Thursday, December 10, 2009

My U.S. Representative

Open comment to Alan Grayson. Hey Alan, to use a vernacular that you are familiar with...



WTF ?



I understand that you serve a useful purpose for your political party as a lightning rod attracting the majority share of criticism and attention, which provides cover for your peers. What I don't understand or appreciate is that you are MY U.S. Representative and you don't represent anything which I hold dear.



Your office sent my wife a copy of the U.S. Constitution, which is a nice gesture, but in today's economy, was that the most wise choice to spend tax payer money? Really? Your literature says that you carry a copy of the Constitution around with you in your pocket. Have you ever read it? How about Article I Section 8, "...To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions". So when can we expect the National Guard on the southern U.S. border to repel the illegal alien invasion? The number can be debated, but I think illegals numbering in the MILLIONS constitutes an invasion. I'm sure you would agree.



And Alan, if you disagree with former Vice President Cheney, why not put forth a reasoned argument for your position rather than opting for Internet slang? Oh that's right, you think all Republicans are "knuckle dragging neanderthals". You know of course that Mr. Cheney is correct and you have no defensible position. The President is providing aid and comfort to our enemy my bestowing constitutional rights to foreign combatants that claim no country of allegiance.



Mr. Grayson, you are an embarrassment to your district, your State, your party, and your Country. Please resign.



##That's my opinion##



Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Basic Business Facts missing in Government

It appears to me that the basic business facts are just getting blown by in the current spending trend of our Government. The belief that the income can increase for the foreseeable future through the use of taxation is not only a flawed theory but one that is destined to destroy not only our economy but the country as a whole. In business school we are taught that the purpose of your ongoing concern is to service the profits of the shareholders. If meeting the basic premise of that rule begins to be one where the profits can no longer be serviced then the Ongoing Concern must be terminated. A classic case in point is recently I read an article in the Orlando Sentinel about a company that has had to close down because Charlie Crist (Florida Governor) accepted TARP money which required the company to pay unemployment on part time workers. It was cheaper for the company to close the doors then to continue to operate. Who does this affect? The ongoing concern employed workers who purchased things, paid taxes, supported their families... Now they are out of work and that cash flow is gone. The ongoing concern paid taxes, provided a valuable service, and provided profit for the shareholder(s)... no more.

So, what was once several credits on the balance sheet for the government is now not a zero dollar amount, but a debit because they are paying unemployment to those workers, perhaps welfare. This is basic accounting. The problem is that nobody in our most learned government is taking into account Organizational Behavior and the will of the people. This is an example of a small local company. What if you are a large Multinational? If it becomes cheaper to incorporate in China do you not think they will do that? Then they are no longer subject to the rules set by Washington. How does that help the American worker? Why do you think that many large organizations are incorporated in Delaware?

Basic human nature and the will to survive will lead the way... eventually... I just hope it is not too late.

-- END OF RAMBLE --

Monday, November 09, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I'd Like to Apologize

I would like to apologize to the rest of the country for our Representative - Alan Grayson. He is a disgrace to our District, our State, and our Country. I did my part by casting my vote against Grayson, but it just wasn't enough. I do not understand what my neighbors were thinking when they cast their ballots for this press loving, YouTube inspired, spot light grabbing idiot.

I certainly hope that his rantings are simply a mechanism to get attention in an attempt to make a name for himself, because if he truly believes what he is saying then God help us all.

Mr. Grayson, please RESIGN. I'm one of your constituents and you sir certainly do not represent me!

##That's my opinion##

Monday, October 26, 2009

23 Rounds of Golf

So, according to most news outlets, President Obama has played 23 rounds of golf since he became President. I personally couldn't care less about how the President spends his free time or relaxes. Frankly, it is kind of nice that we have a President young enough to play a pickup game of basketball or a full round of golf.

However, the number 23 does seems a bit excessive. I'm not a golfer, but I do know about how long it takes to play a round. Since Obama has only been President for 40 weeks (if I counted correctly from January 20th) then more than once every two weeks seems a bit much.

You'd think with all that time on the course to contemplate the universe, he would have made a decision on the Afghan troops by now.

##That's my opinion##

Press 1 For English - Really?

Whenever I call a service provider (power company, phone company, bank, cable) and get the usual automated call router, "Please listen carefully as our options have changed..." - "Press 1 for English", I get rather crazed.

This is the United States and we speak English (American actually), but English nonetheless. If you want to press a number for Spanish, or Haitian Creole, or French - great, but please assume we can speak English unless we opt out for something else.

