I've been pretty quiet on the political theatre lately for three reasons. 1. I'm tired of the turmoil. 2. Like you I'm waiting to see what "is", is going to be. 3. I'd rather focus on the "reason for the season".
The mess in Illinois, the "bail out" confusion and the like keep pulling on me to say something political. I’ll resist until the end of this article. For now, I want to share with you a story which touched me, especially during this Christmas season.
"I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Great Lakes Air Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq'.
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago'. His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.
She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little..."
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
Now for my short political comment. I received an email from a friend who related a funny and true story that occurred in his local high school. They were discussing the qualifications to be president of the United States. It was pretty simple. The candidate must be a natural born citizen of at least 35 years of age.
However, one girl in the class immediately started in on how unfair was the requirement to be a natural born citizen. In short, her opinion was this requirement prevented many capable individuals from becoming president.
The class was just taking it in and letting her rant, but everyone's jaw hit the floor when she wrapped up her argument by stating, "What makes a natural born citizen any more qualified to lead this country than one born by C-section"?
Merry Christmas.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Remembering
About this time last year, our family experienced a significant loss. Muffin, our cherished 16 year old dog passed away. I found Muffin on the side of the road in 1991 in Gonzales, Louisiana. On that cold rainy day, this stray Poodle and Lhasa Apso mix was happy I rescued her. My wife Pam had never had an inside dog before; but her journey of learning many life lessons from this dog was about to begin.
About a year later my Mother and Aunt Polly conspired and gave me a dog. He was part Pekingese and Pomeranian. He looked just like a Chinese Temple Dog and we called him Buddha. Buddha and Muffin were soul mates. He worshiped the ground she walked on and she thought he was a pretty good guy. Kind of like me and Pam.
In fact, we often joked about the relationship they had and the relationship we had. You know how some dogs take on the personality of their owners? You know how some owners start looking like their dogs? Well, Buddha and I shared a love for our partners, and Muffin, like Pam had beautiful eyes.
Buddha and Muffin were not useful dogs in the usual sense. They didn't hunt, they could not herd but they were excellent guard dogs. Actually, they were just early warning systems; neither was big enough to be of much use against an intruder.
Then I got me a "Lion Dog", a Black Lab and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, we named Jack Daniels (Black Jack). The Rhodesian Ridgeback has its history in African and got its name "Lion Dog" because of its ability to fight lions fearlessly. However, our Ridgeback is good for much more than "lying" around. Muffin never cared much for Jack. Budha tolerated him and taught him many things including how to play.
Buddha died in 2000, it was a terrible loss that none of us ever got over. I buried him in an air tight military box and vowed that when we moved to Missouri he would go with us. When we moved, Buddha moved.
We got to Seymour in September of last year. Muffin absolutely loved it. In her short time with us in Missouri, she explored and bossed Jack and the puppy she raised, Gibson. Gibson is an Austrailian Shepherd that was small enough to walk under Muffin when we got him. Gibson has a lot of Buddha in him; for one thing he adored Muffin. I think she recognized Buddha in Gibson because she loved him back.
We set Buddha's coffin aside when we got here, waiting for inspiration as to where to bury him. Then, in November of last year, I could not find Muffin. I called, I searched and searched. After several hours, I found her. She was lying peacefully next to Buddha's coffin. After 16 wonderful years with us, she was finally at rest with her soul mate. Today, they rest side by side overlooking our pond. They have a head stone that I carved from a Missouri rock.
Many folks will not understand why I'm sharing this with you. I have found that folks that don't like dogs don't like me. I have found that folks that don't love dogs, I generally don't care for.
I have never been betrayed by a dog. I have never been taken advantage of by a dog. I have never been lied to by a dog. I have always been forgiven for my short comings by dogs. I have had some good dogs in my life - Pouchy, Bozo, Princess, Baby, Duchess, Frisky, Rusty, Beau Diddly even one named Schmoo and her son Cargo (I'll tell you that story sometime). My dogs are like my heroes and my friends. They are trustworthy and they can be counted on. They may not be pretty, they may not smell real good, but they smell sweet to me.
A good dog is like a partner, they are different from most critters. They have names, they have personalities, they dream - and anything that dreams understands love.
Neither Pam nor I were ready for another dog after Muffin, until we found Annie. Annie is an Australian Shepherd like Gibson. Hopefully, one day Gibson will figure everything out and Annie will give us some puppies. In the meantime, I will remember.
Next week I'll get back to business, but right now I will remember. I'm kind of like Will Rogers who said, "If there ain't no dogs in heaven, I'll go to where they are." I can't imagine a God that wouldn't accept a dog. Did you ever notice that dog is God spelled backward?
About a year later my Mother and Aunt Polly conspired and gave me a dog. He was part Pekingese and Pomeranian. He looked just like a Chinese Temple Dog and we called him Buddha. Buddha and Muffin were soul mates. He worshiped the ground she walked on and she thought he was a pretty good guy. Kind of like me and Pam.
In fact, we often joked about the relationship they had and the relationship we had. You know how some dogs take on the personality of their owners? You know how some owners start looking like their dogs? Well, Buddha and I shared a love for our partners, and Muffin, like Pam had beautiful eyes.
Buddha and Muffin were not useful dogs in the usual sense. They didn't hunt, they could not herd but they were excellent guard dogs. Actually, they were just early warning systems; neither was big enough to be of much use against an intruder.
Then I got me a "Lion Dog", a Black Lab and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, we named Jack Daniels (Black Jack). The Rhodesian Ridgeback has its history in African and got its name "Lion Dog" because of its ability to fight lions fearlessly. However, our Ridgeback is good for much more than "lying" around. Muffin never cared much for Jack. Budha tolerated him and taught him many things including how to play.
Buddha died in 2000, it was a terrible loss that none of us ever got over. I buried him in an air tight military box and vowed that when we moved to Missouri he would go with us. When we moved, Buddha moved.
We got to Seymour in September of last year. Muffin absolutely loved it. In her short time with us in Missouri, she explored and bossed Jack and the puppy she raised, Gibson. Gibson is an Austrailian Shepherd that was small enough to walk under Muffin when we got him. Gibson has a lot of Buddha in him; for one thing he adored Muffin. I think she recognized Buddha in Gibson because she loved him back.
We set Buddha's coffin aside when we got here, waiting for inspiration as to where to bury him. Then, in November of last year, I could not find Muffin. I called, I searched and searched. After several hours, I found her. She was lying peacefully next to Buddha's coffin. After 16 wonderful years with us, she was finally at rest with her soul mate. Today, they rest side by side overlooking our pond. They have a head stone that I carved from a Missouri rock.
Many folks will not understand why I'm sharing this with you. I have found that folks that don't like dogs don't like me. I have found that folks that don't love dogs, I generally don't care for.
I have never been betrayed by a dog. I have never been taken advantage of by a dog. I have never been lied to by a dog. I have always been forgiven for my short comings by dogs. I have had some good dogs in my life - Pouchy, Bozo, Princess, Baby, Duchess, Frisky, Rusty, Beau Diddly even one named Schmoo and her son Cargo (I'll tell you that story sometime). My dogs are like my heroes and my friends. They are trustworthy and they can be counted on. They may not be pretty, they may not smell real good, but they smell sweet to me.
A good dog is like a partner, they are different from most critters. They have names, they have personalities, they dream - and anything that dreams understands love.
Neither Pam nor I were ready for another dog after Muffin, until we found Annie. Annie is an Australian Shepherd like Gibson. Hopefully, one day Gibson will figure everything out and Annie will give us some puppies. In the meantime, I will remember.
Next week I'll get back to business, but right now I will remember. I'm kind of like Will Rogers who said, "If there ain't no dogs in heaven, I'll go to where they are." I can't imagine a God that wouldn't accept a dog. Did you ever notice that dog is God spelled backward?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What Is, Is
I was having breakfast the other day at Baldy's, one of the eateries in Seymour, MO. I like Baldy's. The food is good, the atmosphere is NASCAR, and the service is well above average. That day I was having my usual; biscuits and gravy, hash browns and burnt bacon. Baldy's is one of the few places that I have been able to train to cook my bacon, I'm picky.
Usually there are two tables that engage in political discussion; one table is predominately Democrat and the other is usually Republican. Prior to the election, the battles were almost daily and quite entertaining. Now, a couple of weeks after the election things had settled down - a little at least.
As my waitress April refilled my coffee I noticed the two tables were actually agreeing on something for a change. They both were wondering what "is" was going to be.
I remember when Bill Clinton was going through his tribulations over his cigar. He said, "It depends on how you define 'is'". This may not be a direct quote, but you get the idea.
"Is" is a fascinating word. I remember after I got into the martial arts and was studying Zen Philosophy, I was having difficulty grasping the concept. Then one day I saw a three word sentence that cleared it all up for me. "What is, is." Being me, I added - "ergo, what ain't, ain't". Bingo, Zen philosophy expressed in seven words. I threw away the sixteen books I had bought trying to figure out what can be expressed in seven words.
Good news - WE HAVE CHANGE! Bad news -WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET!
Strange, we're still talking about the bail out. In fact, now we have the auto makers, ice cream makers, and the lobster men trying to get bailed out. Amazing isn't it how far 700 Billion dollars will not go in today's economy.
Strange, we still don't have a fence on the Southern border. Hmmm!
Strange, we still don't have proof the President Elect was born in America. Hmmm!
Strange, we are giving all of this power to the very people that created this economic disaster. Hmmm!
Strange, they have had all of this emergency money - for how long now, and the issues still exist. Hmmm!
