Sunday, August 15, 2010
Obama and Experience...or Lack Thereof
Let me be, perhaps, the first to predict that in a year when President Obama kicks off his reelection campaign, the experience that he said didn't matter two years ago, will be his main argument for reelection. The experience that didn’t matter for John McCain will be the salient reason for reelection of our president.
Funny how a thing like that works. You don’t have to have any experience to set on the president’s cabinet, to be a Supreme Court Justice or even to be President of the most powerful nation on the planet.
You don’t have to have ever had a real job. You don’t have to have ever have hired or fired anyone. You don’t have to have ever had to have met a payroll. You don’t have to have ever have had any accomplishments whatsoever! You don’t have to have ever done anything more than get yourself elected to a couple of political offices. Still, none of that matters if you talk glibly about “hope and change.” Sheesh!
It reminds me of the ‘92 campaign, when military service and/or draft dodging didn’t matter because Bill Clinton was a Democrat. Yet, in 2000, when questions were raised about George Bush’s honorable service, suddenly it did matter since he is a Republican. Well, when the campaign commercials begin next year that talk about the “steady, experienced, proven leadership of Barack Obama,” that explosion you hear is not the balloon going up…it’s my head!
Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Democrat, George Bush, John McCain, presidential campaign, presidents, Republican, Supreme Court
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Never Again!
I double-dog dare any Republican to tell me that I need to vote for their guy because the other guy is so bad, when I really don't care that much for the Republican guy in the first place.
From here on and for the rest of my life, I will vote my conscious. I will vote for whomever I think is best for our nation and fits my philosophy the closest.
Never again Will I vote for the "lesser of two evils."
I'll vote for whomever I believe God wants me to vote.
And if no one else worth having is on the ballot, I'll just write in Alan Keyes.
From here on and for the rest of my life, I will vote my conscious. I will vote for whomever I think is best for our nation and fits my philosophy the closest.
Never again Will I vote for the "lesser of two evils."
I'll vote for whomever I believe God wants me to vote.
And if no one else worth having is on the ballot, I'll just write in Alan Keyes.
Labels: Alan Keyes, election, Republican, voting
Monday, October 29, 2007
Kid Tax
Recently, I wrote this letter to my local newspaper. They've been kind enough, or crazy enough, to print every letter I've written "To the Editor" over the past few years. They didn't print this one, though. I realized, after I'd mailed the letter, that since I'm a county resident, they would prefer to print only letters from city residents.
It's just as well. If they had printed this one, I'm sure the "Republicans" in my county would have banished me, for sure. Although, after their support for a totally unneeded tax hike, I probably wouldn't have minded.
By the way, the tax was defeated by a two-to-one margin. Hallelujah!
************************************************************************************
So, here we go again. Sunquist tried his best to get a state income tax, Bredesen gave us the lottery tax and the legislature has tripled the cigarette tax. (Yet, strangely enough, they’ve made it almost impossible to light up in our fair state.) We even get legal liquor tax now. Yet, City Hall has decided that Athens is not paying enough taxes. And guess what! Oh, yeah, you got it. “It’s for the kids”! Sheesh! If the federal, state, county or city government comes up with one more tax “for the kids,” I won’t be able to afford to feed mine!
They tax everything from driving, to owning land, to buying a coke, to playing air hockey to buying a stick of gum. (Is oxygen taxed yet?) Still, they raise taxes every time we turn around and it’s all “for the kids”!
Who can say “no” to the “kids”? What sort of beast would tell the “kids” that we don’t have the money or aren’t willing to pay the money for their education? Certainly, anyone who is unwilling to make the small sacrifice of a silly, little half a percent sales tax must be a heartless cad. It’s only a little half a percent, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?
The kids need pencils and paper and books and notebooks and squares and compasses and a myriad of other stuff. Someone has to pay for it. Sure, the parents buy lots of this stuff right out of pocket and also have raffles and bake sales along with other creative fund raising projects. Recently, I even had one little girl just walk up to me and flat out ask me for a donation for her school. At least she wasn’t trying to sale me some candle or discount card I really didn’t want or need. Still, It’s not enough.
