Email your rep. Make your voice known.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Health Care Breakdown
Heath Care Breakdown
An explanation of what President Obama’s heath care reform
plan proposes and what it would mean for health care as we know it.
President Obama’s health care overhaul plan intends to provide a public health care option as an alternative to private care. The goal is to offer a more affordable health care plan for the currently un or under- insured. This new plan would theoretically create competition by offering lower prices for coverage thereby driving down the cost of private insurance plans. What this proposal fails to recognize is that there already IS competition in the health care system between the numerous existing companies.
The reason insurance prices are high is because health care costs are high. As long as health care costs remain high insurance companies cannot drop prices without reducing coverage, otherwise they fail to be profitable and are forced to go under. This same problem would exist with any proposed government plan. The government cannot create a more affordable insurance plan that offers equal coverage without dropping prices below cost or making bargains with health care professionals to drop their costs. If the new public plan did successfully negotiate lower costs with doctors, the health care system would have to make up that money by raising costs for private insurance as well as the uninsured.
As this cycle continues, more and more people would sway towards the less expensive public plan and private companies would begin to fail. Once these companies failed, the health care system would no longer have anyone to make up for its reduced cost for public health care, and therefore would have to raise prices back up for public care plans leaving us with the same problem we started with... only now we’d have a government run plan with little or no competition in the private sector.
This is a best case scenario assuming that the government initially implements a successful financial backing for their plan. The likely alternative would be that upon accepting more high risk patients at lower rates, the plan would immediately begin losing money leading to either a failure or a bailout.
Instead of working on reducing insurance costs, we must focus on reducing heath care costs and let free market competition do its job in the insurance industry.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Drawing the Line
Drawing the Line
Squint really hard and look towards the horizon behind you. Nope, a little to the right. There, see it? That’s where our government’s rights should have stopped. It’s barely visible now, but they aren’t looking back. Oh my, no, they are forging bravely ahead into the land of government control. And today’s example of our ever evaporating rights is the sure-to-pass bill that will empower the FDA to regulate the tobacco industry.
While many applaud this step towards further restricting cigarette companies’ rights, few lift the curtain to see the implications behind this action. In essence this bill gives the federal government the right to decide what is good for us as individuals. Not that they haven’t already been treading down this path with the drug laws and the patriot act, but this bill takes it one step further. Forget personal rights. The government is now in the business of protecting you from yourself.
With the approval of this bill, our congressmen have openly declared that they have the right to restrict anything that poses a substantial risk to one’s self, regardless of its level of impact on others; they have opened the flood gates to begin wrapping their tentacles around every facet of our lives. For example, Chipotle’s Chicken Burrito has 1,179 calories and 47 grams of fat. Frequent consumption of this is arguably more dangerous to our heath than a couple of cigarettes every now and then. Macaroni Grill’s Spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce more than doubles that risk with a whopping 2,430 calories and 128 grams of fat… and note that neither of these dishes are served with a label clearly explaining the health risks involved with their consumption. What is to stop the government from restricting the production of those high calorie foods? It is no is no longer our right to be unhealthy. We might as well make chairs uncomfortable and add a high buzzing sound to the TV to encourage people to go outside and exercise. This Bill gives the government a blank check to sign away our individual rights on the basis of our so called protection.
At least our government is standing up to the tobacco lobbyists’ for once right? Wrrrooong. The only one’s this legislation WILL benefit is the tobacco industry. These new government regulations are sure stop or at least decrease the amount of money in law suit settlements the tobacco industry pays out each year which will more than make up for any loss in business due to advertisement and flavor restrictions. The tobacco industry knows damn well that it doesn’t need advertizing or flavoring to sell cigarettes. I don’t see crack addicts complaining about the lack of cherry flavoring in their crack and I can’t remember the last time I saw a magazine ad for meth but none of them seem to have any trouble drumming up business.
We are already spending billions of dollars each and every year in our futile battle against drugs. With the largest deficit the US has ever seen and the two wars we are currently funding, don’t you think we could find a better use of our time and money than cigarette restrictions?