When I was in Iraq, I extrapolated my "What is, is. Ergo what ain't, ain't" and changed it to "It is what it is, 'till it ain't that no more!" Kind of like "Kilroy was here" during WWII, I peppered Iraq with "It is what it is, 'till it ain't that no more!"
Here is the deal. We don't know what is, is - yet. My word, I'm starting to sound like Bill, but it is the truth. Already on both the state and national levels, the politicians are waking up to the fact that most of their campaign promises - CAN NOT BE FULFILLED! There is NOT enough money to do all they campaigned on - go figure!
In the days and weeks to come, you and I are going to learn a lot more about what "is" is going to be. I predict we ain't gonna like much of it. I predict it won't be as bad as the Republicans fear, NOR will it be as good as the Democrats expect. That is the nature of politics.
I'm still waiting to see who all we're going to bail out. Each day the list seems to grow longer. Each day, the number of folks who made bad investments and stupid financial deals grows longer, and they are waiting for you and me to pay for their mistakes.
I can't accept that, because accepting means it is all done. Accepting means you are a victim. Rather, I embrace the current mess. That means I think there is a train wreck coming and I embrace it. That means I'm not going to be on the train.
What can we do? My gosh! I have had that question asked of me many times over the past few weeks. Here is the deal - WE must make sure we have our own house in order. WE must make sure that we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones. WE must make sure we are as insulated from the train wreck as we can be.
Gun sales are going through the roof and ammo is flying off the shelves. Guess what, that stuff is being tracked! Assaults on freedom of speech - continuing. Assaults on freedom of religion - continuing. Assaults on the 2nd Amendment - continuing. Stupidity - continuing.
Now, you and me will be learning what "is" is going to be. Not just at Baldy's, but at Pappasito's in Houston, TX, Macaroni Grill in Springfield, MO and at kitchen tables all across this land; we'll be talking and find out what this change is going to be all about.
I'm originally from Texas and to a Texan, making good Chili is very important. A couple of years ago, I learned something I never knew - chili powder and cinnamon look just alike. If you don't taste the chili while you're making it you can end up with something that even the dogs won't eat (like I did). Heck, even the fire ants won't eat that mess. That mess of chili looked real good, it smelled great, but I failed to taste the chili while I was cooking.
Folks, the chili is in the pot. You have a lot of folks putting spices in. Remember - taste the chili!
Usually there are two tables that engage in political discussion; one table is predominately Democrat and the other is usually Republican. Prior to the election, the battles were almost daily and quite entertaining. Now, a couple of weeks after the election things had settled down - a little at least.
As my waitress April refilled my coffee I noticed the two tables were actually agreeing on something for a change. They both were wondering what "is" was going to be.
I remember when Bill Clinton was going through his tribulations over his cigar. He said, "It depends on how you define 'is'". This may not be a direct quote, but you get the idea.
"Is" is a fascinating word. I remember after I got into the martial arts and was studying Zen Philosophy, I was having difficulty grasping the concept. Then one day I saw a three word sentence that cleared it all up for me. "What is, is." Being me, I added - "ergo, what ain't, ain't". Bingo, Zen philosophy expressed in seven words. I threw away the sixteen books I had bought trying to figure out what can be expressed in seven words.
Good news - WE HAVE CHANGE! Bad news -WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET!
Strange, we're still talking about the bail out. In fact, now we have the auto makers, ice cream makers, and the lobster men trying to get bailed out. Amazing isn't it how far 700 Billion dollars will not go in today's economy.
Strange, we still don't have a fence on the Southern border. Hmmm!
Strange, we still don't have proof the President Elect was born in America. Hmmm!
Strange, we are giving all of this power to the very people that created this economic disaster. Hmmm!
Strange, they have had all of this emergency money - for how long now, and the issues still exist. Hmmm!
When I was in Iraq, I extrapolated my "What is, is. Ergo what ain't, ain't" and changed it to "It is what it is, 'till it ain't that no more!" Kind of like "Kilroy was here" during WWII, I peppered Iraq with "It is what it is, 'till it ain't that no more!"
Here is the deal. We don't know what is, is - yet. My word, I'm starting to sound like Bill, but it is the truth. Already on both the state and national levels, the politicians are waking up to the fact that most of their campaign promises - CAN NOT BE FULFILLED! There is NOT enough money to do all they campaigned on - go figure!
In the days and weeks to come, you and I are going to learn a lot more about what "is" is going to be. I predict we ain't gonna like much of it. I predict it won't be as bad as the Republicans fear, NOR will it be as good as the Democrats expect. That is the nature of politics.
I'm still waiting to see who all we're going to bail out. Each day the list seems to grow longer. Each day, the number of folks who made bad investments and stupid financial deals grows longer, and they are waiting for you and me to pay for their mistakes.
I can't accept that, because accepting means it is all done. Accepting means you are a victim. Rather, I embrace the current mess. That means I think there is a train wreck coming and I embrace it. That means I'm not going to be on the train.
What can we do? My gosh! I have had that question asked of me many times over the past few weeks. Here is the deal - WE must make sure we have our own house in order. WE must make sure that we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones. WE must make sure we are as insulated from the train wreck as we can be.
Gun sales are going through the roof and ammo is flying off the shelves. Guess what, that stuff is being tracked! Assaults on freedom of speech - continuing. Assaults on freedom of religion - continuing. Assaults on the 2nd Amendment - continuing. Stupidity - continuing.
Now, you and me will be learning what "is" is going to be. Not just at Baldy's, but at Pappasito's in Houston, TX, Macaroni Grill in Springfield, MO and at kitchen tables all across this land; we'll be talking and find out what this change is going to be all about.
I'm originally from Texas and to a Texan, making good Chili is very important. A couple of years ago, I learned something I never knew - chili powder and cinnamon look just alike. If you don't taste the chili while you're making it you can end up with something that even the dogs won't eat (like I did). Heck, even the fire ants won't eat that mess. That mess of chili looked real good, it smelled great, but I failed to taste the chili while I was cooking.
Folks, the chili is in the pot. You have a lot of folks putting spices in. Remember - taste the chili!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Bend Over Here it Comes Again!
Allan Stone from Springfield, MO wrote a letter to the editor with comments on a recent column of mine. With a PhD in Economics, Dr. Stone identified that economics "consists of theories, laws and explanations of cause and effects. Economics is not a body of opinions or policies though we all have opinions Anderson's piece is largely his opinions, clichés and sayings, not economics."
He was responding to the following comment that I had written - "How did we get in this economic mess? Answer; go back to the Carter administration then fast forward to the Savings and Loans debacle under President Clinton - that is where the deregulation and eventual collapse started. I won't bore you with the details, just go read about it for yourself and you'll see what I mean.”
Dr. Stone correctly identified that Clinton was elected president was President from 1993 to 2001 and the S & L mess started in the 1970s; how could I blame that on him. Today I WILL bore you with the details!
In the later 1970s Jim McDougal owned an S&L (Savings and Loans) and he formed a 50/50 real estate venture with the attorney general of Arkansas, who at the time was Bill Clinton. For years, this company received cash from the S&L. In 1978 Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas. This company also received money from a small business investment corporation that diverted federally guaranteed funds from a program "designed for socially and economically disadvantaged people” to the governor's partners and finally in part to the company (allegedly at the governor's request). It was called Whitewater! Does that ring any bells?
I am NOT an economist! However, a recent article in the Bloomberg News shouts Wall Street bailout harkens back to S&L crisis. The article by Jonathan Keehner and Bob Ivry states in part, "The $700 billion bailout of Wall Street's sub prime-tainted securities hearkens back to the real-estate bets that sparked the savings-and-loan crisis in the 1980s. The geography is the same, too. Then, as now, the government created a taxpayer-funded enterprise to absorb the fallout from bad real-estate investments."
I am NOT an economist, but people, our politicians and media are playing us like a West Virginia Fiddle - again! I will try to draw the lines for you but it’s up to you to color in the picture. To clarify and prove the points I was making, below is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (better know as FDIC) own Chronology of the S&L Crisis:
1966-1979 Market interest rates fluctuate with increasing intensity and S&Ls experience difficulty with each interest rate rise. Interest rate ceilings prevent S&Ls from paying competitive interest rates on deposits.
1967--State of Texas approves major liberalization of S&L powers. Property development loans of up to 50% of net worth are allowed.
1972--Hunt Commission recommendations would have created federal savings banks to replace S&Ls. The banks would have had additional authority to make commercial loans and invest in commercial paper.
1973--FINE Study would have granted same powers for S&Ls as for banks, including checking accounts. Also recommends consolidation of the regulators. Interest rate insurance was recommended if S&Ls are to remain primarily involved in housing finance.
1978--Financial Institutions Regulatory and Interest Rate Control Act of 1978 enacted. Weak version of previous recommendations. Allows S&Ls to invest up 5% of assets in each of land development, construction, and education loans. This was also the year Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas.
1979--Doubling of oil prices. Inflation moves into double digits for second time in five years.
1980-1982 Statutory and regulatory changes give the S&L industry new powers in the hopes of their entering new areas of business and subsequently returning to profitability.
March, 1980--Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA) enacted. The law is a Carter Administration initiative aimed at eliminating many of the distinctions among different types of depository institutions and ultimately removing interest rate ceiling on deposit accounts. Authority for federal S&Ls to make ADC (Acquisition, Development, Construction) loans is expanded. Deposit insurance limit raised to $100,000 from $40,000. This last provision is added without debate.
November, 1980--Federal Home Loan Bank Board reduces net worth requirement for insured S&Ls from 5 to 4 percent of total deposits. Bank Board also removes limits on the amounts of brokered deposits an S&L can hold.
