I hope Americans get it. I know that the politicians either don't get it or just don't care. Most people understand it when their own households are involved. But Mayors don't get it. Governors don't get it. Presidents don't get it.
You cannot continue to outspend your income year after year. Also you cannot enter into expensive contracts that will bankrupt your town or state of country years down the line, when someone else has to clean up your mess.
There is a name for this behavior. It is called "Greece". People want to retire at forty-five years old? God bless them. Give teacher golden retirement plans with full health care? No problem as long as endorsements and votes are forthcoming. Contracts to political cronies without a care for competence or results? Hey, it's expensive to run for office. Let the little people and businesses pick up the tab.
So deficits go on and the national debt continues to grow. Worse, it is growing at an accelerating rate. Cities and towns are declaring bankruptcy and are unable to perform basic services. Oops! California is about six feet under water financially. But they go blithely along doing all the wrong and wasteful things.
What we need to understand is that we are now ruled by a class of career politicians. Their attention span extends no further than the next election. Their overriding mind set is -"what is in it for me?" Their next thought is - "how can I move up to the next highest office?"
So our National Debt is currently at $18 trillion. That is 18 with twelve zero's after it. If you want to see something really scary, Google the National Debt Clock. It will put things in perspective in seconds. The worst part is that much of that money is owed to people who don't much like us.
So if you didn't "get it" before, I hope this little exercise helped you to "get it".
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Stealing Childhood
I understand that childhood is not always a happy time. Circumstances can bring difficulties that some children just do their best to survive. But when people, educated people, people that pretend to be people of faith, steal the childhood of generations for their own purposes, that is just evil.
I just read an article in the Washington Times by Douglas Burton and Marios Efthymiopoulos about the state of education in Iran. From the time they are in kindergarten these children are taught to wage war and expect a life of martyrdom. They are even taught to expect nuclear war.
These children are presented with an Islamocentric world view where Iran leads Muslims through the final apocalypse And is the final unifier of all civilization under the Islamic faith. To do this, they explain to these unformed minds they must be ready to fight, kill, and, if necessary, sacrifice themselves, for the cause. So much for the religion of peace.
Worse, it does not stop there. ISIS steals children as young as ten. They hand them AK47s and send them out to fight. These children are not warriors. They are sacrificial lambs. They teach these children to kill prisoners with a knife. They teach them to behead their "enemy".
These actions are all sanctified by their ever so "holy" mullahs. Their religious men who, they believe, talk to angels. After all, these are no less actions then were done by "The Prophet", so they are a legal and just means to propagate the faith.
But we don't hear much of this sort of thing in our usual news. One needs to have enough interest to seek out news from different sources. Unfortunately most people have neither the time nor the inclination to make the effort. So I will continue to spread the word as best I can.
I just read an article in the Washington Times by Douglas Burton and Marios Efthymiopoulos about the state of education in Iran. From the time they are in kindergarten these children are taught to wage war and expect a life of martyrdom. They are even taught to expect nuclear war.
These children are presented with an Islamocentric world view where Iran leads Muslims through the final apocalypse And is the final unifier of all civilization under the Islamic faith. To do this, they explain to these unformed minds they must be ready to fight, kill, and, if necessary, sacrifice themselves, for the cause. So much for the religion of peace.
Worse, it does not stop there. ISIS steals children as young as ten. They hand them AK47s and send them out to fight. These children are not warriors. They are sacrificial lambs. They teach these children to kill prisoners with a knife. They teach them to behead their "enemy".
These actions are all sanctified by their ever so "holy" mullahs. Their religious men who, they believe, talk to angels. After all, these are no less actions then were done by "The Prophet", so they are a legal and just means to propagate the faith.
But we don't hear much of this sort of thing in our usual news. One needs to have enough interest to seek out news from different sources. Unfortunately most people have neither the time nor the inclination to make the effort. So I will continue to spread the word as best I can.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Render Unto Caesar
The Supreme Court has made a decision. Whether it is right or wrong depends on your point of view. I have previously taken the position that marriage, being primarily a religious rite, should be between a man and a woman, as most religions would have it. I have changed my opinion.
Even though marriage is primarily a religious rite, it is equally a civil action and has been since Roman times, at least. So I accept that civil law also has a right to define marriage. As Jesus said "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's".
But, accepting this, civil authority should "render unto God what is God's". In other words, if churches do not accept same sex marriage, the government should not force them to. The government has many ways to punish those that stray from the federally approved path. To use those punishments on any church taking a moral stand would be flat out wrong and unconstitutional. I am certain that there will be many liberal churches out there willing to accept same sex marriage giving the option of a religious ceremony as well as a civil ceremony.
