Head In The Sand or Nose in The Air?

Have you been paying attention, or have you just been watching the establishment media for your information. Well today is your lucky day because for whatever reason you landed here, you have the opportunity to put your nose in the air and take a good waft of the fumes coming off the excrement being touted as the negotiations to avoid the fiscal cliff.

What we have going on in Washington is nothing more than political theater. Of course it’s been going on for a century or more, but right now it’s time for some adults to stand up and say “Enough, enough of this grandstanding, political maneuvering and posturing for the next election. All of which may be meaningless unless we find some real leadership on the issue of the fiscal cliff.

Now if you have had your head in the sand … particularly all of those who voted for Obama this time around … you don’t have a clue as to what is about to occur. You no doubt think that he’s going to magically fix things by making those evil rich people pay more in taxes. News flash … he could confiscate every penny of their wealth, and then some for the next decade, and it would only run the federal government for 9 days. So let’s just get off the notion that taxing the rich is going to fix anything.  So, if you do have your head at least partially out of the sand, let me enlighten you as to what is likely to happen even if we solve this so called “fiscal cliff” challenge. 

1. Our currency is going to collapse. It’s already a done deal. It’s no longer a matter of if it will happen, it’s now a matter of when it will happen.  Bruce Porteus, Head of Financial Risk with Standard Life Bank in Edinburgh, Scotland, writes: “The $US has declined 40% against the Euro over the last 2 years, and during this time America's trade deficit has continues to deteriorate. There is now nothing the USA can do to prevent the collapse of its currency, and its economy. It has no reserves to support its value, and has the most indebted country in the world, is dependent of the credit from America's former enemies.”

He’s not the only one raising the flag. “… foreign countries own $5 trillion in U.S. debt (as of December 2011). If China, Japan or other major holders started dumping these holdings of Treasury notes on the secondary market, this could cause a panic leading to collapse. China owns more than $1 trillion in U.S. Treasuries. That's because China pegs its currency, the yuan, to the dollar. This keeps the prices of its exports to the U.S. relatively cheap. Japan owns more than $800 billion in Treasuries, also keeping its currency, the yen, low to stimulate exports to the U.S. Japan is trying to move out of a 15 year deflationary cycle, and the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster hasn't helped.” Kimberly Amadeo, About.com. Time and space will not allow me to list the number of experts and economists that are trying to warn us of the coming crises. Funny … none of them are being invited to tell their story in the establishment media. 

2. We, Americans, have already spent the wealth of the next two generations. It will take another generation to recover from this calamity. Our culture has grown far too dependent upon government.  According to research by Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Jeff Sessions, the number of Americans on welfare has increased from 97 million to 107 million since President Obama took office,. The number of Americans on food stamps during the president’s term has risen by more than 14 million. The Heritage Foundation found that on average, Americans who depend on federal assistant received $32,748 in annual benefits, which is more than an average American worker makes in a year. In 2011, the median annual paycheck was reported as $26,364. You don’t have to be an economist for those numbers to trouble you. If those numbers don’t trouble you, you do have to be something other than smart.

3. Social Security and Medicare are in serious trouble.  Medicare, which will provide health insurance to more than 50 million elderly and disabled Americans this year, is expected to start operating in the red in its largest fund in 2024, according to the annual assessment by the trustees charged with overseeing the programs.  And the Social Security trust fund, which will provide assistance to more than 45 million people in 2012, will be unable under current trends to fulfill its obligations in 2033, three years earlier than projected last year. My prediction is that if something isn’t done now, SS will  go the way of the dodo bird before this decade ends.

So what does all this have to do with the fiscal cliff?  Well, unless we stop spending more money than we earn, we will go bankrupt.  Specifically for 2011, the projected spending is $10.46 Billion per day. This is based on the projection of Federal Spending of $3.818 Trillion for the year. "Thanks to Washington’s addiction to spending, the federal government now borrows $4 billion a day," We don’t have a revenue problem in America, we have a Federal Government with a spending problem, and it’s going to impact you and your family in ways you cannot imagine. But let me give you some help.

When the dollar collapses:

• Your 401K or IRA will be worthless, unless you’ve converted to hard assets like gold or silver.

• Gas will increase as much as 3000%.

• Grocery store shelves will be empty within 12 hours.

• Electricity may or may not be reliable, I’m guessing not.

• Water and sewer services will eventually have to stop working for lack of energy.

• No one will have a job, and even if they did, they couldn’t get to it for fear of being hijacked or run out of gas.

• Gangs will start systematically looting high-end neighborhoods and then start working down the economic ladder. Your neighborhood will not be immune.

• Police and fire departments will be tasked beyond their capacity to assist.

• Then it will get worse.

Got your head out of the sand far enough to start sniffing yet?  Good. Now, do what you have to do to get ready. 

Click the link below for some other ideas.

http://www.karatbars.com/?s=84064

The American Values Test

Choose the answer you most agree with.