August, 1981--Tax Reform Act of 1981 enacted. Provides powerful tax incentives for real-estate investment by individuals. This legislation helps create a "boom" in real estate and contributes to over-building.
September, 1981--Federal Home Loan Bank Board permits troubled S&Ls to issue "income capital certificates" that are purchased by FSLIC and included as capital. Rather than showing that an institution is insolvent, the certificates make it appear solvent.
1982-1985--Reductions in the Bank Board's regulatory and supervisory staff. In 1983, a starting S&L examiner is paid $14,000 a year. The average examiner has only two years on the job. Examiner salaries are paid through OMB, not the Bank Board. During this period of supervisory and examination retraction, industry growth increases. Industry assets increase by 56% between 1982 and 1985. 40 Texas S&Ls triple in size between 1982 and 1986; many of them grow by 100% each year. California S&Ls follow a similar pattern.
January, 1982--Federal Home Loan Bank Board reduces net worth requirement for insured S&Ls from 4 to 3 percent of total deposits. Additionally, S&Ls are allowed to meet the low net worth standard not in terms of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), but of even more liberal regulatory accounting principles (RAP).
April, 1982--Bank Board eliminates restrictions on minimum numbers of S&L stock holders. Previously, it required at least 400 stock holders of which at least 125 had to be from "local community", with no individual owning more than 10% of stock and no "controlling group" more than 25%. Bank Board's new ownership regulation would allow a single owner. Purchases of S&Ls were made easier by allowing buyers to put up land and other real estate, as opposed to cash.
December, 1982--Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 enacted. This Reagan Administration initiative is designed to complete the process of giving expanded powers to federally chartered S&Ls and enables them to diversify their activities with the view of increasing profits. Major provisions include: elimination of deposit interest rate ceilings; elimination of the previous statutory limit on loan to value ratio; and expansion of the asset powers of federal S&Ls by permitting up to 40% of assets in commercial mortgages, up to 30% of assets in consumer loans, up to 10% of assets in commercial loans, and up to 10% of assets in commercial leases.
December, 1982--In response to the massive defections of state chartered S&Ls to the federal system, Nolan Bill passes in California. Allows California-chartered S&Ls to invest 100% of deposits in any kind of venture. Similar plans adopted in Texas and Florida.
1983--Lower market interest rates return many S&Ls to health; 35% of institutions, however, still sustain losses. 9% of all S&Ls (representing 10% of industry assets) are insolvent by GAAP standards.
March, 1983--Edwin Gray becomes Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Beginning in 1984 and continuing throughout his tenure, regulatory and supervisory measures passed by the Bank Board begin the reversing of deregulation.
November, 1983--Bank Board raises net worth requirement for newly chartered S&Ls to 7%.
March, 1984--Failure of Empire Savings of Mesquite, TX. "Land flips" and other criminal activities are a pattern at Empire. This failure would eventually cost the taxpayers approximately $300 million.
April, 1984--Bank Board moves jointly with the FDIC to attempt to eliminate deposit insurance for brokered deposits. Federal court rejects this attempt in mid-1984 as overstepping statutory limits.
July, 1984--Bank Board requires S&L management to adopt policies and procedures for managing interest rate risk.
January, 1985--Bank Board limits the amount of brokered deposits to 5% of deposits at FSLIC insured institutions failing to meet their net worth requirements. Bank Board also limits direct investment (equity securities, real estate, service corporations, and operating subsidiaries) to the greater of 10% of assets or twice the S&Ls net worth, provided the institution meets regulatory net worth.
March, 1985--Ohio bank holiday. Anticipated failure of Home State Savings Bank of Cincinnati, OH and possible depletion of Ohio state deposit insurance fund; cause Governor Celeste to close Ohio S&Ls. Eventually, those that can qualify for federal deposit insurance are allowed to reopen.
May, 1985--S&L failures in Maryland eventually cause loss to state deposit insurance fund and Maryland taxpayers of $185 million. Ohio and Maryland S&L failures helped kill state deposit insurance funds.
July, 1985--Chairman Gray begins transfer of federal examiners to the twelve regional Federal Home Loan Banks so that they are no longer overseen by OMB and their salaries are paid directly by the Bank Board system.
August, 1985--Only $4.6 billion in FSLIC insurance fund. Chairman Gray tries to gain support for recapitalizing FSLIC on Capitol Hill. In 1986, GAO estimates the loss to the insurance fund to be around $20 billion.
December, 1985--Bank Board allows S&L examiners to "classify" questionable loans and other assets for the purpose of requiring loan loss reserves.
1986-1989--Compounding of losses as insolvent institutions are allowed to remain open and grow, allowing ever increasing losses to accumulate.
August, 1986--Bank Board raises net worth standard gradually to 6% with up to 2% points offset for reduced interest rate-risk.
1987--Losses at Texas S&Ls comprise more than one-half of all S&L losses nationwide, and of the 20 largest losses, 14 are in Texas. Texas economy in major recession: crude oil prices fall by nearly 50%, office vacancy is over 30%, and real estate prices collapse.
January, 1987--GAO declares FSLIC fund insolvent by at least $3.8 billion. Recapitalization has stalled on Capitol Hill until now by claims of powerful S&L lobbyists that Bank Board regulations are too harsh and arbitrary.
February, 1987--Bank Board requires prior supervisory approval for S&Ls making direct investment in excess of 2.5 times their tangible capital.
April, 1987--Edwin Gray ends his term as chairman of Federal Home Loan Bank Board in June. Before his departure, he is summoned to the office of Sen. Dennis DeConcini. DeConcini, with four other Senators (John McCain, Alan Cranston, John Glenn, and Donald Riegle) question Gray about the appropriateness of Bank Board investigations into Charles Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan. All five senators, who have received campaign contributions from Keating, would become known as the "Keating Five". The subsequent Lincoln failure is estimated to have cost the taxpayers over $2 billion.
May, 1987--Bank Board begins phasing out the remains of the liberal RAP accounting standards. S&Ls must conform to GAAP accounting standards, as banks do. Effective date of this rule postponed by new Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, M. Danny Wall, to 1/1/1989.
August, 1987--Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 enacted. The Act authorizes $10.8 billion recapitalization of the FSLIC with only $3.75 billion authorized in any 12-month period. Also contains forbearance measures designed to postpone or prevent S&L closures.
February, 1988--Bank Board introduces the "Southwest Plan" to consolidate and package insolvent Texas S&Ls and sell them to the highest bidder. The strategy is to resolve insolvencies quickly while conserving scarce cash for FSLIC. The Bank Board uses a number of strategies to pay for the difference between assets and liabilities of the failed institutions: FSLIC notes, tax incentives, and income, capital value and yield guarantees. The Bank Board disposes of 205 S&Ls through the Southwest Plan with assets of $101 billion.
November, 1988--George H. Bush elected President. S&L problem not part of election debate.
1989--President Bush unveils S&L bailout plan in February. In August, Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). FIRREA abolishes the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and FSLIC, switches S&L regulation to newly created Office of Thrift Supervision. Deposit insurance function shifted to the FDIC. A new entity, the Resolution Trust Corporation is created to resolve the insolvent S&Ls.
I’ll end with this closing sentiment. Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." S&Ls or the Bail Out or the Rescue Plan – reminds me of a saying we had in the military, "BOHICA". It means "Bend Over Here it Comes Again!"
He was responding to the following comment that I had written - "How did we get in this economic mess? Answer; go back to the Carter administration then fast forward to the Savings and Loans debacle under President Clinton - that is where the deregulation and eventual collapse started. I won't bore you with the details, just go read about it for yourself and you'll see what I mean.”
Dr. Stone correctly identified that Clinton was elected president was President from 1993 to 2001 and the S & L mess started in the 1970s; how could I blame that on him. Today I WILL bore you with the details!
In the later 1970s Jim McDougal owned an S&L (Savings and Loans) and he formed a 50/50 real estate venture with the attorney general of Arkansas, who at the time was Bill Clinton. For years, this company received cash from the S&L. In 1978 Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas. This company also received money from a small business investment corporation that diverted federally guaranteed funds from a program "designed for socially and economically disadvantaged people” to the governor's partners and finally in part to the company (allegedly at the governor's request). It was called Whitewater! Does that ring any bells?
I am NOT an economist! However, a recent article in the Bloomberg News shouts Wall Street bailout harkens back to S&L crisis. The article by Jonathan Keehner and Bob Ivry states in part, "The $700 billion bailout of Wall Street's sub prime-tainted securities hearkens back to the real-estate bets that sparked the savings-and-loan crisis in the 1980s. The geography is the same, too. Then, as now, the government created a taxpayer-funded enterprise to absorb the fallout from bad real-estate investments."
I am NOT an economist, but people, our politicians and media are playing us like a West Virginia Fiddle - again! I will try to draw the lines for you but it’s up to you to color in the picture. To clarify and prove the points I was making, below is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (better know as FDIC) own Chronology of the S&L Crisis:
1966-1979 Market interest rates fluctuate with increasing intensity and S&Ls experience difficulty with each interest rate rise. Interest rate ceilings prevent S&Ls from paying competitive interest rates on deposits.
1967--State of Texas approves major liberalization of S&L powers. Property development loans of up to 50% of net worth are allowed.
1972--Hunt Commission recommendations would have created federal savings banks to replace S&Ls. The banks would have had additional authority to make commercial loans and invest in commercial paper.
1973--FINE Study would have granted same powers for S&Ls as for banks, including checking accounts. Also recommends consolidation of the regulators. Interest rate insurance was recommended if S&Ls are to remain primarily involved in housing finance.