From the band wagon we hear local politicians, Republican and Democrat, at last, shoulder-to-shoulder, playing in harmony a familiar tune, promising us that the school system needs, desperately needs this sales tax. After all, it’s just a silly half a percent. Well, I guess the Democrat and Republican politicians have found something they can agree on: Stick it to the consumer.
I’m certainly no mathematician, but it doesn’t take an Einstein to understand that there are only one hundred percents in one hundred percent. Today, one hundred dollars of groceries costs me one hundred and nine dollars. Now, that’s after Uncle Sam already has taken thirty plus percent of my income before I ever see it. (Oh, I’m sure Teddy Kennedy and "Little Jimmy" Duncan are spending it wisely though...not!) How many “percents” are left to take?
Now, fifty cents to a man making six figures a year isn’t much, though he, understandably, wants to keep his hard earned cash too. Yet, hit a poor man just a few times like that and you’re soon taking food out of his “kids” mouths.
You know, if you follow the politicians line of reasoning here, you’ll realize that they aren’t wanting to raise the sales tax enough. Why raise it a pitiful half a percent? Imagine how much money Athens could put in its coffers if the sales tax were fifty percent! Wow! Just think of it! Every car, t.v., computer and pound of ground round sold in Athens would gross the city fifty cents on the dollar. Of course, that’s only if anyone were stupid enough to buy anything ever again in the "Friendly City."
Now, I’m not an anarchist and I understand that we need government to pave our roads and police our streets and even, occasionally, teach our children the “Three R’s.” We must pay taxes to fund these worthwhile projects. Yet, taxes, like government, should be kept to a minimum.
If these R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only) Republicans really wanted to get money for the schools, they would try some good, old fashioned Reaganomics. Cut taxes! Yes, I said, “cut taxes!” Make Athens a haven from sales tax oppression.
Imagine if we lowered our sales tax to eight or seven or, even, six percent? People would drive for miles for the savings. Our retail stores would be swamped. Even more, industries would break their necks to build plants here. One or two percent to a corporation can result over a short time into millions in savings. Imagine the jobs coming to Athens and McMinn County! Are these RINO’s going to say that Reagan was wrong?
A final thought to those who vote for the tax rate hike. For those who trust politicians to keep their word and spend this money wisely and exactly as promised. For those who think they won’t see this same, sad scenario again within five years. I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you. Best of all, the sales tax is only, hmmmmm, five percent? Besides, It’s for my kid.
It's just as well. If they had printed this one, I'm sure the "Republicans" in my county would have banished me, for sure. Although, after their support for a totally unneeded tax hike, I probably wouldn't have minded.
By the way, the tax was defeated by a two-to-one margin. Hallelujah!
************************************************************************************
So, here we go again. Sunquist tried his best to get a state income tax, Bredesen gave us the lottery tax and the legislature has tripled the cigarette tax. (Yet, strangely enough, they’ve made it almost impossible to light up in our fair state.) We even get legal liquor tax now. Yet, City Hall has decided that Athens is not paying enough taxes. And guess what! Oh, yeah, you got it. “It’s for the kids”! Sheesh! If the federal, state, county or city government comes up with one more tax “for the kids,” I won’t be able to afford to feed mine!
They tax everything from driving, to owning land, to buying a coke, to playing air hockey to buying a stick of gum. (Is oxygen taxed yet?) Still, they raise taxes every time we turn around and it’s all “for the kids”!
Who can say “no” to the “kids”? What sort of beast would tell the “kids” that we don’t have the money or aren’t willing to pay the money for their education? Certainly, anyone who is unwilling to make the small sacrifice of a silly, little half a percent sales tax must be a heartless cad. It’s only a little half a percent, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?
The kids need pencils and paper and books and notebooks and squares and compasses and a myriad of other stuff. Someone has to pay for it. Sure, the parents buy lots of this stuff right out of pocket and also have raffles and bake sales along with other creative fund raising projects. Recently, I even had one little girl just walk up to me and flat out ask me for a donation for her school. At least she wasn’t trying to sale me some candle or discount card I really didn’t want or need. Still, It’s not enough.