Squint really hard and look towards the horizon behind you. Nope, a little to the right. There, see it? That’s where our government’s rights should have stopped. It’s barely visible now, but they aren’t looking back. Oh my, no, they are forging bravely ahead into the land of government control. And today’s example of our ever evaporating rights is the sure-to-pass bill that will empower the FDA to regulate the tobacco industry.
While many applaud this step towards further restricting cigarette companies’ rights, few lift the curtain to see the implications behind this action. In essence this bill gives the federal government the right to decide what is good for us as individuals. Not that they haven’t already been treading down this path with the drug laws and the patriot act, but this bill takes it one step further. Forget personal rights. The government is now in the business of protecting you from yourself.
With the approval of this bill, our congressmen have openly declared that they have the right to restrict anything that poses a substantial risk to one’s self, regardless of its level of impact on others; they have opened the flood gates to begin wrapping their tentacles around every facet of our lives. For example, Chipotle’s Chicken Burrito has 1,179 calories and 47 grams of fat. Frequent consumption of this is arguably more dangerous to our heath than a couple of cigarettes every now and then. Macaroni Grill’s Spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce more than doubles that risk with a whopping 2,430 calories and 128 grams of fat… and note that neither of these dishes are served with a label clearly explaining the health risks involved with their consumption. What is to stop the government from restricting the production of those high calorie foods? It is no is no longer our right to be unhealthy. We might as well make chairs uncomfortable and add a high buzzing sound to the TV to encourage people to go outside and exercise. This Bill gives the government a blank check to sign away our individual rights on the basis of our so called protection.
At least our government is standing up to the tobacco lobbyists’ for once right? Wrrrooong. The only one’s this legislation WILL benefit is the tobacco industry. These new government regulations are sure stop or at least decrease the amount of money in law suit settlements the tobacco industry pays out each year which will more than make up for any loss in business due to advertisement and flavor restrictions. The tobacco industry knows damn well that it doesn’t need advertizing or flavoring to sell cigarettes. I don’t see crack addicts complaining about the lack of cherry flavoring in their crack and I can’t remember the last time I saw a magazine ad for meth but none of them seem to have any trouble drumming up business.
We are already spending billions of dollars each and every year in our futile battle against drugs. With the largest deficit the US has ever seen and the two wars we are currently funding, don’t you think we could find a better use of our time and money than cigarette restrictions?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
HR 1207
HR 1207
Below is my letter to Bobby Scott, my local rep. Join me in writing demeaning emails to your congressmen...
"Mr. Scott, on a previous occasion I emailed you requesting that you co-sponsor HR 1207 to Audit the currently unrestrained and undisclosed spending of the Federal Reserve. You and your fellow congressmen continually bombard us with the idea of "tightening our belts," telling the financially struggling Americans that you are doing everything you can to help us. Yet, somehow, you haven't found time to sponsor a bill that would expose the actions of the company responsible for printing, managing and distributing trillions of tax payer dollars. It is a disturbing day when a so called servant of the people resists supporting a Bill to disclose the spending and printing of the American people’s money. Remember, that is OUR money. So I ask you again, with waning confidence, please do not betray the American citizens that you have sworn to represent.
Please co-sponsor HR 1207, and show the American people that you really are a voice for us. "
Click this link to see if your rep has co-sponsored yet. http://www.campaignforliberty.com/campaigns/1207cosponsors.php
Below is my letter to Bobby Scott, my local rep. Join me in writing demeaning emails to your congressmen...
"Mr. Scott, on a previous occasion I emailed you requesting that you co-sponsor HR 1207 to Audit the currently unrestrained and undisclosed spending of the Federal Reserve. You and your fellow congressmen continually bombard us with the idea of "tightening our belts," telling the financially struggling Americans that you are doing everything you can to help us. Yet, somehow, you haven't found time to sponsor a bill that would expose the actions of the company responsible for printing, managing and distributing trillions of tax payer dollars. It is a disturbing day when a so called servant of the people resists supporting a Bill to disclose the spending and printing of the American people’s money. Remember, that is OUR money. So I ask you again, with waning confidence, please do not betray the American citizens that you have sworn to represent.