I do, however, disagree with what the Supreme Court did. I am referring, not to the contents of their decision, but to the fact that they made a decision at all. It is not the Supreme Court's duty to legislate from the bench. And that is exactly what they have done. They have usurped the duties of Congress.
In the past seven years the concept of the tripartite government has become so blurred as to be unrecognizable. We have the President writing new law. We have the Supreme Court writing new law. We have regulating agencies writing new law. The only ones that seem unable to write new law is the Congress.
Rightly or wrongly, the deed is done. Americans will accept it and live with it. No one will be harmed. Some people's moral sense may be bruised. But then some people will have a little more joy in their life. All in all, I suppose life is in balance and time will march on.
Even though marriage is primarily a religious rite, it is equally a civil action and has been since Roman times, at least. So I accept that civil law also has a right to define marriage. As Jesus said "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's".
But, accepting this, civil authority should "render unto God what is God's". In other words, if churches do not accept same sex marriage, the government should not force them to. The government has many ways to punish those that stray from the federally approved path. To use those punishments on any church taking a moral stand would be flat out wrong and unconstitutional. I am certain that there will be many liberal churches out there willing to accept same sex marriage giving the option of a religious ceremony as well as a civil ceremony.
I do, however, disagree with what the Supreme Court did. I am referring, not to the contents of their decision, but to the fact that they made a decision at all. It is not the Supreme Court's duty to legislate from the bench. And that is exactly what they have done. They have usurped the duties of Congress.
In the past seven years the concept of the tripartite government has become so blurred as to be unrecognizable. We have the President writing new law. We have the Supreme Court writing new law. We have regulating agencies writing new law. The only ones that seem unable to write new law is the Congress.
Rightly or wrongly, the deed is done. Americans will accept it and live with it. No one will be harmed. Some people's moral sense may be bruised. But then some people will have a little more joy in their life. All in all, I suppose life is in balance and time will march on.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Better, It's Not
I hate to be repetitive. But sometimes I just have to be. Probably, most of my readers get it. It is still worth saying one more time. At least one more time. The economy is not improving. The job market is not improving. The GDP, which was doing an under powered slog, is now dropping. Once again, we are sitting in the muck at the bottom of an economic version of Dismal Swamp.
Yes, the stock market is up. For one thing, the stock market does not represent the economy as a whole. Second, the stock market is riding a bubble caused by the Feds policy of zero interest. So now the Fed has a tiger by the tail. Things won't improve until they move the interest rate upward. If they do take that action, the bubble will probably burst and the bottom will fall out of the market.
Every month the administration, with great fanfare, announces how many new jobs they have created. Usually around 200,000. March was a sickly 126,000. That is not even close to enough. The only reason that the unemployment rate is not going up is that when people run out there unemployment and give up looking they disappear from the statistics. The Participation Rate, the true measure of employment, is still the worst it has been since the Carter administration.
The United States needs a 4% GDP to provide decent jobs and salaries for it's citizens. The present administration has been trying to convince the world that 2% is the new normal. It is normal only when the economy sucks. To the consternation of those that would rule us, last month they announced a GDP of negative 0.7% and were excitedly happy when they could revise that figure up to a negative 0.2%. I do not believe that this calls for a soulful rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again".
We get periodic statements that the President's people are working hard on the economy. What they seem to be working hardest on is finding ways to jiggle the numbers to make things sound better. They are not better. The American people are sadly underemployed.
The big problem is that all of the moves that the government has made, have made things worse. The bigger problem is that they are sure that the problem is they didn't do enough of the wrong thing. And even worse than that is that they are so arrogantly sure of themselves that they never even consider a different path out of Dismal Swamp.
Yes, the stock market is up. For one thing, the stock market does not represent the economy as a whole. Second, the stock market is riding a bubble caused by the Feds policy of zero interest. So now the Fed has a tiger by the tail. Things won't improve until they move the interest rate upward. If they do take that action, the bubble will probably burst and the bottom will fall out of the market.
Every month the administration, with great fanfare, announces how many new jobs they have created. Usually around 200,000. March was a sickly 126,000. That is not even close to enough. The only reason that the unemployment rate is not going up is that when people run out there unemployment and give up looking they disappear from the statistics. The Participation Rate, the true measure of employment, is still the worst it has been since the Carter administration.
The United States needs a 4% GDP to provide decent jobs and salaries for it's citizens. The present administration has been trying to convince the world that 2% is the new normal. It is normal only when the economy sucks. To the consternation of those that would rule us, last month they announced a GDP of negative 0.7% and were excitedly happy when they could revise that figure up to a negative 0.2%. I do not believe that this calls for a soulful rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again".