Which of the following should be illegal?

1. A teenager having an abortion without her parent's consent.
2. A teenager setting up a lemonade stand in front of her house.

Which of the following should NOT be allowed?

1. Computers in a public library with access to pornography.
2. A display of a nativity scene on public property.

Which of the following makes the most sense?

1. Allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
2. The enforcement of immigration law by individual States.

Which of the following should NOT ever happen?

1. The use of U.S. tax dollars to create jobs in other countries such as France, Italy, Russia, and Mexico.
2. Corporate executives laying -off workers, while themselves collecting bonuses.

Which of the following should NOT be allowed?

1. People getting  free cell phones and cellular service at taxpayer's expense.
2. An unemployed man offering a shuttle service for tips at a National Park.

Which of the following should NOT ever happen?

1. Government officials denying business permits to businesses that espouse a Biblical world view.
2. Preachers telling their congregations that it’s wrong  for same sex couples to marry.

Which of the following is the task of government, as specified in the constitution?

1. Feeding, clothing and housing people.
2. Defending national interests and providing security for the citizenry.

Choosing answer number 1 for a response to any of the questions is indicative of any or all of the following: Stage one thinking, moral depravity and/or a total misunderstanding of American values.

Life Sucks? Do Something For Someone Else

Sometimes life sucks. You know exactly what I mean. Not one of us living on God’s green earth has led a life without pain, disappointment, suffering or loss. Yes, sometimes life sucks, but there are some things that I have done over the years that have helped me get through some of those times when life sucks.  I could offer a list, but right now I just want to talk about one thing. It has worked for me, and it has worked for others, so if you’re at a moment in your life when it truly does suck, try this: Find some time to do something for someone else. Now I’m not talking about spending 20 or 30 hours a week doing this. I’m talking about just a few minutes a day … if it turns into 20 or 30 hours a week then good for you, but that will be a personal choice.  Here are some ideas that can help you get out of your “life sucks” right now mode, and can make you a more productive person.
Trim your neighbors lawn when they aren’t at home. Don’t tell them you did it unless they ask.
If you have access to it, take your neighbor’s garbage can to the curb on trash day. Yeah, you might have to get up a little earlier than usual.
Call a friend to just say hello. Don’t tell them how your life sucks. Don’t vent. Don’t ask them for a favor. Just tell them you were thinking about them and that you appreciate their friendship.
Give one of those solicitors at the store on on the street a dollar.
Write a post card to someone you’ve not seen in a while.  Follow the rules of the phone call above.
The idea here is to get your mind off of you and your situation; to help you gain new perspective. I’m not talking about changing the world here. I’m talking about changing you. While your pondering the list of things you can do, follow this link that could also help when life sucks.

 http://www.empowernetwork.com/weirdmarketingtricks.php?id=russellwilliams

Suggestion Number One When Life Sucks

Sometimes life sucks. You know exactly what I mean. Not one of us living on God’s green earth has led a life without pain, disappointment, suffering or loss. Yes, sometimes life sucks, but there are some things that I have done over the years that have helped me get through some of those times when life sucks.  I could offer a list, but right now I just want to talk about one thing. It has worked for me, and it has worked for others, so if you’re at a moment in your life when it truly does suck, try this: Learn something new.  It doesn’t have to be monumental or difficult, or even particularly challenging. Just find something of interest that you don’t know about and learn how to do it.  Let me offer a few suggestions.
Learn a new recipe
Learn how to use a new computer application
Learn how to sew
Learn how to brew beer. (This is one that I did, and it has been immensely rewarding.)
Learn how to manage your diet.
Learn how to better manage your finances.
Learn about a part of history that interests you.
Learn about a person, place or event that interests you.
It doesn’t matter what you learn, the fact is that the process of learning will give you a new perspective on life.  Yes, sometimes life sucks, and I’ll be sharing more about how to deal with these times in later posts.  For now, be good to you, and visit the links below.
rrw
/almostasecret.php?id=russellwilliams

 http://www.empowernetwork.com/almostasecret.php?id=russellwilliams

An Ode to Election Day

So, we reelected the man
The charismatic BHO
How exactly that happened is
Just hard to know
But there are some things I wish to portend
Starting with this; 
It's the beginning of the end

Our money will be worthless, say, in less than a year
Gas prices will rise, that's more than clear
The stock market will crash following the dollar's demise
And the liberals will blame Bush 
With their pathetic reprise

Unemployment will crush any hope of  expansion
Hard working Americans will give up
"What's that ... owning a mansion?"
Rights will be dictated from the house painted White
And the eyes of justice will no longer be blind
The doctor you loved will tell you good bye
And children will ask
"Why did grandma have to die?"