Please co-sponsor HR 1207, and show the American people that you really are a voice for us. "
Click this link to see if your rep has co-sponsored yet. http://www.campaignforliberty.com/campaigns/1207cosponsors.php
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Concealed Bill Concealed in Bill
Concealed Bill, Concealed in Bill
Recently, the Senate passed their version of the so called “credit card overhaul” bill. If passed into law the bill would limit a practice called “universal default”, restrict the ability of those under 21 to get a card, prevent high "over limit" fees, and of course, allow concealed guns into national parks....
Wait, WHAT!? Which of these doesn't belong? The relationship between gun rights and credit cards escapes me. Despite my support of gun rights and my condemnation of restricting the rights of private companies, the methods used to get this gun legislation passed is ludicrous.
Disturbingly, the practice of tucking away unpopular (and unrelated) provisions in popular bills is nothing new. In the Iraq War Supplemental Funding Bill there was a provision to provide amnesty to illegal immigrant farm workers. In 2006 a bill was signed to help prevent terrorists from sneaking a nuclear, chemical or germ weapon into the United States in the shipping containers that enter the U.S. each year. The bill also included a provision to strengthen laws that forbid most online gambling. Yes, these little nuggets are scattered throughout any and every bill that goes through Congress.
The fact that our government unabashedly uses this technique for passing unpopular bills ought to be outrageous and shocking to us as citizens, and yet here we are. We sit back and and apathetically shrug it off saying "well there's nothing I can do about it". Wasn't our government founded on the basis that we SHOULD be able to do something about it? If the citizens can't stop the most OBVIOUS breeches in etiquette in goverment, it's got to make you wonder what's going on behind closed doors.
This is not a Republican issue. This is not a democratic issue. This is a GOVERNMENT issue. We're so busy pointing fingers at each other that we don't take the time to look up and see the the culprit is standing there in broad daylight laughing at us.
So, in conclusion, stop beind dip shits. Do something.
Recently, the Senate passed their version of the so called “credit card overhaul” bill. If passed into law the bill would limit a practice called “universal default”, restrict the ability of those under 21 to get a card, prevent high "over limit" fees, and of course, allow concealed guns into national parks....
Wait, WHAT!? Which of these doesn't belong? The relationship between gun rights and credit cards escapes me. Despite my support of gun rights and my condemnation of restricting the rights of private companies, the methods used to get this gun legislation passed is ludicrous.
Disturbingly, the practice of tucking away unpopular (and unrelated) provisions in popular bills is nothing new. In the Iraq War Supplemental Funding Bill there was a provision to provide amnesty to illegal immigrant farm workers. In 2006 a bill was signed to help prevent terrorists from sneaking a nuclear, chemical or germ weapon into the United States in the shipping containers that enter the U.S. each year. The bill also included a provision to strengthen laws that forbid most online gambling. Yes, these little nuggets are scattered throughout any and every bill that goes through Congress.
The fact that our government unabashedly uses this technique for passing unpopular bills ought to be outrageous and shocking to us as citizens, and yet here we are. We sit back and and apathetically shrug it off saying "well there's nothing I can do about it". Wasn't our government founded on the basis that we SHOULD be able to do something about it? If the citizens can't stop the most OBVIOUS breeches in etiquette in goverment, it's got to make you wonder what's going on behind closed doors.
This is not a Republican issue. This is not a democratic issue. This is a GOVERNMENT issue. We're so busy pointing fingers at each other that we don't take the time to look up and see the the culprit is standing there in broad daylight laughing at us.
So, in conclusion, stop beind dip shits. Do something.
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Budget Battle Blog
It's the land of the free
And the home of the brave,
A land like no other, we ought surely save
From this budget that would follow us all to our graves
More greedy than grinches, more harmful than thneeds,
It’s one thing to which we just cannot concede.
It’s wompus! It’s cratchy! It just cant be true!
Why would Obama dare spring this on you!?
And on me and my children and cousins and friends,
And the home of the brave,
A land like no other, we ought surely save
From this budget that would follow us all to our graves
More greedy than grinches, more harmful than thneeds,
It’s one thing to which we just cannot concede.
It’s wompus! It’s cratchy! It just cant be true!
Why would Obama dare spring this on you!?
And on me and my children and cousins and friends,
All over our country, this problem transcends.
It’s time to do something to stand up and fight!
to discover a way to get out of this plight.