1978--Financial Institutions Regulatory and Interest Rate Control Act of 1978 enacted. Weak version of previous recommendations. Allows S&Ls to invest up 5% of assets in each of land development, construction, and education loans. This was also the year Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas.
1979--Doubling of oil prices. Inflation moves into double digits for second time in five years.
1980-1982 Statutory and regulatory changes give the S&L industry new powers in the hopes of their entering new areas of business and subsequently returning to profitability.
March, 1980--Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA) enacted. The law is a Carter Administration initiative aimed at eliminating many of the distinctions among different types of depository institutions and ultimately removing interest rate ceiling on deposit accounts. Authority for federal S&Ls to make ADC (Acquisition, Development, Construction) loans is expanded. Deposit insurance limit raised to $100,000 from $40,000. This last provision is added without debate.
November, 1980--Federal Home Loan Bank Board reduces net worth requirement for insured S&Ls from 5 to 4 percent of total deposits. Bank Board also removes limits on the amounts of brokered deposits an S&L can hold.
August, 1981--Tax Reform Act of 1981 enacted. Provides powerful tax incentives for real-estate investment by individuals. This legislation helps create a "boom" in real estate and contributes to over-building.
September, 1981--Federal Home Loan Bank Board permits troubled S&Ls to issue "income capital certificates" that are purchased by FSLIC and included as capital. Rather than showing that an institution is insolvent, the certificates make it appear solvent.
1982-1985--Reductions in the Bank Board's regulatory and supervisory staff. In 1983, a starting S&L examiner is paid $14,000 a year. The average examiner has only two years on the job. Examiner salaries are paid through OMB, not the Bank Board. During this period of supervisory and examination retraction, industry growth increases. Industry assets increase by 56% between 1982 and 1985. 40 Texas S&Ls triple in size between 1982 and 1986; many of them grow by 100% each year. California S&Ls follow a similar pattern.
January, 1982--Federal Home Loan Bank Board reduces net worth requirement for insured S&Ls from 4 to 3 percent of total deposits. Additionally, S&Ls are allowed to meet the low net worth standard not in terms of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), but of even more liberal regulatory accounting principles (RAP).
April, 1982--Bank Board eliminates restrictions on minimum numbers of S&L stock holders. Previously, it required at least 400 stock holders of which at least 125 had to be from "local community", with no individual owning more than 10% of stock and no "controlling group" more than 25%. Bank Board's new ownership regulation would allow a single owner. Purchases of S&Ls were made easier by allowing buyers to put up land and other real estate, as opposed to cash.
December, 1982--Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 enacted. This Reagan Administration initiative is designed to complete the process of giving expanded powers to federally chartered S&Ls and enables them to diversify their activities with the view of increasing profits. Major provisions include: elimination of deposit interest rate ceilings; elimination of the previous statutory limit on loan to value ratio; and expansion of the asset powers of federal S&Ls by permitting up to 40% of assets in commercial mortgages, up to 30% of assets in consumer loans, up to 10% of assets in commercial loans, and up to 10% of assets in commercial leases.
December, 1982--In response to the massive defections of state chartered S&Ls to the federal system, Nolan Bill passes in California. Allows California-chartered S&Ls to invest 100% of deposits in any kind of venture. Similar plans adopted in Texas and Florida.
1983--Lower market interest rates return many S&Ls to health; 35% of institutions, however, still sustain losses. 9% of all S&Ls (representing 10% of industry assets) are insolvent by GAAP standards.
March, 1983--Edwin Gray becomes Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Beginning in 1984 and continuing throughout his tenure, regulatory and supervisory measures passed by the Bank Board begin the reversing of deregulation.
November, 1983--Bank Board raises net worth requirement for newly chartered S&Ls to 7%.
March, 1984--Failure of Empire Savings of Mesquite, TX. "Land flips" and other criminal activities are a pattern at Empire. This failure would eventually cost the taxpayers approximately $300 million.
April, 1984--Bank Board moves jointly with the FDIC to attempt to eliminate deposit insurance for brokered deposits. Federal court rejects this attempt in mid-1984 as overstepping statutory limits.
July, 1984--Bank Board requires S&L management to adopt policies and procedures for managing interest rate risk.
January, 1985--Bank Board limits the amount of brokered deposits to 5% of deposits at FSLIC insured institutions failing to meet their net worth requirements. Bank Board also limits direct investment (equity securities, real estate, service corporations, and operating subsidiaries) to the greater of 10% of assets or twice the S&Ls net worth, provided the institution meets regulatory net worth.
March, 1985--Ohio bank holiday. Anticipated failure of Home State Savings Bank of Cincinnati, OH and possible depletion of Ohio state deposit insurance fund; cause Governor Celeste to close Ohio S&Ls. Eventually, those that can qualify for federal deposit insurance are allowed to reopen.
May, 1985--S&L failures in Maryland eventually cause loss to state deposit insurance fund and Maryland taxpayers of $185 million. Ohio and Maryland S&L failures helped kill state deposit insurance funds.
July, 1985--Chairman Gray begins transfer of federal examiners to the twelve regional Federal Home Loan Banks so that they are no longer overseen by OMB and their salaries are paid directly by the Bank Board system.
August, 1985--Only $4.6 billion in FSLIC insurance fund. Chairman Gray tries to gain support for recapitalizing FSLIC on Capitol Hill. In 1986, GAO estimates the loss to the insurance fund to be around $20 billion.
December, 1985--Bank Board allows S&L examiners to "classify" questionable loans and other assets for the purpose of requiring loan loss reserves.
1986-1989--Compounding of losses as insolvent institutions are allowed to remain open and grow, allowing ever increasing losses to accumulate.
August, 1986--Bank Board raises net worth standard gradually to 6% with up to 2% points offset for reduced interest rate-risk.
1987--Losses at Texas S&Ls comprise more than one-half of all S&L losses nationwide, and of the 20 largest losses, 14 are in Texas. Texas economy in major recession: crude oil prices fall by nearly 50%, office vacancy is over 30%, and real estate prices collapse.
January, 1987--GAO declares FSLIC fund insolvent by at least $3.8 billion. Recapitalization has stalled on Capitol Hill until now by claims of powerful S&L lobbyists that Bank Board regulations are too harsh and arbitrary.
February, 1987--Bank Board requires prior supervisory approval for S&Ls making direct investment in excess of 2.5 times their tangible capital.
April, 1987--Edwin Gray ends his term as chairman of Federal Home Loan Bank Board in June. Before his departure, he is summoned to the office of Sen. Dennis DeConcini. DeConcini, with four other Senators (John McCain, Alan Cranston, John Glenn, and Donald Riegle) question Gray about the appropriateness of Bank Board investigations into Charles Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan. All five senators, who have received campaign contributions from Keating, would become known as the "Keating Five". The subsequent Lincoln failure is estimated to have cost the taxpayers over $2 billion.
May, 1987--Bank Board begins phasing out the remains of the liberal RAP accounting standards. S&Ls must conform to GAAP accounting standards, as banks do. Effective date of this rule postponed by new Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, M. Danny Wall, to 1/1/1989.
August, 1987--Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 enacted. The Act authorizes $10.8 billion recapitalization of the FSLIC with only $3.75 billion authorized in any 12-month period. Also contains forbearance measures designed to postpone or prevent S&L closures.
February, 1988--Bank Board introduces the "Southwest Plan" to consolidate and package insolvent Texas S&Ls and sell them to the highest bidder. The strategy is to resolve insolvencies quickly while conserving scarce cash for FSLIC. The Bank Board uses a number of strategies to pay for the difference between assets and liabilities of the failed institutions: FSLIC notes, tax incentives, and income, capital value and yield guarantees. The Bank Board disposes of 205 S&Ls through the Southwest Plan with assets of $101 billion.
November, 1988--George H. Bush elected President. S&L problem not part of election debate.
1989--President Bush unveils S&L bailout plan in February. In August, Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). FIRREA abolishes the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and FSLIC, switches S&L regulation to newly created Office of Thrift Supervision. Deposit insurance function shifted to the FDIC. A new entity, the Resolution Trust Corporation is created to resolve the insolvent S&Ls.
I’ll end with this closing sentiment. Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." S&Ls or the Bail Out or the Rescue Plan – reminds me of a saying we had in the military, "BOHICA". It means "Bend Over Here it Comes Again!"
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Your Vote Can Change America’s Future
Are you going to be energized or paralyzed this Election Day? I don't think there has ever been an election that will have the long term effect on America that this one will.
Let's go back in time to the beginning of this country and what our founding fathers were dealing with. To have a real perspective, let’s look at the memorable language of our Declaration of Independence. Below are the 110 words that ended the old order of British rule and set up and era where free peoples would govern themselves – America:
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundations on such Principles and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to Them shall seem most like to effect their Safety and Happiness."
One thing both parties have agreed on is the need for change. What they cannot agree on is what that change should be and how to accomplish it. I feel the best answers can be found by returning to our country’s Constitutional principles. My interpretation confirms that without the freedom of Religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained. My interpretation confirms that without the freedom of Speech the government of a free people cannot be maintained. Further, a free people cannot survive under a Representative Republic (which is how our c is formed), unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. Finally the most promising method of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
I know how my vote will be cast. I know that neither party has done a very good job of governing. I know that both parties have slipped and stumbled on issues such as national security, economics, welfare and illegal immigration. Someone once said, "The proper role of government is to protect equal rights NOT to provide equal things. We should have peace, commerce, and honest friendships with all Nations and entangling alliances with none."
I think that the core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family and that the burden of debt is destructive to human freedom. We are currently suffering from the mismanagement of government in many areas. This is not like the time in which the following words were penned, "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..." We’re no longer trying to separate from Britain; we are now fighting amongst ourselves. This is the time when one people must determine who among them can maintain good order and discipline, enforce existing laws, allow for freedom of speech and the free practice of religion, while allowing for strong national defense and a stable economy.