From the band wagon we hear local politicians, Republican and Democrat, at last, shoulder-to-shoulder, playing in harmony a familiar tune, promising us that the school system needs, desperately needs this sales tax. After all, it’s just a silly half a percent. Well, I guess the Democrat and Republican politicians have found something they can agree on: Stick it to the consumer.
I’m certainly no mathematician, but it doesn’t take an Einstein to understand that there are only one hundred percents in one hundred percent. Today, one hundred dollars of groceries costs me one hundred and nine dollars. Now, that’s after Uncle Sam already has taken thirty plus percent of my income before I ever see it. (Oh, I’m sure Teddy Kennedy and "Little Jimmy" Duncan are spending it wisely though...not!) How many “percents” are left to take?
Now, fifty cents to a man making six figures a year isn’t much, though he, understandably, wants to keep his hard earned cash too. Yet, hit a poor man just a few times like that and you’re soon taking food out of his “kids” mouths.
You know, if you follow the politicians line of reasoning here, you’ll realize that they aren’t wanting to raise the sales tax enough. Why raise it a pitiful half a percent? Imagine how much money Athens could put in its coffers if the sales tax were fifty percent! Wow! Just think of it! Every car, t.v., computer and pound of ground round sold in Athens would gross the city fifty cents on the dollar. Of course, that’s only if anyone were stupid enough to buy anything ever again in the "Friendly City."
Now, I’m not an anarchist and I understand that we need government to pave our roads and police our streets and even, occasionally, teach our children the “Three R’s.” We must pay taxes to fund these worthwhile projects. Yet, taxes, like government, should be kept to a minimum.
If these R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only) Republicans really wanted to get money for the schools, they would try some good, old fashioned Reaganomics. Cut taxes! Yes, I said, “cut taxes!” Make Athens a haven from sales tax oppression.
Imagine if we lowered our sales tax to eight or seven or, even, six percent? People would drive for miles for the savings. Our retail stores would be swamped. Even more, industries would break their necks to build plants here. One or two percent to a corporation can result over a short time into millions in savings. Imagine the jobs coming to Athens and McMinn County! Are these RINO’s going to say that Reagan was wrong?
A final thought to those who vote for the tax rate hike. For those who trust politicians to keep their word and spend this money wisely and exactly as promised. For those who think they won’t see this same, sad scenario again within five years. I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you. Best of all, the sales tax is only, hmmmmm, five percent? Besides, It’s for my kid.
Labels: Democrat, education, R.I.N.O., Republican, Ronald Reagan, taxes
Thursday, September 06, 2007
I'm a Fread-Head!
Hallelujah! We shall rise!
Fred is in the race! Officially! I didn't realize that he was going to actually make his announcement when I stayed up late last night to what The Tonight Show. I jumped out of my seat!
I haven't been this excited about a candidate since Reagan. (Although, Alan Keyes comes close.) It's about time a real conservative, one with a great chance of winning, got into the race.
Everyone knows who the 5oo pound gorilla is now. Even the candidates knew Fred is the man during the debate last night.
Fred is trying to do things differently; he's trying to do things the right way. He, apparently, is less concerned about being president than being right. One of the many things I respect about the man.
Fred is in the race! Officially! I didn't realize that he was going to actually make his announcement when I stayed up late last night to what The Tonight Show. I jumped out of my seat!
I haven't been this excited about a candidate since Reagan. (Although, Alan Keyes comes close.) It's about time a real conservative, one with a great chance of winning, got into the race.
Everyone knows who the 5oo pound gorilla is now. Even the candidates knew Fred is the man during the debate last night.
Fred is trying to do things differently; he's trying to do things the right way. He, apparently, is less concerned about being president than being right. One of the many things I respect about the man.
Labels: campaign, conservative, politics, Republican
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Republicans, Baptists and Freemasons
What do Republicans, Baptists and Freemasons have in common? None of the three, on average, know what their particular group stands for or believes.