The amount of wasted resources, time, and productivity in this country due to people not bothering to learn the language is infuriating. Why people come to the U.S. and then try to force their culture and language on us is confusing.

It is a matter of safety and national security that our population reads and understands one language. It is not possible to have all signs in multiple languages. It is problematic for people to not be able to read Hospital, Danger, Stop, Yield, Fire, Rail Road Crossing, Police, Keep Left, Food Stamp Line, or Vote Conservative.

Please, for God sake - and ours - English first (or maybe only).

##That's my opinion##

Thursday, October 08, 2009

So... should we run against Alan Grayson?

So... Lucid and I are talking about mounting a campaign...

What do you think?

Platform:

(1) Fair Tax
(2) No Single Payer Health Care -- Health Care transparency and competition across state borders.
(3) America is a Melting Pot, but that is what makes it unique... and why we are all Americans
(4) Make sure our borders are secure
(5) Provide for defense.

Let us know...

-- End Of Ramble.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Hey Janet - Try Enforcing the Law

Sheriff Arpaio, good job!

The sheriff of Maricopa County Arizona, Joe Arpaio, is a true patriot and enforcer of the law. Unlike Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, who has drafted a new agreement with local law enforcement that specifies, "... the priorities of DHS, one of which is to go after 'criminal aliens' — illegal immigrants who have committed a state crime." Therefore, since illegal immigration is a federal crime, the DHS is trying to limit Sheriff Arpaio's power to enforce immigration laws.

Janet, we should be using any and all means to enforce immigration laws and you should be held criminally liable for not doing more to uphold the laws of the United States. It does not matter if you agree or disagree with the law, you must follow it - it is not up to your interpretation of it. Until it is changed, it is illegal for non US citizens to enter our country without proper documentation - PERIOD!

There should be no debate. Build a double fence 12 feet high and patrol the area between with the National Guard - that's right, the National Guard guards the nation (hence the name). The flow of illegal aliens across our southern border is no less than an invasion.

The last time I check Article I Section 8 of the United States Constitution states in part, "To provide for calling fourth the Militia (read National Guard) to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions".

This being the case, I believe that the American people have good cause to hold the entire Congress in contempt as they all took oaths of office to uphold the laws of the United States and to protect it against invasion. Please someone explain to me how over 12 million illegal aliens does not constitute and invasion. And please spare me the "racial profiling" and the "you have no compassion for the poor" garbage. The United States is a sovereign nation and you need documentation to enter it.

Congress (that's the Senate and the House), do your job or get out of the way. There's serious work to be done.

##That's my opinion##



Wednesday, September 16, 2009

And From the Peanut Gallery

Jimmy Carter said,


"I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time ... and I think it's bubbled up to the surface, because of a belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country."

Well Jimmy, I too was born and raised in the great state of Georgia and while there are certainly examples of racism, the vast majority of Georgians are not racist. I have not visited your home town of Plains, so you may live in a bubble of exception.

I also believe that you are probably not the best arbiter of who is racist, what many white people believe, or for that matter who is qualified to be President - as your record and approval rating indicated.

Comments such as yours trade in hate and serve to divide our country. Since you are so quick to play the race card I would submit that you are the racist creating division where none exists.

Jimmy, the next time you have a thought - don't.

##That's My Opinion##

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Let's Check the Dip-Stick

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said today,

"...from a technical perspective the recession is very likely over at this point"

So let's stick the dip-stick in the economic tank and see what kind of
reading we get.

I bet we're not quite out of the woods yet Mr. Bernanke
since the major economic driver, housing, is still running on empty.

##That's my Opinion##

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Axelrod, You're Wrong

Commenting on Saturday's demonstration in Washington D.C., White House advisor David Axelrod said,
"You know, one of the great things about our country is people can express themselves even if they're not representative of the majority."
Take a real close look in the mirror Mr. Axelrod, because you're in the minority. You are witnessing the awakening of the silent majority. Just because we have been silent, does not make us irrelevant.

The American People are speaking - I suggest you listen.

##That's My Opinion##

Thursday, September 03, 2009

8 Then Vacate

Can you name one of your three elected congressional representatives? Yes, you have three - unless you live in the District of Columbia then you're surrounded by them.

Want to know who they are?

Senators:
www.senate.gov

House of Representatives:
www.house.gov

Once you know who they are, go check out some of their voting records. You may find some things you like, but I'll bet you find some things that make you mad.