Now IS the time to vote your conscience, but as you vote on November 4th, think about what kind of America you want to see on the morning November 5th. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to be able to have debatable political dialog - or the Fairness Doctrine. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to enjoy the fruits of your own labors - or wealth distribution. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to live in the Land of the Free, protected in the Home of the Brave.
I don't want a President that within six months will be "tested" by hostile nations. I don't want a President that won't produce his birth certificate. I don't want a President that has continuing and long- term ties to domestic terrorists and a Preacher that damns America. I don't want a President that "does not want to appear to take sides" where America is concerned. I don’t want a President that voted against having English as America’s official language. I don’t want a President that wants to change the foundations and the intent of America’s constitution.
Honestly, I'm not enthused with either candidate, but one scares me to death. I want a President that has fought for this country and a Vice President that honors life. I am ready for the fence to be built. I am ready for our troops to come home, but only when the job done and have a victory for their efforts. I am ready to stop killing our unborn. I am ready to have ACORN prosecuted. I am ready for CEOs to face consequences for illegal and unethical behavior. I am ready to stop hearing about the North American Free Trade Union and replacing the dollar with the AMERO. I am ready for America to spend money on Americans, but of course this is only my opinion.
At a political rally I recently attended, there was a protestor there who was wearing the American flag as a scarf. I walked up to him and told him that wearing the American flag as a scarf was inappropriate. His partner said, "He can do anything he wants to with it!" I said, "You're right, a lot of good men and women died to give him that right." His partner said, "He can even wipe his butt on it if he wants to!" I said, "You're right, but I wouldn't do that in front of me!"
Let's go back in time to the beginning of this country and what our founding fathers were dealing with. To have a real perspective, let’s look at the memorable language of our Declaration of Independence. Below are the 110 words that ended the old order of British rule and set up and era where free peoples would govern themselves – America:
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundations on such Principles and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to Them shall seem most like to effect their Safety and Happiness."
One thing both parties have agreed on is the need for change. What they cannot agree on is what that change should be and how to accomplish it. I feel the best answers can be found by returning to our country’s Constitutional principles. My interpretation confirms that without the freedom of Religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained. My interpretation confirms that without the freedom of Speech the government of a free people cannot be maintained. Further, a free people cannot survive under a Representative Republic (which is how our c is formed), unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. Finally the most promising method of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
I know how my vote will be cast. I know that neither party has done a very good job of governing. I know that both parties have slipped and stumbled on issues such as national security, economics, welfare and illegal immigration. Someone once said, "The proper role of government is to protect equal rights NOT to provide equal things. We should have peace, commerce, and honest friendships with all Nations and entangling alliances with none."
I think that the core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family and that the burden of debt is destructive to human freedom. We are currently suffering from the mismanagement of government in many areas. This is not like the time in which the following words were penned, "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..." We’re no longer trying to separate from Britain; we are now fighting amongst ourselves. This is the time when one people must determine who among them can maintain good order and discipline, enforce existing laws, allow for freedom of speech and the free practice of religion, while allowing for strong national defense and a stable economy.
Now IS the time to vote your conscience, but as you vote on November 4th, think about what kind of America you want to see on the morning November 5th. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to be able to have debatable political dialog - or the Fairness Doctrine. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to enjoy the fruits of your own labors - or wealth distribution. Your vote can determine whether you will continue to live in the Land of the Free, protected in the Home of the Brave.
I don't want a President that within six months will be "tested" by hostile nations. I don't want a President that won't produce his birth certificate. I don't want a President that has continuing and long- term ties to domestic terrorists and a Preacher that damns America. I don't want a President that "does not want to appear to take sides" where America is concerned. I don’t want a President that voted against having English as America’s official language. I don’t want a President that wants to change the foundations and the intent of America’s constitution.
Honestly, I'm not enthused with either candidate, but one scares me to death. I want a President that has fought for this country and a Vice President that honors life. I am ready for the fence to be built. I am ready for our troops to come home, but only when the job done and have a victory for their efforts. I am ready to stop killing our unborn. I am ready to have ACORN prosecuted. I am ready for CEOs to face consequences for illegal and unethical behavior. I am ready to stop hearing about the North American Free Trade Union and replacing the dollar with the AMERO. I am ready for America to spend money on Americans, but of course this is only my opinion.
At a political rally I recently attended, there was a protestor there who was wearing the American flag as a scarf. I walked up to him and told him that wearing the American flag as a scarf was inappropriate. His partner said, "He can do anything he wants to with it!" I said, "You're right, a lot of good men and women died to give him that right." His partner said, "He can even wipe his butt on it if he wants to!" I said, "You're right, but I wouldn't do that in front of me!"
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
When The Cure Is Worse Than The Disease
As we count down the days to the election, I'm troubled by much of what I have seen and heard. I'm troubled more by what I haven't seen and haven't heard.
What I haven't seen or heard much about is America. I've heard a lot about the economy. I've heard a lot about governmental expansions, moving toward a one world bank, but haven't heard much about border security or illegal immigration.
I wonder if we will have a 2012 election. I came across a document put out by Islamic fascists that said by 2012 they will have control of America. You may be aware that the ancient Mayans forecast that the world will end in 2012. The first threat is real; the other a maybe.
We have taken incredible steps to shore up or bail out companies that mismanaged their resources and created this financial mess. We've given more power to the politicians who along with these companies created the lack of oversight and back room deals that took our country to the brink of disaster. CEOs and lobbyists and crooked politicians that consciously or unconsciously made this mess now have the power to make it even worse. To me it seems we have put the foxes in control of the chicken house and expect them to take care of things - that just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I've talked to a lot of folks that blame the Democrats for the problem, all the way from President Carter through Clinton and up to House Speaker Pelosi, Barney Franks and the rest. I've talked to a lot of folks that put everything on Bush's front step. I've heard that it was the corrupt CEOs and corrupt politicians, yet the CEOs seemed to have skirted prosecution and the politicians are still in power. Change seems to be the buzz word for today and honestly I'm ready for a change. I've lost faith with most of the folks you and I have elected to represent us. I've lost faith with most of the news media. I've lost faith in some of the talk radio folks. The only things I have not lost faith in are the American people and the good Lord.
When I left home as a young adult to go to college, I made a decision. Never again in my life would I take Milk of Magnesia. Mother gave me MoM often as a child and I HATED IT WITH A PASSION, even though it was supposedly good for me. Her mother gave her and her sisters Castor Oil each Saturday just to insure they were regular. My mother no longer takes Castor Oil either. There are times when the cure is simply worse than the disease.
The "cure" of technology is an example of this. In my opinion we have too much of it. It makes us think we're smarter and better than those that came before us. We are losing our God given common sense. The reality is the golden age of philosophy was ancient Greece. Another reality is that human nature has not changed; we just have more gadgets to occupy us and make us feel better. They give us the illusion that we are smarter.
So who is looking out for our best interests? Most of our legally elected officials are no longer representing their constituents' best interests - they are representing their own. Neither major political party has put forth a presidential candidate that has a stated and documented primary goal of being the safety and sovereignty of this country. Our energy plan is still tied to oil - we have oil but can't get to it thanks to the environmentalists. We're giving money away as part of our foreign policy but not getting support back from our "friends. One good thing is coming from this turmoil - people are waking up and getting involved. Who knows, if we have enough time left, we might actually be able to get something accomplished for the long term.
The reality is that our borders are not in any better shape than they were in early September 2001. Airport security is more of a problem for American citizen passengers than it is for terrorists. The FBI and Homeland Security have both identified that we have Islamic terrorist in this country but can't say that because it is profiling!
We have Illegal Immigrants bankrupting our cities and states by stealing services that our own citizens can access. We can't call them Illegal as that might hurt their feelings. We have folks south of our southern border (and some in our own country) that believe Texas, California and the entire southwest still belongs to them - even though we paid for it and/or beat them in a war.
We've have spent more money supporting illegal freeloaders (medical care, criminal prosecutions, benefits that should be made only to U.S. citizens) than we have spent in both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The current mayor of Houston, TX, Bill White (a city that spent over 34 million dollars for illegal health care in 2006) took a half million of tax payer dollars to build an air conditioned Worker's Center for illegals. The current Texas governor, Rick Perry, built his last re-election platform on "If Washington won't secure our borders, I will." Twenty-eight days after he was re-elected he threw it all out the window. That's when Pam and I decided it was time to move to Missouri.
Springfield talk show host Vincent David Jericho talks about his experiences as a citizen in Canada watching the Canadian government go Socialist. I am seeing very similar situations occurring now in this country and it scares the blue fire out of me.
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson that said, "You elect the kind of government you deserve." Today our election process is dominated by dollars and direction from folks I no longer believe are concerned about maintaining our national identity, values, traditions and sovereignty.
Therefore, I believe it is time to begin preparing for the 2012 election (provided the Islamic Fascists and the Mayans are wrong, we might be able to have one). It is time for you and me to put aside our differences and fight for this country. City folks and farmers, college students and burger flippers, truck drivers and house wives - we "deserve" better representation that what we are getting.
I don't have a problem with a "hand up" but I have a problem with a "hand out"! I don't have a problem with immigration but have a problem with ILLEGAL immigration. I don't have a problem with scientific research but have no interests in the mating habits of leaf monkeys. I don't have a problem with a free market economy but have a problem when the market is manipulated by folks that consider you and me too stupid to figure out what's going on.
I offer this quote from the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..."