The houses we own will be worthless to sell
The businesses we built
Might as well be in hell
The UN will dictate what we eat, drink and drive
The rights we once knew will no longer survive
Alas our great country, 
Chose a man with no vision
But truth be revealed ...
Chose a man with no wisdom

They Cut Quarterbacks, Don't They

I'm familiar with a team that has a beloved QB. He was highly recruited and especially admired by enthusiastic new fans, people who didn't know the game and  even the referees. The front office thought for sure this man was the one who would bring their struggling team back to the place it had been for many many seasons ... #1. Alas, after several seasons some in the front office began to have their doubts. The team wasn't winning, and the truth of the matter is the team was just getting stomped on a regular basis. This QB would hand off when he should have  passed and he would pass when he should have run with the ball himself.  Seldom would he even get the team close enough to kick a field goal.  Between games, he wouldn't communicate with his team mates, and when he did, it was often at his own convenience and in vague or misleading terms. The perception of some in the front office was that he would rather play golf than be in a team meeting. He was often seen fraternizing with rival team members, and was even overheard giving assurances to one rival team that he was going to help them win in the next season. I mentioned before that the refs really liked this guy ... often ignoring his flagrant rule violations.

Well, in about 50 days,  the front office has to make a choice; renew his contract or cut him from the team. I'm praying that the front office has enough insight and where-with-all to cut Barak H. Obama from the team. Like an old familiar actor recently said ...and I'm paraphrasing ... We own this team, and  If somebody can't do the job ... you have to let them go.

Job Description

The national debt and the budget deficit is a threat to your security.  High oil prices are a threat to your economic well being. America's economic situation, particularly the unemployment rate, demands a reasoned and structured approach to return to normalcy. Call me wrong? Anyone? No, these facts are without debate. So, I want to know, "Where is the President's plan?" Isn't it the President's job to offer solutions, or to at least suggest initiatives that might solve problems of national interest?  I mean, don't we elect a president to lead, inspire and rally solutions to problems. If a president can't do those things, what good is he/she? 

No, I don't think this president understands his job description, and his rhetoric offers us a bit of insight into how misinformed he really is:
His plan to stimulate employment - Tax the rich.
His plan to fix Medicare - Tax the rich.
His plan to fix Social Security - Tax the rich.
His plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil - Tax the rich.
His plan to hold the deficit in check - Tax the rich.
His plan to reduce the national debt - Tax the rich.
His plan to restore America's credibility in the world community - Tax the rich.
The problem with this plan is that the rich don't have enough money to do all that, even if the government took every penny. Don't believe me? Then go do the math.

To be sure, he has a more detailed plan to get re-elected. Simply look at his campaign advertisements and listen to the lame stream media. It's obvious that he's pinning his hopes for re-election by engaging in the following strategy:
Convince women that the Republicans are waging a war on women.
Convince Latinos that Republicans hate minorities.
Convince the working class that Republicans want the the "fat cats" to get richer at the expense of the middle class.
Convince seniors that Republicans want to steal their Medicare and Social Security.
Blame Bush for the mess he inherited.

Now, someone please tell me how any of that adds up to a plan to address the critical issues that face our country? What I observe is a President engaging in the tactics of class envy and fear mongering. But what else can he do? He has no record of success to run on.

I suspect that most Americans, at least the one's that vote, understand what a president is elected to do. One thing we expect from a president is to refrain from fear mongering, and class warfare. We also expect accountability and a measure of forthrightness. So, here's the challenge to you Obama supporters: Please offer us a single instance where he has been either; accountable or forthright in regards to the critical issues facing our country. Secondly, offer us a single campaign speech where he didn't engage in some form of class envy, or fear mongering. Then lastly, please articulate the President's plan to address the looming problems facing all of us: Joblessness, the price of gas, inflation, the growing national debt and out of control Federal Spending. Do that and we will have some room for honest debate. Until then, dear Obama supporters, I don't want to hear your unsubstantiated claims about how Romney and Ryan only want to empower the rich, and steal government entitlements. I don't want to hear how Republicans hate women, minorities and gays. Until Obama articulates a game plan to stabilize the economy, reduce unemployment, reduce deficit spending, pay down the National Debt and suggest a cohesive energy policy, you should think long and hard about why you're planning to vote for someone who doesn't understand the job description.

Run, Hit, Throw?

It still baffles me that our sitting President enjoys a virtual tie in the polls, despite his record and the state of our country. Are there really that many voters, presumably adults, that have no regard for the reality of our situation? Perhaps you're one of these adolescent minded individuals that is still planning on voting for BHO in November. Can we kindly ask why? Can we respectfully question the reasons for your adamant support of a president that has clearly failed to live up to the office? I fully understand your support for him in 2008. America had plunged into recession, and we had a candidate like no other candidate in our brief history. He was an eloquent speaker, he was a crafty politician, and he offered America the opportunity to put to rest the notion that America was a racist country. So, in casting your vote, you bought the sparkle the glitz the rhetoric and veiled messages, and proved to yourself and your neighbors that you weren't a racist. Good for you, but you did it without really understanding what the man meant by Hope and Change, even though people like me tried to warn you.

That was four years ago.