We get periodic statements that the President's people are working hard on the economy. What they seem to be working hardest on is finding ways to jiggle the numbers to make things sound better. They are not better. The American people are sadly underemployed.
The big problem is that all of the moves that the government has made, have made things worse. The bigger problem is that they are sure that the problem is they didn't do enough of the wrong thing. And even worse than that is that they are so arrogantly sure of themselves that they never even consider a different path out of Dismal Swamp.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
We May Have Lost
There is no more liberal wing of the Democrat party. It is now the Liberal party. They might as well change the name. They rule. Really, they rule. As in king, tsar, emperor, or any other despotic tag that you can assign.
The President has become a dictator. He has successfully wielded his pen and telephone to grab all of the reins of government to his own nurturing bosom. Except that he only nurtures liberal causes and his own legacy.
As of today, the Supreme court has joined the lower courts as the Judicial Branch of Liberal Government. The rule of law has been replaced with a comfort zone. If it seems right, it is right. Why make hard decisions and stir up trouble?
For years now, the IRS and the Department of Justice have voluntarily become the Liberal Government's enforcement arm. The Main Stream Media is the Liberal Government's information bureau. If I have to trot out my reasoning on this, you have been watching too much MSNBC and reading the New York Times.
Like any good despotic government, the Liberal Government has spies operating under cover. Many of those spies have been pretending to be Republicans. They have, in fact, taken over the Republican party, neutered it, and now pay homage to the Presidents plans. The ring has, most certainly, been kissed.
So here we stand. Frozen out of our own government. No longer even the "loyal opposition". Can we take our country back? Possibly. I believe that we have only one chance. If we continue with a hard left liberal in the Oval Office after 2016, we could have generations of liberal rule. They will build the dependency rolls. They will allow more grateful non-citizen voters across our borders. And they will attack our Bill of Rights.
I fear for the future of my country.
The President has become a dictator. He has successfully wielded his pen and telephone to grab all of the reins of government to his own nurturing bosom. Except that he only nurtures liberal causes and his own legacy.
As of today, the Supreme court has joined the lower courts as the Judicial Branch of Liberal Government. The rule of law has been replaced with a comfort zone. If it seems right, it is right. Why make hard decisions and stir up trouble?
For years now, the IRS and the Department of Justice have voluntarily become the Liberal Government's enforcement arm. The Main Stream Media is the Liberal Government's information bureau. If I have to trot out my reasoning on this, you have been watching too much MSNBC and reading the New York Times.
Like any good despotic government, the Liberal Government has spies operating under cover. Many of those spies have been pretending to be Republicans. They have, in fact, taken over the Republican party, neutered it, and now pay homage to the Presidents plans. The ring has, most certainly, been kissed.
So here we stand. Frozen out of our own government. No longer even the "loyal opposition". Can we take our country back? Possibly. I believe that we have only one chance. If we continue with a hard left liberal in the Oval Office after 2016, we could have generations of liberal rule. They will build the dependency rolls. They will allow more grateful non-citizen voters across our borders. And they will attack our Bill of Rights.
I fear for the future of my country.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Random Thoughts - Sixty-Three
The country needs more Charleston and less Baltimore. Grace humbles people. Violence enrages them.
Today's liberals think that those that are white or Christian should just sit in the corner and shut up. You have no right to opine on any subject. You have no right to succeed. You are the evil oppressor. If we are the evil privileged oppressor, why do we have to sit in the corner.
Some of the statements that I hear from college professors lately makes me wonder where they grew up. Acute Political Correctness Syndrome may be fatal to your sanity.
I must state once more, I started shooting firearms when I was ten years old. That was sixty-six year ago. I have shot firearms all of my life. I have spent time with like minded people without ever seeing a firearm drawn in anger. Actually without even hearing a voice raised in anger. People who enjoy shooting sports, including military, law enforcement, and civilians, are among the most pleasant people I have ever spent time with. They are the ones protected by the second amendment.
Sooner or later this foolish Iran nuclear deal will blow up in somebody's face. I fear we have gone so far down the wrong road and weakened ourselves so much in the process, the only real option is to walk away. We know that Barack Obama has so much skin in this game now, he won't allow that to happen.
With the way things have been handled in Baltimore between the mayor, the prosecutor, and the police commissioner, I wouldn't blame the cops on the street if every one of them quit. How can you work for bosses like these.
Once again it is the Republican hierarchy that is standing with the President and empowering him on this vile and un-American trade deal. The whole crew of them need to be stripped of power and sent home.
