It's A Different World, Dad (part 2)

I'm really sorry sometimes that not everyone had the chance to have my mom and dad as their mom and dad. The older I get, the more I appreciate their influence and the more I recognize their wisdom and skill in child rearing. I think they were superior to most, but then, I might be biased. One thing my folks taught me was that if you made a commitment to be somewhere or do something ... come hell or high water ... you kept your commitment. I'm surprised at how many people either didn't get that guidance from their parents or just didn't pay attention the day it was being demonstrated.
There are a host of good reasons for keeping commitments, not the least of which include honoring the other people involved. If you've made lunch or dinner plans, chances are someone has made reservations, which required some time and effort from someone. As a result of the reservation, there are now more than just two who are now involved. Someone is making lunch or dinner for two more people .. there is a host or hostess holding a table, maybe at the inconvenience of a couple that actually did show up.
In the last half of my life ... and in so far as it affects me ... I'm past tolerating, excusing or entertaining this kind of behavior. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but if you want my friendship ... keep your word, keep your appointments, and in so doing, honor my time.

Patterns of Behavior

I grew up with very few rules: Don't lie, don't steal, ask permission, and speak kindly. Pretty simple rules, and if you think about it for even a few seconds, you can discern the wisdom in them ... they pretty much cover any trouble a young boy might himself facing. For a time, I thought that these rules were being universally applied to everyone ... everywhere. But even as a young boy, I began to realize that there were some people in this world who were not required to live by the same rules I had to follow. When I was in first grade, an older student stole a pocket knife from me, and of course he suffered no consequences for his bad behavior. He was bigger, smarter, and a lot more street-wise than me. He simply conned me into letting him see it and then just kept it. Like it or not ... he was able to break one of the rules that I was taught not to violate ... and get away with it.
Now I'm older, and I'm finding that I'm still attempting to live by the same rules that dominated my childhood. And I'm still finding that some people ... bigger, smarter and more street-wise are still stealing from me. I'm not talking about big business. I'm talking about D.C. and in some cases the State Government of Arizona. I've listed below just a few of the taxes imposed on upon Americans at the State and Federal level.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and
local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer Registration Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

This list is a general accounting of the taxes imposed upon us. There are several sub categories associated with many of these taxes. Sale tax, for instance, might include taxes on some specific items, such as alcohol and or tobacco. Utility taxes have several sub categories.

I think we're not a lot different than that first grade boy who was coerced into showing his pocket knife to the bigger, smarter, more street-wise boy. He's still waiting for some justice.

Are You Paying Attention?

Help me out here, ladies and gentleman. Am I and Glenn Beck the only people in the United States that give a rip about what's going on in America today? Do you not realize that the very fabric of our nation is being torn for the sake of a failed ideology? We have to look no further than than the justice department. Take a hard look at their priorities .. what they choose to prosecute and what they choose not to prosecute:
What they are prosecuting:
1. Arizona's Law to stem the tide of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
2. Military personnel voting rights
3. CIA operatives that interrogated terrorists under the Bush Administration
4. Sheriff, Joe Arpaio
5. Civilian Trials for Military combatants
6. et. al the list is too long

What Holder isn't prosecuting:
1. The Black Panther's involvement in voter intimidation
2. Terrorist airline bomb attacks
3. Private property intrusions
4. SEIU involvement in criminal activity
5. ACORN involvement in illegal activity

It's all upside down.

Reation to Inside Higher Ed Article

The link below will take you to a recent article that appeared in the blog "Inside Higher Ed"
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/07/22/nelson
The article makes a salient point about academic freedom and the unrestricted exchange of research; that restricting or skewing significant research may lead to unwanted consequences. The insinuation inside the article is that private corporations are particularly susceptible to corruption and malfeasance, and advances the notion that public institutions ... i.e. state universities, or government ententes are best equipped to conduct research that may have regional, national, or global significance.
What a crock of horse hoof pudding! To think for a moment that public universities or government sponsored research is immune to corruption or special interest is either naive or beholding to a ideology that embraces government as the solution to all problems.
I see this as just one more attack on corporate America and Capitalism. There is no evidence that government entities are better equipped, more noble or even more capable of securing the best interests of the citizenry. In fact .... the empirical evidence of recent history will lead us to the conclusion that government isn't any more responsible that corporate America when it comes to protecting the economic structure and social fabric of the nation.

It's A Crazy World

Want some news that will make you scratch your head?
http://abcnews.go.com/US/TheLaw/montana-teen-charged-homicide-sues-slain-womans-family/story?id=11323133

Social Security and How it Got Screwed Up

Your Social Security

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn't know this. It's easy to check out, if you don't believe it. Be sure and show it to your kids. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts!

Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes. Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message was removed.

An old Social Security card with the "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION" message.

Our Social Security

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be
Completely voluntary,

No longer Voluntary


2.) That the participants would only have to pay
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
Incomes into the Program,

Now 7.65%
on the first $90,000


3.) That the money the participants elected to put
into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,

No longer tax deductible


4.) That the money the participants put into the
independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the
general operating fund, and therefore, would
only be used to fund the Social Security
Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and,

Under Johnson the money was moved to
The General Fund and Spent


5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

Under Clinton & Gore
Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month --
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put
away' -- you may be interested in the following:

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the
general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
controlled House and Senate.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the US

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Q: Which Political Party decided to start
giving annuity payments to immigrants?

A: That's right!

JIMMY CARTER and the Democratic Party.
Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!

------------ -- ------------ --------- ----- ------------ --------- ---------

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA),
the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it!
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of
awareness will be planted and maybe changes will
evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully
sure of what isn't so.

But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to?

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

AND CONGRESS GIVES THEMSELVES 100% RETIREMENT FOR ONLY SERVING ONE TERM!!!