So let's look at the Obama record. I mean, that's how we do things in America, right? To offer a loose analogy, if you can't run, hit and throw then you can't seriously be considered a baseball player.

For the first time in our history, and during the Obama Administration, America's credit rating was downgraded. Okay, let's blame that one on Bush, and I'll temporarily forget that Pelosi and Reid had anything to do with it.  But what has Obama done to remedy that? Nothing. In fact he's offered budgets that place us $1Trillon dollars in debt ever year from now until 2020.  That's not exactly what a responsible president should be doing in times of financial crises.

We've had the opportunity to secure a bit of energy independence these past four years. Did Obama capitalize on these opportunities? No, instead he continually denies off-shore drilling permits in the U.S., but sends billions of dollars to Brazil to help develop their oil production. Furthermore, he spent billions of tax payers dollars on loans to "clean energy" companies, promising millions of green jobs. Hello ... employment is still above 8%. Government picking winners and losers is not an American concept. Period. End of discussion on that point. 

Iran is close to achieving a nuclear weapon. What has Obama done to deter that? Nothing! If this doesn't concern you, you really need to read more, and I'm not talking about Esquire or Cosmopolitan.

We had several military/national security victories in the last four years, not the least of which was the elimination of OBL. A Bush initiative that BHO embraced and carried out.  What did our president do following the death of Osama Bin Laden? His administration promptly leaked the classified information of how it was accomplished, followed by more leaks concerning covert operations that were designed to keep Americans safe. While wer'e on the topic of national security, he told a Russian representative that he would reduce America's nuclear arsenal when he got re-elected. God help us!

We now have nationalized health care ... a big Obama victory. The only problem is that, by any measurable standard, Obamacare isn't what he said it was going to be, and doesn't do what he said it would do. Instead, it is certain to bankrupt certain small businesses, reduce the number of doctors, and ration health care.  Oh, boy ... free health care that everyone has to pay for.  Someone tell me how this fixes anything.

I don't have the time or writing space to talk about all the power grabs known as executive orders this President has authorized. These are nothing more than unconstitutional devices to win votes, appease his union buddies, and further grow the Federal Government. They have nothing to do with economic security, domestic security or strengthening the middle class.

Hasn't the man done enough damage to our country through his lack of leadership?  We face a very critical crossroads in our history. We, Americans, cannot afford four more years of an Administration with this kind of record.

I may not be able to change your mind about your support for BHO, but I very well may be able to shame you to refrain from voting in November. If you vote for Obama, you're as big a part of the problem as he is. He has clearly demonstrated his ideology as un-American. He has clearly demonstrated that he cannot lead. He has clearly demonstrated his disregard for our economic security.  What is his plan to save SS and Medicare? What's his energy policy following his failure to "create" all those green jobs? What is his foreign policy in regards to the Mid-East, China, and Israel? What is his plan to put Americans back to work? No one knows the answers to these questions, and that's a big problem. So far, the only plan I've heard this President offer, besides blaming Bush, is tax the rich. Like that's going to solve all our problems. Do you believe that? Is that the plan you're voting for? You want to make the producers/employers pay more? You believe that further taxing the rich will lead to good things for you? Well, then please don't vote in November because you're not smart enough to weigh the facts against what ever else you're using to rationalize support for this man who is arguably the worst President ever elected to the office.  Run, hit, throw? I don't think so.

45% - Really?

I guess I need to come clean.  I don't like our sitting President.  I don't like his Marxist ideas, his irresponsible spending, his globalist puppet masters, his double speak, his lack of leadership, his propensity to blame others instead of taking responsibility, his dis ingenuousness about jobs, his treatment of our Allies, his Atty. General, his Secty. of Energy, his Secty. of HUD, nor his complicit minions in the main stream media. So, after taking nearly 8 years of grief for supporting and defending G W Bush ... I certainly hope you'll forgive me for seeking a bit of retribution.
Our nation has one foot in the grave, and 45% of the voters in America don't care. They've already made up their minds that 8% unemployment is okay. They have already settled on the fact that gas is going to be $5 a gallon or more, that 7% inflation is okay, that running trillion dollar deficits every year is just peachy, and that more government intrusion into our lives is a virtue.  I seriously don't think I'm going to change the minds of any one of these socialists. They don't care about facts. They don't care about evidence, historical relevance, reason, logic, or principles. They are mind-numb robots, led to believe that government is meant to solve all our problems, and that if they could just get those pesky conservatives out of the way, the result would be Utopia here in America.  They don't give a rats back side about the trend toward tyranny, and America becoming a second rate nation. This group has no clue of the importance of America's role on the planet. This 45% of Americans, of whom I speak, are like adolescents, adamantly claiming their independence but still clinging to their parents for their subsistence.  These voters don't give a rip about America, their legacy or their children's future. For if they did, they would pay more attention to what is going on around them. If they did, they would embrace the evidence of this administration's failures and join the rest of us in seeking a President who just might pull that leg out of the grave. I'm still fearful of where BHO could take us if re-elected. I mean, just look where we were three years ago, and where we are today. Of course that would mean looking at the facts, and coming to some logical conclusions ... something it appears that 45% of Americans are just not willing to do.