Then, once you're educated on your elected representation, see how long they've been in office. If they have been there more than 8 years, I suggest you kick them out. Serving in Congress was never meant to be a job or a lifestyle. After someone has been lavished with the kind of benefits our "American Royalty" receive, they've pretty much lost touch with the real society. If they have been there more than 4 years, get someone warming up in the bull pen.

8 Then Vacate.

##That's my opinion##

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sec. of State Clinton - Thanks for the Shot

While commenting on Nigeria's election system having problems with "lack of transparency and accountability", Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated,
"In 2000, our presidential election came down to one state where the brother of the man running for president was the governor of the state. So we have our problems too."
Thanks for standing up for our Republic and our system of democratic elections Secretary Clinton.

So for those keeping score at home, every legitimate recount (and most of the news organizations attempts) ever conducted in the 2000 election indicated George Bush as the winner - as did the Supreme Court.

Secretary Clinton, keep up the good work and tell the President Lucid Guy says Hi.

##That's my opinion##

Silent Too Long

I have not posted in far too long. Taking advice from my good friend Ordinary Guy, I too encouage everyone to do your own research and not to trust any media outlet without validation. As Reagan wisely warned during the cold war, "Trust, but verify".

To that point, start doing your research before the tools to do so are silenced and placed beyond your reach.

You think I exaggerate? You think this too dramatic? Our new FCC Czar, Mark Lloyd, extols the "democratic" virtues of the Venezuela "revolution". From his 2006 book "Prologue to a Farce: Communication and Democracy" he writes,
"It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies.

[T]he purpose of free speech is warped to protect global corporations and block rules that would promote democratic governance."

Is it not just amazing that someone with these views is now shaping policy for the Federal Communications Commission? This strikes a near fatal blow to free speech - you know - one of the biggies in the Constitution (the Constitution is good stuff, you should read it).

I'm not providing a web link on purpose. Research it. Find your own trusted source so that you know it is true.

I'm not giving up on Freedom or our Republic as the United States is the sole remaining flickering light of human freedom.

##That's my opinion##

Friday, August 14, 2009

SIGH...

I started this blog some time ago as an outlet for my feelings on the government. I have been quiet on it as of late because, frankly, I am SO DISGUSTED with the garbage that is going on that I cannot take it anymore. I have read recently about data centers being raided by the FBI with little cause and no arrest warrants issued, I see the 'debate' on government health care, I see the talking heads on the news doing nothing but praising gun control, and I am SCARED.

I am frightened for our country. I am frightened for our way of life. I am frightened for my children. I am frightened for my paycheck.

WTF are we doing? Really? Give the government more control of our lives? What?

Reminder: We are a REPUBLIC, not a Democracy. Look it up people... and don't be a sheeple. THINK! THINK for yourself. Do some REAL RESEARCH. Stop listening to Robert Gibbs, MSNBC, CNN, FOX... LOOK IT UP! We live in the MOST connected internet age of all time and we have people who follow like it's 1984 from Orwell. ALL HAIL BIG BROTHER OBAMA and PILOSI!

Do a little research:

** 42 Million without Health care coverage? Really? Are they all citizens? Are they able to get coverage but choose not to? Ask these questions.

** Stimulus package? Is it working? Are they REALLY too big to fail? Who is picking up the tab for that thing? Your country, your money.


-End of Ramble.

Monday, April 20, 2009

1000 Words


You know what they say about a picture...
Is it possible that the American President didn't know who he was greeting? Is it possible that the President of the United States is not aware of the pure contempt that Hugo Chavez has for all Americans?
Hugo Chavez is a brutal dictator and should not be shown any respect from a sitting US President, much less given the opportunity to personally hand him an unscreened object.
##That's my opinion##


Thursday, April 09, 2009

A Christian Nation

Mr. President, you're wrong and you do not speak for me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVd7YT0oWA

Obama should be censured by the Senate and then not allowed to leave the country again.

##That's my opinion##

Sunday, April 05, 2009

So this was on Michele Malkin's blog...

Yes... I 'borrowed' it. This is amazing.



Everyone can agree with the fun of it all. Gracias Michele!

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

A Hair Cut or a Life Lesson

It's difficult to believe that it has been a year since I stopped making my monthly visits to get my hair cut. Grady had been cutting my hair for over 20 years and had become a fixture in my life and part of a regular routine - a constant in an ever changing world. Our conversations often turned to current events, politics, work ethics, work place gossip, and any other topics that presented themselves. The most curious and enjoyable aspect of our conversations was that they would pick up as if we spoke every day rather than for a half an hour every 4 weeks.