Hillary or Bernie? Really? This is the best of the Democrat party. Two elderly curmudgeons, one of whom is for sale at any price. OK any price over a million.
Today's liberals think that those that are white or Christian should just sit in the corner and shut up. You have no right to opine on any subject. You have no right to succeed. You are the evil oppressor. If we are the evil privileged oppressor, why do we have to sit in the corner.
Some of the statements that I hear from college professors lately makes me wonder where they grew up. Acute Political Correctness Syndrome may be fatal to your sanity.
I must state once more, I started shooting firearms when I was ten years old. That was sixty-six year ago. I have shot firearms all of my life. I have spent time with like minded people without ever seeing a firearm drawn in anger. Actually without even hearing a voice raised in anger. People who enjoy shooting sports, including military, law enforcement, and civilians, are among the most pleasant people I have ever spent time with. They are the ones protected by the second amendment.
Sooner or later this foolish Iran nuclear deal will blow up in somebody's face. I fear we have gone so far down the wrong road and weakened ourselves so much in the process, the only real option is to walk away. We know that Barack Obama has so much skin in this game now, he won't allow that to happen.
With the way things have been handled in Baltimore between the mayor, the prosecutor, and the police commissioner, I wouldn't blame the cops on the street if every one of them quit. How can you work for bosses like these.
Once again it is the Republican hierarchy that is standing with the President and empowering him on this vile and un-American trade deal. The whole crew of them need to be stripped of power and sent home.
Hillary or Bernie? Really? This is the best of the Democrat party. Two elderly curmudgeons, one of whom is for sale at any price. OK any price over a million.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Turkey For Thanksgiving
I find ISIS fascinating. Fascinating in the way one find a freight train hitting an eighteen wheeler at a railroad crossing fascinating. It is loud. It is messy. It is bloody. And it is dangerous.
What makes them particularly dangerous is that they accept no humanitarian bounds to their efforts. They have a goal. They are smart and savvy. They have a program of leadership and training. They are situationally adaptable. They are also despicable.
In my little world they are ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The President, for some inexplicable reason, honors them by calling them ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. By doing this, the President is ceding to them control of Jordan and Israel. Our two strong allies.
They seem to think of themselves as the new Islamic Caliphate, destined to control the Middle East today and the world tomorrow. So let's look at where they are. They started grouping up on the road to Baghdad where they could have been destroyed with a minimum of effort. Since they were only the "JV team", why bother.
So now they have split Iraq. They threaten Baghdad. They own the Syria Turkey border area. And their ranks are growing daily. So the varsity, Al Qaeda, is almost off the court and the "JV" increases in strength continuously.
So where will they go from here? They cannot go east. Iran is in the way and they are not yet ready to take on a true military power. But the old Caliphate, the one they wish to emulate, went west toward Europe. They actually ruled part of Gaul.
To accomplish this, the next step must be Turkey. Right now, Turkey should be gearing up to battle ISIS. Their country is full of ISIS sympathizers. Their southern border is weak and already subject to incursions. President Erdogan seems to be tone deaf to the danger.
Unless things change radically, ISIS will have Turkey for Thanksgiving. Probably not this year or next. When they are prepared. You can bet it is on their to-do list.
What makes them particularly dangerous is that they accept no humanitarian bounds to their efforts. They have a goal. They are smart and savvy. They have a program of leadership and training. They are situationally adaptable. They are also despicable.
In my little world they are ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The President, for some inexplicable reason, honors them by calling them ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. By doing this, the President is ceding to them control of Jordan and Israel. Our two strong allies.
They seem to think of themselves as the new Islamic Caliphate, destined to control the Middle East today and the world tomorrow. So let's look at where they are. They started grouping up on the road to Baghdad where they could have been destroyed with a minimum of effort. Since they were only the "JV team", why bother.
So now they have split Iraq. They threaten Baghdad. They own the Syria Turkey border area. And their ranks are growing daily. So the varsity, Al Qaeda, is almost off the court and the "JV" increases in strength continuously.
So where will they go from here? They cannot go east. Iran is in the way and they are not yet ready to take on a true military power. But the old Caliphate, the one they wish to emulate, went west toward Europe. They actually ruled part of Gaul.
To accomplish this, the next step must be Turkey. Right now, Turkey should be gearing up to battle ISIS. Their country is full of ISIS sympathizers. Their southern border is weak and already subject to incursions. President Erdogan seems to be tone deaf to the danger.
Unless things change radically, ISIS will have Turkey for Thanksgiving. Probably not this year or next. When they are prepared. You can bet it is on their to-do list.
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