Andrew Klavan - Barack Obama, Talking Crap II: This Time It's Crap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3S09QPls...

Coming Soon - Video Posts

The Phony War On Women

Let's get to the truth, shall we? There is no war on women. At least, not in the United States.  It's a ruse, a political ploy to pander to the voting women of America,  and an unprincipled and unsubstantiated claim, meant to serve as a smokescreen for the dismal record of this President. I'm still waiting for the proponents of this war to offer facts as opposed to supposition. Perhaps they need some help understanding the concept of facts. Facts are these funny little things that support arguments. When you don't have facts, then you must resort to conjecture, supposition and name calling; exactly what I've heard from the war on women crowd.  So, in the interest of getting to the truth let me offer some facts as to why this "war on women" is phony.

In her new book, "The Richer Sex", Liza Monday cites new research that shows in U.S. cities single women in their 20's without children on average make more than men. Almost 40 percent of working wives out-earn their husbands. The next generation of women in America will make more than their male counterparts across all levels of employment.
In 49 of the last 50 months, unemployment was lower for women than men; this according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And women receive roughly three-fifth of both bachelors and masters degrees from American colleges and universities.The National Journal Heartland Monitor Group is reporting that three-fourths of women say they believe they can now advance as far as their talents will take them regardless of their gender. And nearly as many report that they have not experienced discrimination at all in the workplace.

These, my friends, are what we call facts. Now you warriors fighting this phony war on women, please offer yours.

10 Reasons Why I’m Voting for the Republican Presidential Candidate in 2012

1.  The National Debt is 100% of GDP. Unless  a comprehensive plan is administered to pay down this debt, America’s greatest woes will be realized sooner than later.  The Republican says he will attack the debt on his first day in office.

2. Israel deserves to be treated as a friend instead of a political pawn. The Republican says he will do this.

3.Iran must be dealt  a heavy hand of both diplomacy and show of force. We cannot coddle the maniac in charge, and expect him to be nice to us. The Republican is on record  as to what steps he will take as they relate to Iran.

4. Likewise, North Korea must fully understand that any sabre rattling  in our direction will be considered serious and be dealt with immediately. Ditto Iran.

5. America must become energy independent. The Republican has vowed to move us in that direction.

6. Americans must go back to work. The Republican has a plan to do this.

7. The growth of the federal government has to stop. The Republican says it will.

8. We need a President who understands Americans. The Republican is the only one of the two that has even a clue.

9. The Department of Justice must be held accountable  for a string  of political  and ideological stunts performed over the past three years. The Republican says he will pursue investigations wherever necessary.

10. We need a President who knows how to lead. The Republican nominee is the only one of the two with a proven and successful track record. 

The 10 Reasons I'm Not Voting for Obama

1.  The National Debt is 100% of GDP. Unless  a comprehensive plan is administered to pay down this debt, America’s greatest woes will be realized sooner than later.  Obama has administered  over most of this and has in fact made things worse.

2. Israel deserves to be treated as a friend instead of a political pawn. Obama has insulted Israel one too many times.

3.Iran must be dealt  a heavy hand of both diplomacy and show of force. We cannot coddle the maniac in charge, and expect him to be nice to us. Obama has had three years to deal with this bozo in Iran ...  what do we have to show for it?

4. Likewise, North Korea must fully understand that any sabre rattling  in our direction will be considered serious and be dealt with immediately. Ditto Iran.

5. America must become energy independent. The Obama Administration has done everything to ensure we don't.

6. Americans must go back to work. Obama's plan failed .... he has yet to offer a new one.

7. The growth of the federal government has to stop. Obama's plan is to keep it growing.

8. We need a President who understands Americans.  Obama understands Americans like I understand Steven Hawking.

9. The Department of Justice must be held accountable  for a string  of political  and ideological stunts performed over the past three years. No way Obama is going to man-up and take responsibility for this one ... but he should.

10. We need a President who knows how to lead. Just a cursory evaluation of this President's leadership ability would disqualify him from heading a cub scout troop.

If You Believe the Polls, Like I Do ...