How many more years will we have to listen to fraud perpetrated by ACORN? I'm getting a little tired of that especially since half of their budget is funded by tax payer dollars.
How many more times will Washington, D.C. tell us they are turning off their switch boards, telephones and emails because we poor dumb citizens, "don't understand what is really going on and need to let us just do our jobs"?
There still exists potential for some surprises in the 2008 election. I for one believe that it's time for some alternatives to the status quo, and business as usual. The status quo is not working and you and I are getting the "business".
With Russian war ships and bombers visiting Venezuela, with Chavez now being set up as an arms manufacturer for the Russians, with China purchasing dock space along our coasts, with Iran and North Korea playing with nukes, with England establishing Sheria (Islamic) law, with the European Union experiencing an economic meltdown (and they don't have Fannie May and Freddie Mac over there).
The reality is that we have more folks waiting for America to fall than are trying to catch us.
What I haven't seen or heard much about is America. I've heard a lot about the economy. I've heard a lot about governmental expansions, moving toward a one world bank, but haven't heard much about border security or illegal immigration.
I wonder if we will have a 2012 election. I came across a document put out by Islamic fascists that said by 2012 they will have control of America. You may be aware that the ancient Mayans forecast that the world will end in 2012. The first threat is real; the other a maybe.
We have taken incredible steps to shore up or bail out companies that mismanaged their resources and created this financial mess. We've given more power to the politicians who along with these companies created the lack of oversight and back room deals that took our country to the brink of disaster. CEOs and lobbyists and crooked politicians that consciously or unconsciously made this mess now have the power to make it even worse. To me it seems we have put the foxes in control of the chicken house and expect them to take care of things - that just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I've talked to a lot of folks that blame the Democrats for the problem, all the way from President Carter through Clinton and up to House Speaker Pelosi, Barney Franks and the rest. I've talked to a lot of folks that put everything on Bush's front step. I've heard that it was the corrupt CEOs and corrupt politicians, yet the CEOs seemed to have skirted prosecution and the politicians are still in power. Change seems to be the buzz word for today and honestly I'm ready for a change. I've lost faith with most of the folks you and I have elected to represent us. I've lost faith with most of the news media. I've lost faith in some of the talk radio folks. The only things I have not lost faith in are the American people and the good Lord.
When I left home as a young adult to go to college, I made a decision. Never again in my life would I take Milk of Magnesia. Mother gave me MoM often as a child and I HATED IT WITH A PASSION, even though it was supposedly good for me. Her mother gave her and her sisters Castor Oil each Saturday just to insure they were regular. My mother no longer takes Castor Oil either. There are times when the cure is simply worse than the disease.
The "cure" of technology is an example of this. In my opinion we have too much of it. It makes us think we're smarter and better than those that came before us. We are losing our God given common sense. The reality is the golden age of philosophy was ancient Greece. Another reality is that human nature has not changed; we just have more gadgets to occupy us and make us feel better. They give us the illusion that we are smarter.
So who is looking out for our best interests? Most of our legally elected officials are no longer representing their constituents' best interests - they are representing their own. Neither major political party has put forth a presidential candidate that has a stated and documented primary goal of being the safety and sovereignty of this country. Our energy plan is still tied to oil - we have oil but can't get to it thanks to the environmentalists. We're giving money away as part of our foreign policy but not getting support back from our "friends. One good thing is coming from this turmoil - people are waking up and getting involved. Who knows, if we have enough time left, we might actually be able to get something accomplished for the long term.
The reality is that our borders are not in any better shape than they were in early September 2001. Airport security is more of a problem for American citizen passengers than it is for terrorists. The FBI and Homeland Security have both identified that we have Islamic terrorist in this country but can't say that because it is profiling!
We have Illegal Immigrants bankrupting our cities and states by stealing services that our own citizens can access. We can't call them Illegal as that might hurt their feelings. We have folks south of our southern border (and some in our own country) that believe Texas, California and the entire southwest still belongs to them - even though we paid for it and/or beat them in a war.
We've have spent more money supporting illegal freeloaders (medical care, criminal prosecutions, benefits that should be made only to U.S. citizens) than we have spent in both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The current mayor of Houston, TX, Bill White (a city that spent over 34 million dollars for illegal health care in 2006) took a half million of tax payer dollars to build an air conditioned Worker's Center for illegals. The current Texas governor, Rick Perry, built his last re-election platform on "If Washington won't secure our borders, I will." Twenty-eight days after he was re-elected he threw it all out the window. That's when Pam and I decided it was time to move to Missouri.
Springfield talk show host Vincent David Jericho talks about his experiences as a citizen in Canada watching the Canadian government go Socialist. I am seeing very similar situations occurring now in this country and it scares the blue fire out of me.
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson that said, "You elect the kind of government you deserve." Today our election process is dominated by dollars and direction from folks I no longer believe are concerned about maintaining our national identity, values, traditions and sovereignty.
Therefore, I believe it is time to begin preparing for the 2012 election (provided the Islamic Fascists and the Mayans are wrong, we might be able to have one). It is time for you and me to put aside our differences and fight for this country. City folks and farmers, college students and burger flippers, truck drivers and house wives - we "deserve" better representation that what we are getting.
I don't have a problem with a "hand up" but I have a problem with a "hand out"! I don't have a problem with immigration but have a problem with ILLEGAL immigration. I don't have a problem with scientific research but have no interests in the mating habits of leaf monkeys. I don't have a problem with a free market economy but have a problem when the market is manipulated by folks that consider you and me too stupid to figure out what's going on.
I offer this quote from the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..."
How many more years will we have to listen to fraud perpetrated by ACORN? I'm getting a little tired of that especially since half of their budget is funded by tax payer dollars.
How many more times will Washington, D.C. tell us they are turning off their switch boards, telephones and emails because we poor dumb citizens, "don't understand what is really going on and need to let us just do our jobs"?
There still exists potential for some surprises in the 2008 election. I for one believe that it's time for some alternatives to the status quo, and business as usual. The status quo is not working and you and I are getting the "business".
With Russian war ships and bombers visiting Venezuela, with Chavez now being set up as an arms manufacturer for the Russians, with China purchasing dock space along our coasts, with Iran and North Korea playing with nukes, with England establishing Sheria (Islamic) law, with the European Union experiencing an economic meltdown (and they don't have Fannie May and Freddie Mac over there).
The reality is that we have more folks waiting for America to fall than are trying to catch us.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A Lesson in Economics and Politics
Abraham Lincoln once said, "You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
I know what you are thinking. Lincoln lived a long time ago and he didn't have to deal with the stresses we have in today's government. Horse pucky! The truth is the truth! Our local Nazarene Church recently had these words on its sign, "People can't change the truth but the truth can change people."
I have come to believe that many of our politicians, CEOs and bankers don't live in the same world you and I do. They consider themselves above the laws that bind us. They consider themselves immune to investigation and prosecution. They violated what I call the Rule of Eaton; it says simply "Never, ever, ever believe your own B.S. It is vitally important that others believe it but when you believe it, you are headed for a fall."
Folks, this is not rocket science or brain surgery! If the rules don't apply to everyone you don't have rules - you have suggestions. If you regulations don't apply to everyone you don't have regulations - you have instructions. If you laws don't apply to everyone, you don't have laws - you have anarchy. This is one of the most basic laws is the law of survival of the fittest, also known as "only the strong will survive".
Mankind suffers from many problems, two of them being greed and special interest. When these conditions infect politicians, bankers and CEO's the infections become cancerous. Now I know we have some good politicians, I know some personally. I know we have good CEOs, I've met some. I know we have some good bankers, I've used them.
I'm talking about the bad ones that have created this economic mess, they are the cancers. Currently, we are not imposing "chemotherapy and radiation" on the tumors (the bad politicians, CEOs and bankers); instead we are attacking healthy tissue and feeding the tumors. Or in simpler terms, we are rewarding bad management, lousy judgment and forcing the rest of us to pay for someone else's mistakes and criminal activity.
"The maintenance of good order and discipline..." is a phrase most of us have heard. It is applicable to the military, school administrators, prison officials, sports teams, businesses and corporations, and any other organized human activity; excepting apparently - politicians.
Anderson's Rule of Large Numbers states: "Eighty-five percent of your people will do the best job the first time. Ten percent require more assistance, training or direction. Three percent will contend with directions and cause problems, but when they get 'it' they become your elite. They have the courage to fight the status quo. The last two percent have already decided not to be successful; they don't want it and will not allow you to help them. Get rid of them and do it publicly! The success of a company, a military organization, a school system or a government depends on judgment to separate the three percent and the two percent and act accordingly."
I have an answer to a question people are asking, but aren't getting straight answers. How did we get in this economic mess? Answer - go back to the Carter administration then fast forward to the Savings and Loans debacle under President Clinton - that is where the deregulation and eventual collapse started. I won't bore you with the details, just go read about it for yourself and you'll see what I mean.
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich" (Abraham Lincoln). Progress takes investments and capital. It is the "rich and evil capitalist companies" that pay the majority of taxes. They are the ones that provide medicine, services, products and even the gasoline we need. I say, let the good ones prosper and the bad ones fail! That is the free market and that is the only way oversight can be managed.
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong" (Abraham Lincoln). You can't improve a business by punishing it for being successful.
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift" (Abraham Lincoln). You can only spend so long and THEN YOU ARE OUT OF MONEY! You and I understand that - somehow our politicians don't. That's because they don't have to work for the money they spend - we do!
"You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down" (Abraham Lincoln). When this occurs you see jobs go away forever lost to technology, eliminated all together or sent to foreign shores never to return.