So my partner and I have come up with a game
to uncover the spending that we find insane,
We’ll search through the budget, we’ll scour each word
To uncover the spending that’s truly absurd,
"I'll beat you" I cried to this blogs other writer
"the ideas that I'll find will be worse than street fighter."
"No" cried my friend "that just cannot be true,
I'll find a more ridiculous item than you."
The contest is set; all the screws are in place,
Hope you’re ready, it's time! Let’s get on with the race!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Weak Sauce
Weak sauce.
Thats the best way to describe blogs that I read on the internet. I find myself wondering why I am not taking part in a hobby that requires no real talent or quotation of facts. Everyone knows that if something is posted on the interwebz that surely it is legitimate...and I want to be personally involved in this growing trend.
I have opinions, most of which are so deeply embedded in my mind that they have no hope of being changed. I share them with friends and family but I find it difficult to share them with a larger audience. This blog changes all that. I now will have the capability to berate you with my views and one sided arguments until you too think and see the world just as I do.
My views and opinions will cover many topics and issues, but mostly I will stick with politics since it gives me the most fodder.
Now you will have to excuse me so I can go take my daily suppliments and a big ole glass of prune juice.
Toodles
~Old Man
Thats the best way to describe blogs that I read on the internet. I find myself wondering why I am not taking part in a hobby that requires no real talent or quotation of facts. Everyone knows that if something is posted on the interwebz that surely it is legitimate...and I want to be personally involved in this growing trend.
I have opinions, most of which are so deeply embedded in my mind that they have no hope of being changed. I share them with friends and family but I find it difficult to share them with a larger audience. This blog changes all that. I now will have the capability to berate you with my views and one sided arguments until you too think and see the world just as I do.
My views and opinions will cover many topics and issues, but mostly I will stick with politics since it gives me the most fodder.
Now you will have to excuse me so I can go take my daily suppliments and a big ole glass of prune juice.
Toodles
~Old Man
Friday, May 1, 2009
Prune Juice
It’s not sexy.
I don’t remember the last time I saw a chick in a bikini laying out with a nice tall glass of prune juice and it certainly can’t stand up against those frozen margaritas with the salted edges, a lime dangling off the side, and condensation slowly forming on the glass and sliding down the smooth hard stem. Purpley- brown in color and reputed as the drink of the elderly, prune juice isn’t winning any beauty contests, but damnit you and I both know it’s good for us.
In a culture obsessed with instant gratification and a ‘do what feels best right now’ mentality, it’s no wonder that prune juice is about as popular as cornrows on white people.
And so it is with our political system; flashy smiles and enthusiastic fist pounding have taken the place of personal responsibility and sound principals. The national debt is growing exponentially, while the value of our currency is plummeting. We spend weeks on end dwelling on the Swine...I mean H1N1 flu, and ignoring the fact that Tuberculosis and other flu strains kill thousands of people every year. We'll we've had enough. So get ready, because we old fashioned scamps have discovered the internet and with the power of prune's we'll be up bitching until at least 8PM.... except on Sundays when we'll be watching Americas funniest home videos. In conclusion, welcome to prune juice. Bitter never tasted so sweet.
I don’t remember the last time I saw a chick in a bikini laying out with a nice tall glass of prune juice and it certainly can’t stand up against those frozen margaritas with the salted edges, a lime dangling off the side, and condensation slowly forming on the glass and sliding down the smooth hard stem. Purpley- brown in color and reputed as the drink of the elderly, prune juice isn’t winning any beauty contests, but damnit you and I both know it’s good for us.
In a culture obsessed with instant gratification and a ‘do what feels best right now’ mentality, it’s no wonder that prune juice is about as popular as cornrows on white people.
And so it is with our political system; flashy smiles and enthusiastic fist pounding have taken the place of personal responsibility and sound principals. The national debt is growing exponentially, while the value of our currency is plummeting. We spend weeks on end dwelling on the Swine...I mean H1N1 flu, and ignoring the fact that Tuberculosis and other flu strains kill thousands of people every year. We'll we've had enough. So get ready, because we old fashioned scamps have discovered the internet and with the power of prune's we'll be up bitching until at least 8PM.... except on Sundays when we'll be watching Americas funniest home videos. In conclusion, welcome to prune juice. Bitter never tasted so sweet.