Church of Big Government

“Hello, Is this the Church of Big Government? Wow, I just heard your membership is down. Yeah, tough times all around for sure. Well, you can't blame them for leaving .. I mean they were really depending on you to solve any and all problems that came their way. What's that? Not sure I heard you correctly. Did you say you just need more money and things will be better? Yes, that's exactly what I thought you said. Oh there's more? You're going to hammer those big greedy corporations that make billions in profits every year? Oh, that's a good idea: Punish success and the people who create jobs .... yeah, that's a real winner.
Well if I may .... let me just say I hope your church closes its doors, because it's not helping anyone but the people who run it ... Seems D.C. is the only place in the nation where unemployment is not on the rise.
Glad we got a chance to chat ... what's that? No, I won't be joining your congregation. Bye.

Black and White

My friends tell me not every issue is black and white. But I find it interesting that historically, the solutions to our most fundamental challenges can be categorized as such.… i.e. civil rights, the elimination of once deadly diseases, indoor plumbing, balancing the family budget, air conditioning, and in the last century … the threat of fascism, Yes, I think absolutes do exist, so please forgive me for rejecting gray solutions to big problems.

Robert Hall - Sums Up Frustrations

"I'm 63 and I’m Tired"
by Robert A. Hall

I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.

I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China , the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.

I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.

I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's fund raising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.

I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need.

I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.

I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.

Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate, and is the actor who plays the coroner on CSI.

Why I'm a Conservative

On good days, conservatives are characterized in the main stream media as callous, unfeeling, racist robots; controlled by select members of talk radio and new media. But on a regular basis, if you believe the MSM, conservatives are gun-toting, Bible thumping, back-wood red necks, who would have us all live in a totally polluted environment and warring with every religious faction or nation that dared threaten the Judaeo/Christian ethic. Funny ... most of the conservatives I know are compassionate, caring, tolerant and intelligent humans who live their lives within the confines of common sense and a good measure of self discipline. So, you can understand my confusion when I hear conservatives being demonized by the liberal ambassadors of our generation.

I will admit that conservatives tend to be narrow ... not in their thinking, but in their values. Yes, if there is one thing for which conservatives can be indicted, tried and convicted, it would be their holding a narrow set of values. Now, let's be clear here. Values are not goals, ideals, or noble causes. Values are the means to goals, ideals and noble causes, and I believe it is at this juncture where the division between conservatism and liberalism begins.

Yes, I think conservatives and liberals differ on some basic core values. 1) Conservatives value self-determination/personal responsibility, which is most often expressed through opposition to any idea, measure, or regulation that would deny individuals from taking responsibility for themselves. For example, support for a health care system that removes choices from the individual betrays a value system that is opposed to self determination. You cannot say you value self determination (freedom) and then embrace ideas that deny personal responsibility. Freedom is the ability to choose, and then embrace the consequences of those choices; good or bad.
2) Conservatives value the free market system. Conservatives believe capitalism provides the best economic model for the individual to survive and prosper. This value is in strong opposition to socialism, which is an economic and political theory based on public/common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources. Furthermore, capitalism is bridled when government imposes regulations, taxes and fines on the entrepreneurial efforts of its citizenry. A tax rate that punishes success is in diametric opposition to capitalism. Conservatives value a free market system, because in all of history it has provided the best model for prosperity and success of the individual. You cannot claim to embrace capitalism and then support common ownership, re-allocation of resources or higher taxes on those who make more money than you. Those concepts, my friend, are born out of Marxism. 3) Conservatives value limited government at every tier, but especially at the national level. Conservatives recognize the wisdom of the Constitution and believe that a government big enough to provide you anything you want and need is a government big enough to take it away from you. Conservatives recognize that there is a legitimate role for government, but it is a limited role; one that makes up for the short comings of the individual. The Constitution is very clear about the role of government. It does not include providing food, shelter, clothing or education for its citizenry. You can read it for yourself here: Full text of the Constitution of the United States. I highly recommend it.

As I observe the behavior and words of the liberal community, I cannot help but think that they do not share values with their conservative counterparts. I strongly suspect that for most, the values they do hold are not solidified or well defined. Tell me, my liberal friend, what value do you associate with supporting an ever-expanding government? What value do you associate with higher taxes? What value do you associate with surrendering personal choice (what to eat, what car to drive, what doctor you see) to a government entity? What value do you associate with taking money from your neighbor and giving it to another neighbor? What value do you associate with imposing higher taxes on those who make more money than you? These are of course rhetorical questions because we all know the answer: Irresponsibility disguised as compassion. It is the liberal value that encompasses it all. The lack of personal responsibility naturally lends itself to relying on others, in this case the government, to satisfy some need or want or goal. Yes, government seems to be the most expedient means of solving the issues of our day. We are all familiar with the arguments surrounding clean air, clean water, endangered species, over-population ,et al., popular liberal topics that are used to beat up on conservatives and prove liberals are responsible people. Give me a break folks, conservatives also live on this planet, and have concerns regarding our survival. The difference is that conservatives tend to look first for free market and practical solutions before subjugating them to an inefficient and cumbersome government bureaucracy that will eat up tax dollars and eventually fail in its purpose. Let me illustrate my point with these cold hard facts:
The federal government has
• 342 economic development programs;
• 130 programs serving the disabled;
• 130 programs serving at-risk youth;
• 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water;
• 50 homeless assistance programs;
• 45 federal agencies conducting federal criminal investigations.

We take a look at the list, and it is simply a cursory glance, and we can make some credible observations: Noble? Yes. Practical? No. Expensive? Yes. Redundant? Yes. Constitutional? Debatable. Seriously, can you read that list and not realize that conservatives have good reason for holding to their narrow values?

Yes, I'm a conservative ... for, I think, very good reasons.