"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred" (Abraham Lincoln). Do I even need to comment on this? Then I will. I want our young people to see what opportunity is available to them in America. Seeing people that model success, who drive nice cars and prosper, will provide a "goal" for our young people to strive for and thereby making the "American Dream" something they want to seek. What a vanilla world it would be if everyone drove a Dodge pickup and wore blue jeans like I do.
Here is a reality - not everyone is going to be a super star. Not everybody has that ability, but even a super star has to be part of a team. A "team" is made up of people ALL trying to be the best they can be. Dr. King once said, "If you are a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be!"
"You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves" (Abraham Lincoln). These two are irrevocably tied together. Charity has become an addiction for many. Why work if someone is going to give you everything. Why strive for excellence when mediocrity is an accepted social standard. Progress is only accomplished through striving against the norm. Excellence is only achieved by hard work and sacrifice.
Now to give you some perspective on "human nature" and the political theater we are subject to today. "Respect for religion must be reestablished. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of public officials must be curtailed. Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. The people should be forced to work and not depend on government for subsistence." - Cicero, 60 B.C.
I know what you are thinking. Lincoln lived a long time ago and he didn't have to deal with the stresses we have in today's government. Horse pucky! The truth is the truth! Our local Nazarene Church recently had these words on its sign, "People can't change the truth but the truth can change people."
I have come to believe that many of our politicians, CEOs and bankers don't live in the same world you and I do. They consider themselves above the laws that bind us. They consider themselves immune to investigation and prosecution. They violated what I call the Rule of Eaton; it says simply "Never, ever, ever believe your own B.S. It is vitally important that others believe it but when you believe it, you are headed for a fall."
Folks, this is not rocket science or brain surgery! If the rules don't apply to everyone you don't have rules - you have suggestions. If you regulations don't apply to everyone you don't have regulations - you have instructions. If you laws don't apply to everyone, you don't have laws - you have anarchy. This is one of the most basic laws is the law of survival of the fittest, also known as "only the strong will survive".
Mankind suffers from many problems, two of them being greed and special interest. When these conditions infect politicians, bankers and CEO's the infections become cancerous. Now I know we have some good politicians, I know some personally. I know we have good CEOs, I've met some. I know we have some good bankers, I've used them.
I'm talking about the bad ones that have created this economic mess, they are the cancers. Currently, we are not imposing "chemotherapy and radiation" on the tumors (the bad politicians, CEOs and bankers); instead we are attacking healthy tissue and feeding the tumors. Or in simpler terms, we are rewarding bad management, lousy judgment and forcing the rest of us to pay for someone else's mistakes and criminal activity.
"The maintenance of good order and discipline..." is a phrase most of us have heard. It is applicable to the military, school administrators, prison officials, sports teams, businesses and corporations, and any other organized human activity; excepting apparently - politicians.
Anderson's Rule of Large Numbers states: "Eighty-five percent of your people will do the best job the first time. Ten percent require more assistance, training or direction. Three percent will contend with directions and cause problems, but when they get 'it' they become your elite. They have the courage to fight the status quo. The last two percent have already decided not to be successful; they don't want it and will not allow you to help them. Get rid of them and do it publicly! The success of a company, a military organization, a school system or a government depends on judgment to separate the three percent and the two percent and act accordingly."
I have an answer to a question people are asking, but aren't getting straight answers. How did we get in this economic mess? Answer - go back to the Carter administration then fast forward to the Savings and Loans debacle under President Clinton - that is where the deregulation and eventual collapse started. I won't bore you with the details, just go read about it for yourself and you'll see what I mean.
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich" (Abraham Lincoln). Progress takes investments and capital. It is the "rich and evil capitalist companies" that pay the majority of taxes. They are the ones that provide medicine, services, products and even the gasoline we need. I say, let the good ones prosper and the bad ones fail! That is the free market and that is the only way oversight can be managed.
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong" (Abraham Lincoln). You can't improve a business by punishing it for being successful.
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift" (Abraham Lincoln). You can only spend so long and THEN YOU ARE OUT OF MONEY! You and I understand that - somehow our politicians don't. That's because they don't have to work for the money they spend - we do!
"You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down" (Abraham Lincoln). When this occurs you see jobs go away forever lost to technology, eliminated all together or sent to foreign shores never to return.
"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred" (Abraham Lincoln). Do I even need to comment on this? Then I will. I want our young people to see what opportunity is available to them in America. Seeing people that model success, who drive nice cars and prosper, will provide a "goal" for our young people to strive for and thereby making the "American Dream" something they want to seek. What a vanilla world it would be if everyone drove a Dodge pickup and wore blue jeans like I do.
Here is a reality - not everyone is going to be a super star. Not everybody has that ability, but even a super star has to be part of a team. A "team" is made up of people ALL trying to be the best they can be. Dr. King once said, "If you are a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be!"
"You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves" (Abraham Lincoln). These two are irrevocably tied together. Charity has become an addiction for many. Why work if someone is going to give you everything. Why strive for excellence when mediocrity is an accepted social standard. Progress is only accomplished through striving against the norm. Excellence is only achieved by hard work and sacrifice.
Now to give you some perspective on "human nature" and the political theater we are subject to today. "Respect for religion must be reestablished. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of public officials must be curtailed. Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. The people should be forced to work and not depend on government for subsistence." - Cicero, 60 B.C.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Life is Hard; it is Harder if You're Stupid!
"Life is hard; it is harder if you're stupid!" - John Wayne
I got a call from a reader last week, Terry Blankenship. He was as asking my thoughts on something he had read about Barack Obama not being able to get a security clearance. There has been a lot of controversy on this subject but mostly on talk radio shows and blogs; however it has hardly been addressed by the main stream media.
There are several levels of security classification in this country, the three best known are: classified, secret and top secret. Each level would allow an individual to sensitive information based on two things- 1) the level of security clearance and 2) the "need to know". Certainly, the President of the United States requires access to national and international secrets and information.
There have been several allegations made concerning Mr. Obama. I say allegations because there has NOT been a small army of lawyers and investigators sent out to confirm or deny them. Nor have there been any investigative reporters that I can find that have addressed these allegations, seems that kind of activity is reserved only for those opposing Mr. Obama. After extensive research, I've determined the allegations concerning Obama's personal and business activities include:
1. Obama has been in the middle of two international Communist networks – one in Hawaii and one in Chicago.
2. The Hawaii network included Communists Frank Marshall Davis, who was Obama’s personal mentor; actor/singer Paul Robeson; and labor leader Harry Bridges. The network was judged a security threat to the United States and the subject of a congressional hearing on the “Scope of Soviet Activity in the United States.”
3. Obama covered up the true identity of Frank Marshall Davis in his book, Dreams From My Father.
4. The Hawaii Communist network was organized directly by and from Moscow.
5. The Chicago network included identified Communists and Socialists, was committed to a Communist victory in the Vietnam War, and took instructions from the Communist Castro regime in Cuba.
6. In addition to Communist terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who were members of the Communist terrorist Weather Underground, the Chicago network includes many veterans of the Communist Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) who now proclaim themselves “Progressives for Obama.”
7. Bill Ayers, who helped launch Obama’s political career, has traveled to Venezuela on several occasions and is an enthusiastic backer of the brand of Communism being practiced and promoted by Hugo Chavez.
8. It appears that Obama actually worked for Ayers in a Chicago educational reform program that dispensed millions of dollars of grants.
9. One of the leaders of “Progressives for Obama” is former SDS leader Tom Hayden, who wrote a letter to a Communist Vietnamese official during the Vietnam War hoping for a “victory” over the U.S.
10. The SDS openly promoted Communism, the regimes in Hanoi and Havana, and condemned alleged U.S. “imperialism.”
11. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that included a convicted espionage agent for Communist East Germany, backed and promoted Obama’s political career.
12. Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, who picked Obama as her successor, has a record of involvement in Communist front activities.
13. Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod, as well as Obama himself, have not explained why Ayers, Dohrn, then-State Senator Alice Palmer, and Dr. Quentin Young came together at the Ayers/Dohrn home to launch Obama’s political career.
14. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, a client of Axelrod, issued a controversial and misleading statement defending Obama’s relationship with Communist terrorist Bill Ayers.
I have questioned my contacts that deal with or have dealt with security clearances and the consensus of opinion is that if you or I were applying for a security clearance with these allegations, and if those allegations were shown to be true - our clearance would be denied. I wonder what the truth is, and I wonder why it is not being addressed - whatever it is. One thing I can guarantee you is that if he is elected, he will be privy to all of our nation's security measures and plans. Hmmm.
I was talking to my neighbor Arthur the other day and we were discussing how to figure out what the truth is in all of this political theater. Arthur is a great neighbor and a pretty smart fella, but like me he was finding it difficult to navigate within all of the truths and half truths, the information and misinformation - not to mention the disinformation.
I was reminded of something my wife told me one time. "Don't believe your eyes - your eyes can go blind. Don't believe your ears - your ears can go deaf. Don't believe your brain - your brain can become confused. Don't believe your heart - your heart will lie to you. Believe your belly - if your gut is comfortable with a decision - it's probably the right one."
I grew up recognizing that I didn't know all of the answers but I truly believed there was someone in charge that did. I don't any more. Or if they do know the answers they don't have the integrity and courage to do the right thing.
During classes I teach on leadership and management, I always start with a question - "Can you shoot your own dog?" Note, I did not say "Do you want to..." - I asked can you?
I love dogs; I have three - Jack, Gibson and Annie. Jack is a Rhodesian ridgeback and Lab mix. Gibson is an Australian Sheppard we named after Mel. Annie is also a Sheppard and we're hoping for puppies this year. They are spoiled rotten and live the life of Riley!