Most Republicans don't have a clue how capitalism works or it's benefits to the nation that utilizes it. Furthermore, they don't understand that the GOP has always given itself to moral causes like abolition and prohibition, as now the pro-life and pro-family movements. Also, we've always supported a strong central government, but not at the sacrifice of state sovereignty. These days, many republicans heretically call for more government spending with programs galore, but at the same time call for tax cuts for all concerned. Sadly, the term "rugged individual" has become an anachronism as strange to us today as a buggy whip.
Most, or practically all Baptists, don't have a clue what it means to be a member of the Church. We don't understand our place in church history or the responsibility that cannot be abdicated as the true Bride of Christ. Most Baptists regard themselves as merely a Protestant sect, ex-Catholics, and that we haven't any moral or spiritual superiority over any other Christian denomination. (That is a line I'm sure will be misinterpreted.) We dutifully preach eternal security, but don't understand why we are secure. Many try to add works for rewards in the mix in an unimaginative bid to inspire the troops. Even worse, we soak up the dogma of other denominations along with those of pseudo-Christian cults and think it's all just hunky-dory. Spurning the practice of our fathers, we even accept alien baptism and reject close communion.
Most Freemasons don't have a clue what Freemasonry truly teaches. They come to the Lodge three times, enough to get their degrees, never darken the door again and when someone accuses us of being a "religion" and, worse yet, pagans, they speedily "repent" of Masonry, swallowing the lie, hook, line and sinker. Why? Because, they've never invested the time or energy to become actively involved in what they once professed to be the greatest fraternity on earth. They have forgotten that they became masons of their own free will and accord. While the depth of their involvement in the Order is completely their own choice, one can't help but wonder why some even bothered to join in the first place.
Come to think of it, I wonder why some ever claimed membership in these particular groups. Disinterest is normally the father of disassociation. Why bother to claim affiliation if it's not, bare minimum, worth learning about?
************************************************************************
I have more than one blog, so I will place this at all that apply.
Most Republicans don't have a clue how capitalism works or it's benefits to the nation that utilizes it. Furthermore, they don't understand that the GOP has always given itself to moral causes like abolition and prohibition, as now the pro-life and pro-family movements. Also, we've always supported a strong central government, but not at the sacrifice of state sovereignty. These days, many republicans heretically call for more government spending with programs galore, but at the same time call for tax cuts for all concerned. Sadly, the term "rugged individual" has become an anachronism as strange to us today as a buggy whip.
Most, or practically all Baptists, don't have a clue what it means to be a member of the Church. We don't understand our place in church history or the responsibility that cannot be abdicated as the true Bride of Christ. Most Baptists regard themselves as merely a Protestant sect, ex-Catholics, and that we haven't any moral or spiritual superiority over any other Christian denomination. (That is a line I'm sure will be misinterpreted.) We dutifully preach eternal security, but don't understand why we are secure. Many try to add works for rewards in the mix in an unimaginative bid to inspire the troops. Even worse, we soak up the dogma of other denominations along with those of pseudo-Christian cults and think it's all just hunky-dory. Spurning the practice of our fathers, we even accept alien baptism and reject close communion.
Most Freemasons don't have a clue what Freemasonry truly teaches. They come to the Lodge three times, enough to get their degrees, never darken the door again and when someone accuses us of being a "religion" and, worse yet, pagans, they speedily "repent" of Masonry, swallowing the lie, hook, line and sinker. Why? Because, they've never invested the time or energy to become actively involved in what they once professed to be the greatest fraternity on earth. They have forgotten that they became masons of their own free will and accord. While the depth of their involvement in the Order is completely their own choice, one can't help but wonder why some even bothered to join in the first place.
Come to think of it, I wonder why some ever claimed membership in these particular groups. Disinterest is normally the father of disassociation. Why bother to claim affiliation if it's not, bare minimum, worth learning about?
************************************************************************
I have more than one blog, so I will place this at all that apply.
Labels: Baptist, Christian, faith, Freemason, history, Republican