Beware my conservative friends .... there are lefties out there co-opting our conservative language and insinuating that the Tea Party is the party advocating bigger government.  Does no intellectual honesty remain among the leftists? I mean I thought they were the enlightened ones ... You know them: environmental whackos, feminists, socialists, communists, move on dot org, media matters, anyone associated with Soros, and sadly ... if we believe the polls, about 45% of the nation who think 8% unemployment is acceptable, who think $5 per gallon of gas is okay, that shutting down our coal industry is a brilliant idea, that 7% inflation is a good start to recover a failing economy, that no federal budget for the past three years is responsible, that our 16 Trillion Dollar debt is going to go away by taxing the rich,  that taxing the rich is going to solve all of our fiscal problems, that running 1 Trillion dollar deficits every year is the way to help the middle class, that shaming our friends and coddling our enemies is a winning foreign strategy, that suing states that enforce federal laws is a good thing, that a botched gun running scheme was cooked up by some low-level ATF agent, that it's perfectly acceptable that the rate of unemployment is higher among women and young people than anytime since they started counting them, that believe there is a war on women in America, and that still get their news from MSNBC, Bill Maher, and John Daley.  You know you can do a lot of things to help people look better, sound better, and even talk better, but there's not a damn thing you can do about stupid. I just pray they are too stupid to find a polling place in November.

The Virtues of Conservatism - Part 10

 After several years of frustration in attempting to convert my liberal friends to a more courageous way of thinking, I have determined three things:

1. My efforts have been largely futile.
2. Liberals are converted over time; due to facing critical life circumstances, and/or the recognition that liberal ideology is simply non-enduring.
3. Derision and name calling does nothing to assist in their conversion.

In light of these revelations, I’ve decided that my efforts might be better invested in discussing the virtues of conservative thought, as opposed to pointing out the blatant fallacies of liberal thinking. Now, this does not mean that I will refrain from comparison and contrast, it simply means that I will attempt to couch my words and observations in non-demeaning ways. Perhaps my words will capture the attention of a young liberal ideologue in his or her journey to a more courageous way of thinking. My discussion will be delivered in 10 parts. This is the last in the series.
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PART 10

The thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.  As Russell Kirk writes:  "The Permanence of a society is formed by those enduring interests and convictions that gives us stability and continuity; without that Permanence, the fountains of the great deep are broken up, society slipping into anarchy. The Progression in a society is that spirit and that body of talents which urge us on to prudent reform and improvement; without that Progression, a people stagnate."  

Conservatives, therefore are not hostile toward progression, but instead hostile to progression that would ultimately destroy stability and continuity. May I mention just two here? Marriage and family. Conservatives come by their label for a good reason ... they seek to conserve certain ideas, institutions and practices, not for the sake of simply conserving them, but for the sake of the stability and continuity they provide the individual and society.  During my life-time I have witnessed the liberal left's assault on everything virtuous about the United States; The Boy Scouts, The Traditional Family, The Church,  Unborn Children, Rights Guaranteed by the Constitution, The Free Market System, Private Education, Stay at Home Mothers, Successful Businesses, and indeed Men. Reform?  Progress? ... I'm all for it, as long as prudence and wisdom prevails. Now tell me ... what government program or liberal idea can you name that fits that formula? 

The virtues of the conservative are far superior to any affability the left can drag to the arena of ideas, and it is simple to understand why. The left has no principled position, and without principles their ideas are empty shells. A few examples if I might: Social Security was a failed program from the day it was written into law. The liberals knew it was unsustainable, but strapped future generations with the massive amount of debt it would incur. The war on poverty rages on after 40 years and trillions of redistributed dollars. Guess what? We still have poverty in America, and it's not because we haven't spent enough money on it. It's because some people just wont' work if not required to do so. Medicare and other entitlements have driven our national debt into unforgivable and unsustainable heights. Legalized abortion has now taken the lives of 50 million babies. In a population that big, we surely snuffed the lives of some really remarkable people that never got a chance to demonstrate it.  No one can tell me that conservatives were responsible for these things. I'm old enough to know that these problems were born out of "Progressive" periods in our history...particularly the 60's and 70's, where anything new was superior to anything old. Prudence and wisdom were considered over-rated and decidedly in the way of the leftist concepts of compassion, and political correctness. So excuse my vomiting when I hear how conservatives are responsible for all the ills of the world.

Kirk writes: "The conservative favors reasoned and temperate progress; he is opposed to the cult of Progress, whose minions believe that everything new necessarily is superior to everything old. Change is essential to the body social, the conservative reasons, just as it is essential to the human body ...The great line of demarcation in modern politics, Eric Voegelin used to point out, is not a division between liberals on one side and totalitarians on the other. No, on one side of that line are all those men and women who fancy that the temporal order is the only order, and that material needs are their only needs, and that they may do as they like with the human patrimony. On the other side of that line are all those people who recognize an enduring moral order in the universe, a constant human nature, and high duties toward the order spiritual and the order temporal."  Those who fit the latter description are those I call CONSERVATIVES!

The outline for this treatment is credited to Russell Kirk and the web site at: 
http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/

The Virtues of Conservatism Part 9

The conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions. Indeed conservatives believe, through personal experience, history, and observation that men, unrestrained, will take what they can, when they can, for no other reason but that they can. Conservatives understand that just because the "right" people are in charge, it doesn't guarantee right results. Nixon was elected into his second term by a landslide. Seemingly, he was the "right" man in charge. In the end, his own "conservative" party called for his resignation. Why? Because they held that the law of the land was for all men, not just most men. Contrast that with today, when party loyalty to the left tolerates injustice, violence, intimidation, lawlessness and blatant disregard for the rule of law.