Grady was one person with whom I could discuss any topic and rest assured that I would not be judged on my opinion or held in a poor light based upon my position. It was true and honest discussion. The last words Grady spoke to me were the last words he said to me after every visit, "...you be good".

I thought this appropriate for this blog since our conversations often center around politics and current events and I could certainly use a dose of Grady's counsel right now. I believe that many people today have lost either the ability to have a rational conversation, the desire to be part of the solution, or the intelligence to think for themselves. Here's hoping for change.

##That's my opinion##

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Just returned from Honduras

Okay, so I have just returned from Honduras where I was on a mission trip to an Orphanage. I am changed. For one week no news about the economic "crisis", no news about much of anything. I spoke to someone from Honduras and they stated that "it is unlikely that the global economic issues will effect Honduras because we are too poor." How true. But what is poor? Are they poor because they grow their own food? No. Are they poor because they do not have a 50" plasma TV? No. Are they poor because they don't have two cars? No.

They are rich is spirit. They are rich in love for each other. They are a genuine people. What you see is what you get. We were a curiosity to them because it was obvious that we were not Honduran, but from America, however once they got over that what we began to realize is that we are all just trying to make the best of our worlds with what we have.

We have forgotten the basics. We have forgotten what it is like to not have water, electricity, food. In Honduras the government run schools are not free... the student pays to go, for books, for the uniform, for everything. Here we complain because they want to shut down a school, or worse yet end a sports program.

WAKE UP AMERICA. Wake up to the fact that our strength is in our community, not in our government. In our ability to care for each other and ourselves. In what was once called "Rugged American Individualism". Stop being a sheeple. Stop following the heard. Stop thinking everything can be solved by the government. That is communism / socialism. It is weak and short term. We must find strength in ourselves and in our community.

The government finds strength in control through the tax base. Why do we choose to give that that control? Why do we feel that they should be responsible for taking care of Social Security Number YOU? You are just a number to them... not a person. A list in a database, on a spreadsheet... an income or expenditure.

Look to the 'third world' countries as an example of what real strength is.

-End of Ramble.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Economic Liquefaction

Look around. Take note of what is going on in the world and the nation around you. For not too distant in the future, those who have the means to rewrite history will do exactly that to publish their version of truth. Don’t forget, in spite of 9/11, that our country enjoyed a strong economy until the mortgage fantasy of “affordable housing for all Americans” poisoned the underpinnings of our capitalistic economy and left many who played by the rules wondering where all their savings went. Don’t forget that long before we were all delivered from the wilderness in November 2008 that the price of gasoline had returned to reasonable levels. Don’t forget the federal income tax rate that you are paying for your 2008 AGI as it will not be so low next year. And most of all don’t forget that our homeland has not been attacked by terrorists since 2001.

Now back to the world around you; have you heard that there is an economic crisis? There is obviously much debate about how we should proceed to turn the economy around. Those who believe in capitalism and market forces believe that allowing the economic cycle to run its course, while painful, will lead us back to solid ground. Others believe that government should step in to shore up the economy by helping those that are “too big to fail”. As indicated by my mortgage fantasy statement, I believe the government shore up may help in the short term, but the overall affect will be to prolong the pain of economic recovery by allowing companies that will eventually fail anyway to hang on longer than they should.

It is my opinion that a convincing argument may be made by making your opponents position look weak. It is obvious that President Obama favors larger government and the shore up approach. Since President Obama uses every opportunity to state how much of a crisis our economy is in it is my opinion that he is practicing Economic Liquefaction. By talking down the economy, I believe President Obama is intentionally trying to convince the entire country that capitalism has failed through the destabilization of the economic ground beneath our feet. As the economy becomes less stable it will become apparent that the government shore up is the only available option. The weak economy also provides President Obama with an excellent margin of error as the history writers will “remember” how he turned the failed economy around since it had nowhere else to go but up. There is definitely a big upside for the President and the Democrat congress to allow the economy to languish a bit longer so that the eventual recovery can be attributed to all of their “help”.

Hoping for Change.

##That’s my opinion##

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

An open letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

I am tired.  I am tired of the government believing that they can handle things better than I can.  I am tired of the lack of trust in the American people.  I am tired of everyone looking for a hand out.

The United States of America was founded on the belief that the people (we are a republic, after all) should govern through the representatives elected.  In order for that system to work the people have to be close enough to make a difference.  In the current Federal system -- and where it is going -- the people are no longer close enough to do that work, and have lost touch with the reality of where things come from.