Part of our cultural decay today is the direct result of Americans ignoring the principle of prudent restraint upon power and passions. The left is obsessed with advancing power to the elite and fostering unbridled passion. No, we're not talking about the virtuous passions; love, mercy, peace. We're talking about passions that destroy long standing institutions like marriage and family, and passions that demonize honorable and hard working citizens like Joe the plumber, and Sarah Palin. These are passions of avarice, self indulgence, jealousy, envy, and hate. (On a side note: I have yet to hear even one small-minded liberal tell me what Sarah Palin did to deserve so much vitriol. I want facts, figures, and substantive reasoning, but  all I get is "She's an idiot, and deserves it.")  The left is populated with self-serving, stage-one thinkers that want what they want when they want it ... and on top of that, they want someone else to pay for it. Talk about unbridled passion. 
This is 2012, and if you've been paying attention, we've been living with an Administration that has exercised more executive power than any president before him. Don't believe me ... look it up. Let me give you some help with key words: Number of Executive Orders, Number of Czars, Number of regulations, Number of recess appointments ... while congress was not in recess.  Are you starting to get the picture here? Let me give you some more help. I'll wait while you think of one Obama initiative that has, without argument, advanced the good of the nation. GM? Sorry that was a Bush initiative. Osama Bin Laden? Sorry, that was also a Bush initiative. Out of Iraq? Sorry again .. it was always the intent of the Bush administration to leave Iraq ... at the appropriate time. Obama care? Oh ...it's so good that half the states have filed suit to stop it.  Green jobs? Really? You want to talk about green jobs ... like Solyndra, et. al. Bottom line ... in spite of all the wielding of power exerted by this president ... nothing good has materialized.  Unemployment is still above 8%. Jobs are still going overseas. Racial tension is at a level unseen since the 60's. The man has not prudently exercised his power, and that my friends is why conservatives oppose him. 

The outline for this treatment is credited to Russell Kirk and the web site at: 
http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/

Some Americans Shouldn't Claim The Title

I don't know how to categorize a very large group of Americans: Complacent, apathetic, unprincipled, or just plain ignorant ... Independent investigators have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Barak Obama's alleged Certificate of Live Birth,  submitted by the State of Hawaii, is a fake. Seems most Americans don't care... especially those who voted for him. Let me tell you ... if someone I voted for was seemingly complicit in committing fraud, I would want to know.  Seems that I remember an entire Lame Stream Media campaign that daily pounded the drum of "Bush Lied - People Died" nonsense.  Did Bush lie? Well if he did he had good company: Billl Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albrecht, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry ... the who's who on the left list could go on for another page. So let's just cut the double speak and hypocrisy and be real. 

There is substantial evidence that the Obama document is a fraud. No one ... no not even the guy on Snopes, has successfully discredited  the Arizona investigation.  If you go watch the videos, posted on Snopes, that claim to debunk the Arizona investigator's findings, you will find the man uses no scientific method to his rebuttal. His entire hypothesis is based on conjecture, speculation and deductive reasoning .... not exactly credible methodology to take apart a scientifically conducted investigation.  He uses hear-say and third party information for much of his rebuttal. Sorry, but that stuff isn't admitted in a court of law.

This issue has more to do with the state of affairs in America than it has to do with whether or not His Majesty Obama is eligible to be president.  When Americans stop caring about the truth, when they dismiss facts and hard evidence simply because they don't  like the messenger, when journalistic organizations ignore hard facts, dismiss truth, and edit 911 calls to advance an agenda or remain politically correct, we should sit up, take notice and then demand better.  Americans deserve better ... at least this American does.  If you disagree, I think you ought not claim the title.

Economics 101 - Ignored by Big Government

Economics 101
Today's lesson - The Law Big Government Ignores.

First we state the truth: Consumption is necessary to sustain life, and exists at the core of every economic system.  We are all born consumers, and we continue to consume until the day we die ... and when you think about it, even in death people continue to consume.  Coffins, head stones, flowers, and/or energy to cremate the body all require some natural resource to be exploited. So, even in death we will, in some limited way, continue to be consumers.  Consumption is also the engine for economies in every form; Dictatorships, socialism, capitalism, or any hybrid thereof depend upon people consuming things. Without people eating food, clothing themselves, building shelters, and attempting to stay comfortable, no economy would exist. Indeed, consumption is one of those truths that must be recognized as an important one.

Now that we understand the truth we should state axioms that are relevant to the truth.
The means of consumption is accommodated in one of three ways:
1) It is gifted.  Every person on the planet  began life under this axiom. Most live in this manner for several years. It is not until we acquire the necessary skills, talents or abilities that the expectation of earning our means of consumption is imposed.
2) It is stolen. Our prisons are full of people who thought that stealing was an expeditious means to their consumption. Now they are among those who are gifted the means of their consumption.
3) It is earned. This is the way civilizations not only survive but thrive; people earning their means of  consumption by offering their talents, skills and abilities in exchange for something either directly or indirectly  tangible. Before the days of sophisticated commerce, people bartered their skills, talents and abilities in exchange for that which they wished to consume. In today's market- place, the barter system has been mostly replaced with a monetary system.  People work, they get paid in a recognized currency, and then the currency is exchanged for food, clothing, shelter, etc.  We raise our children ... or at least some of us tried to do so ... with this axiom in mind. Work hard for it is the means to survival and success in life.

Now we state the precept: For an economy to survive, those being gifted and those stealing must not overreach the abilities or efforts of those who are earning the means for consumption.  For obvious reasons, some among us must come under the care of someone or some organization that can take care of them; children, the elderly,  the handicapped, and those with debilitating conditions. The family unit has long been looked upon as the provider for children. Before WW2, families were expected to take care of their aging relatives, communities and local organizations, for the most part, took care of the sick the orphaned and handicapped.  It was only after WW2 did Americans start looking earnestly to government programs to provide for those that couldn't provide for themselves. 

Now the principle: The most efficient and judicious means of sustaining a culture/socioeconomic system is for a majority of individuals, for a majority of their living years, to earn their means of consumption. The Bible says ... "If a man doesn't work, he should not eat." This is not some punitive law established by religion, it is quite simply a law of nature. One man may find a means of supporting a family of six, eight, perhaps in some  rare cases, ten other family members, with the ultimate goal of not having to do it for his entire life. Burden that man with the requirement of supporting another six, eight, or ten, for the length of his lifetime, and his life may be cut short from exhaustion.  In August 14, 1935, when Social Security was created, there were 40 workers for every retiree. Today there are less than 3 workers per retiree, and in a few short years the ratio will be 2:1.  While the entitlement age began with FDR and Social Security, the Johnson Administration expanded it, and today, Social Security, Medicare, Health and Welfare programs, consume 50% of our federal budget. What this means is that more and more people are growing dependent upon the government for their means of consumption. It doesn't take a Harvard-trained economist to realize that the system is unsustainable.

And finally the application: Embrace the free market system, unencumbered by government interference. The first step might be to require that able bodied people take care of themselves, for that is adherence to the law of nature.

The Virtues of Conservatism - Part 8

Conservatives uphold voluntary community and at the same time oppose involuntary collectivism. Conservatives believe that most challenges faced by families and individuals should be addressed at the lowest level of governance possible, that tax dollars collected from them should be used first at the community level,  then at the State level, and finally the national level.  A careful reading of the constitution will bring the reader to one conclusion. Congress is authorized to tax the citizenry for very limited purposes, the single most important being national defense.   
Conservatives hold that  local institutions, churches, synagogs, and the like, are best suited for the purposes of charity, health care, and education ...to name a few. Centralized control of these functions, at the State or national level, offer inviting opportunities for fraud, corruption, and incompetence. In light of current events, do any of those words seem to ring true?  Conservatives maintain that communities understand the challenges of their citizens much better than a distant centralized system, and should consequently be afforded the opportunity and resources to meet those challenges. 
Conservatives vociferously oppose involuntary collectivism, for a host of reasons.
1. Involuntary collectivism shifts responsibility from individuals and communities to a centralized system. Inevitably, the centralized system becomes laden with bureaucracy and inefficiency, leading to the unmet needs of the community and individuals.
2. Underneath involuntary collectivism is the principle of wealth redistribution. This principle presupposes that men and women are perfect, equal in skills/abilities, and share a common sense of justice. We know from history, and from our own experience, that no one is perfect, that we are not equal in our skills/abilities, and what one man make think just, another  may think cruel.  Involuntary collectivism has failed everywhere and every time it has been tried. The early settlers in America tried it, but quickly abandoned it, once realizing its many flaws.
3. Involuntary collectivism steals the dignity from what would be self reliant individuals. 
4. Involuntary collectivism preys upon societies'  talented, successful, and hard working individuals to subsidize, support, or nurture the lazy and irresponsible members of the society.  
5. Involuntary collectivism leads to class envy, discourages entrepreneurship, inhibits workplace creativity, and ultimately destroys economies.  We have only to look at the last 100 years of history to realize this fact. 
6. Involuntary collectivism limits the individual his/her right to pursue happiness, in that the system determines the worth of individuals, and artificially imposes limitations upon them. 
In conclusion, "A central administration, or a corps of select managers and civil servants, however well intentioned and well trained, cannot confer justice and prosperity and tranquility upon a mass of men and women deprived of their old responsibilities. That experiment has been made before; and it has been disastrous. It is the performance of our duties in community that teaches us prudence and efficiency and charity."  Russell Kirk

The outline for this treatment is credited to Russell Kirk and the web site at: 
http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/