There is constant talk of Billion dollar "Stimulus" packages and Trillion dollar budgets.  What is in these entities?  Are these projects really something that should be supported by the Federal government?  Are they really necessary?  What happened to capitalism?  What happened to the free market?  

When the people loose touch with reality by seeing HUGE numbers that are difficult to comprehend so they are made simple by placing a "B" or "T" after them they say "oh, what is a Million dollars here or there".  Or even $30B for a company that is on questionable ground to start with (dirivatives trading has worse odds in the long term then betting at the racetrack.)  Then ask "where is that money coming from?"  This is a zero sum game... there is only so much that is available...  So where does it come from?  Who pays the bills?

President Obama if you search through this blog you will see that I am a critic of the spendthrift policies of the government,  tend to lean more republican (really libertarian), and support less government, not more.  I do not work in the government, but have had my share of turns with really large organizations and know how difficult it is for a for profit organization to stay cost effective and eliminate waste.  How can the largest corporation on the planet get bigger and not expect the same?  How will it eliminate waste?  As a stockholder in the US Government I want to know.

This brings me to my final point, and what I opened up with... I am tired.  I am tired of wondering how much more money I am going to loose.  I am tired of trying to estimate where to put it so that I don't loose more than I am putting in.  I am tired of paying for others who do not deserve it.  I want to understand.  I want to believe that the government has my best interests at heart by it constantly shows me that what it is more interested in is feeding special interests and trying to be everything to everyone.  Why does it not trust its people?  For over 200 years the people of this country have come forward to defend and protect this country.  Why?  Because they believed that this is a free society where they can do what they want (within the law) and their land will not be taken away.  Where their children can live without persecution.  Where they can work hard and give their children a better tomorrow.  I don't see that being fulfilled now.  Why?  Because the government has gotten in the way of what the people can do.  They are taking away our will to go the extra mile.  They are tiring us out.

Please, before it is too late, recognize that we are tired.  By trying to further define the box we need to live in the more we will struggle to get out.  As an African American you should understand what it is like to be stereotyped... stop stereotyping the American taxpayer.   Help us understand how this is better.

-- End of Ramble.

P.S.  President Obama, please give me some hope and stop telling me that everything going on is a crisis.  Please?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

"Gird Your Loins"

By Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Joseph Biden is a prophet. On October 19, 2008, the now-Vice President said, "Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy."Forget about six months; the foreign affairs insults arrived within three weeks of Obama's presidency. And with the economy dominating the news cycle, very little attention has been paid. Let's take them one by one.By far, the most important insult to the Obama administration came this week. Shortly after Obama's envoy, Richard Holbrooke, visited Pakistan, that country surrendered to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, putting the entire world in danger.In a shocking abdication of responsibility, the Pakistani government now says the Taliban has the authority to impose sharia law in the northern part of that country. That means the Pakistani government is allowing these terrorists to do whatever they want, and that will include continuing their attacks on American forces in neighboring Afghanistan.This is huge, and President Obama would be wise to respond quickly and punish the Pakistani government. They have thrown in with terror killers; the USA cannot accept that, nor should any responsible country.Insult two: The government of Kyrgyzstan is closing the big U.S. air base on its soil. That air base supplies NATO forces in Afghanistan. Again, this is huge.The reason the base is being closed is because the Russian tyrant, Putin, doesn't like America assisting nations like Poland and the Ukraine in their defense strategies. So Putin, who the Kyrgyzstan government fears, has succeeded in hurting NATO's war against the Taliban. Nice.The third insult comes from Iran. No surprise here. While the mullahs yak about talking with President Obama, they continue to fast-track nuclear weapons. A report by the Institute for Science and International Security says that Iran could have weapons-grade nuclear material this year. So there is now an urgency to the situation and Obama must respond quickly or the nuke genie will be out of the bottle.And finally, insult four: Crazy Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, celebrated his 67th birthday this week by threatening a nuclear missile test.Again, because of the terrible economy, many Americans have no idea all of this stuff is going on, but there is no question Barack Obama is being tested and the villains are watching closely to see what he will do.In his speech last October, Joseph Biden also told Americans to "gird [their] loins." I'm not exactly sure what that means vis-à-vis foreign policy, but it doesn't sound good. I also don't know whether President Obama is "girding" right now, but he had better be doing something.

Bill got it right.
##That's my opinion##

Monday, January 19, 2009

Thank You W

Mr. President, George W. Bush - Thank You!