I have a responsibility as their owner. I keep their shots up, feed them regularly and keep them from being a nuisance. It would break my heart if something happened to any of them, but part of my responsibility is to keep them from suffering. It's not for my neighbors to do, should it be necessary to put one down - it would be my decision. Should that ever become necessary, I would hope there was a vet that could help make the terrible decision easier on my pet. If not it IS my responsibility to lovingly end that dog's suffering.
Hard decisions are just that - HARD. They're uncomfortable. They can be gut wrenching, but none of that means they should not be done.
That is what is hurting our economy and our government now; our leaders are looking for quick fixes and the easy way out. They want to manage problems not problem solve. That just doesn't sound like common sense.
I wonder what ever happened to Common Sense. I admit to borrowing the intent of the following from an email I received. Common sense was a compilation of valuable lessons like knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common sense understood simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).
Unfortunately, it has been replaced by overbearing regulations and the zero tolerance mentality. Things like the report of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; or teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch or the teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student just don't make common sense.
I think it began when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves failed to do in disciplining their own unruly children. We lost more ground when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
It has continued to the point that the Ten Commandments became contraband; some churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. It progressed to the point that you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
I think we better get back to basics America, while we still can - if we still can.
I got a call from a reader last week, Terry Blankenship. He was as asking my thoughts on something he had read about Barack Obama not being able to get a security clearance. There has been a lot of controversy on this subject but mostly on talk radio shows and blogs; however it has hardly been addressed by the main stream media.
There are several levels of security classification in this country, the three best known are: classified, secret and top secret. Each level would allow an individual to sensitive information based on two things- 1) the level of security clearance and 2) the "need to know". Certainly, the President of the United States requires access to national and international secrets and information.
There have been several allegations made concerning Mr. Obama. I say allegations because there has NOT been a small army of lawyers and investigators sent out to confirm or deny them. Nor have there been any investigative reporters that I can find that have addressed these allegations, seems that kind of activity is reserved only for those opposing Mr. Obama. After extensive research, I've determined the allegations concerning Obama's personal and business activities include:
1. Obama has been in the middle of two international Communist networks – one in Hawaii and one in Chicago.
2. The Hawaii network included Communists Frank Marshall Davis, who was Obama’s personal mentor; actor/singer Paul Robeson; and labor leader Harry Bridges. The network was judged a security threat to the United States and the subject of a congressional hearing on the “Scope of Soviet Activity in the United States.”
3. Obama covered up the true identity of Frank Marshall Davis in his book, Dreams From My Father.
4. The Hawaii Communist network was organized directly by and from Moscow.
5. The Chicago network included identified Communists and Socialists, was committed to a Communist victory in the Vietnam War, and took instructions from the Communist Castro regime in Cuba.
6. In addition to Communist terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who were members of the Communist terrorist Weather Underground, the Chicago network includes many veterans of the Communist Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) who now proclaim themselves “Progressives for Obama.”
7. Bill Ayers, who helped launch Obama’s political career, has traveled to Venezuela on several occasions and is an enthusiastic backer of the brand of Communism being practiced and promoted by Hugo Chavez.
8. It appears that Obama actually worked for Ayers in a Chicago educational reform program that dispensed millions of dollars of grants.
9. One of the leaders of “Progressives for Obama” is former SDS leader Tom Hayden, who wrote a letter to a Communist Vietnamese official during the Vietnam War hoping for a “victory” over the U.S.
10. The SDS openly promoted Communism, the regimes in Hanoi and Havana, and condemned alleged U.S. “imperialism.”
11. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that included a convicted espionage agent for Communist East Germany, backed and promoted Obama’s political career.
12. Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, who picked Obama as her successor, has a record of involvement in Communist front activities.
13. Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod, as well as Obama himself, have not explained why Ayers, Dohrn, then-State Senator Alice Palmer, and Dr. Quentin Young came together at the Ayers/Dohrn home to launch Obama’s political career.
14. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, a client of Axelrod, issued a controversial and misleading statement defending Obama’s relationship with Communist terrorist Bill Ayers.
I have questioned my contacts that deal with or have dealt with security clearances and the consensus of opinion is that if you or I were applying for a security clearance with these allegations, and if those allegations were shown to be true - our clearance would be denied. I wonder what the truth is, and I wonder why it is not being addressed - whatever it is. One thing I can guarantee you is that if he is elected, he will be privy to all of our nation's security measures and plans. Hmmm.
I was talking to my neighbor Arthur the other day and we were discussing how to figure out what the truth is in all of this political theater. Arthur is a great neighbor and a pretty smart fella, but like me he was finding it difficult to navigate within all of the truths and half truths, the information and misinformation - not to mention the disinformation.
I was reminded of something my wife told me one time. "Don't believe your eyes - your eyes can go blind. Don't believe your ears - your ears can go deaf. Don't believe your brain - your brain can become confused. Don't believe your heart - your heart will lie to you. Believe your belly - if your gut is comfortable with a decision - it's probably the right one."
I grew up recognizing that I didn't know all of the answers but I truly believed there was someone in charge that did. I don't any more. Or if they do know the answers they don't have the integrity and courage to do the right thing.
During classes I teach on leadership and management, I always start with a question - "Can you shoot your own dog?" Note, I did not say "Do you want to..." - I asked can you?
I love dogs; I have three - Jack, Gibson and Annie. Jack is a Rhodesian ridgeback and Lab mix. Gibson is an Australian Sheppard we named after Mel. Annie is also a Sheppard and we're hoping for puppies this year. They are spoiled rotten and live the life of Riley!
I have a responsibility as their owner. I keep their shots up, feed them regularly and keep them from being a nuisance. It would break my heart if something happened to any of them, but part of my responsibility is to keep them from suffering. It's not for my neighbors to do, should it be necessary to put one down - it would be my decision. Should that ever become necessary, I would hope there was a vet that could help make the terrible decision easier on my pet. If not it IS my responsibility to lovingly end that dog's suffering.
Hard decisions are just that - HARD. They're uncomfortable. They can be gut wrenching, but none of that means they should not be done.
That is what is hurting our economy and our government now; our leaders are looking for quick fixes and the easy way out. They want to manage problems not problem solve. That just doesn't sound like common sense.
I wonder what ever happened to Common Sense. I admit to borrowing the intent of the following from an email I received. Common sense was a compilation of valuable lessons like knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common sense understood simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).
Unfortunately, it has been replaced by overbearing regulations and the zero tolerance mentality. Things like the report of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; or teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch or the teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student just don't make common sense.
I think it began when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves failed to do in disciplining their own unruly children. We lost more ground when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
It has continued to the point that the Ten Commandments became contraband; some churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. It progressed to the point that you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
I think we better get back to basics America, while we still can - if we still can.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Citizenship in the 21st Century
Citizenship, rather than politics is what has made this country strong and secure. Politics are too often based on party platforms, personal goals, self interest and the perpetuation of power. Compromise is the ONLY method by which the two primary parties are able to accomplish anything. Unfortunately, it seems so much compromise takes place that most of what is accomplished has NO bearing on the health, security and sovereignty of the country.
Citizenship on the other hand focuses on the individual, not political parties. It is an active process that requires an individual to make decisions and act on those decisions. Citizenship is demonstrated in numerous activities, most which are not even associated with the political process.
Good citizenship most often starts by going to school, obtaining an education and learning the history of this country. Participation in scouting programs, FFA, 4H, church activities and volunteer programs, give young folks a chance to exhibit and improve their citizenship. Participation in Student Government Councils, are great steps in learning and understanding the political process. Learning to safely and drive a car, learning how to safely handle a firearm are also examples of citizenship. Then there are things like raising a family, serving the country and serving others.
Another element of citizenship is how you support those folks that protected our country and continue to do so. Our freedoms and rights, even the very nature of this country was won during hard fights, terrible circumstances and incredible sacrifices. Our military, police and fire fighters deal every day with the aspect of going to work and NOT coming home that evening. Not only do they sacrifice - the families sacrifice.
I know when I went to Iraq I trained, I was committed - I was ready. When I left however, there was a vacuum here at home that my wife had to fill. Not only did she have to continue doing what she had to do, she now had to deal with what I was not present to do - and the whole time worry about me. God bless those that serve and the families of those that serve. Their service and sacrifices have kept this the land of the free and that will continue as long as America continues to be the home of the BRAVE.
Another element of citizenship is how you support the training of our next generation of leaders. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, schools and churches are the training camps not only for kids, but our next crop of leaders. The academic educations they receive are important, but so is the education they will receive in ethics, integrity, service, leadership and (most importantly) followership. If you can't follow orders, you can't give orders and expect people to follow you.
Voting is another example which again requires activity. First of all, a citizen must decide to REGISTER to vote and then act on that decision by actively casting a ballot. Between the decision and the act, a citizen must decide to become educated on the qualifications of a sheriff, a council member, etc., or the qualifications of a person running for Congress or the Presidency. Then the citizen must seek information, evaluate the information, form an opinion and then vote. Often a citizen cannot find a viable candidate from either party; this often leads to involvement with an alternative or third party candidate. Even in this extreme, the actions remain the same.
In all processes the citizen must evaluate
1. where a candidate stands on issues that is important to that individual
2. what that candidate has shown (by past performance) they will do or not do as it relates to those issues
3. what opportunity that candidate will have, should they win, to fulfill their campaign promises
Citizenship is not just for elections; rather elections are just an important time that we exercise our citizenship. Your character and citizenship are demonstrated every day by what you do and don't do, by what you say and don't say, by how you act and don't act, by what you choose or don't choose and how you deal with that choice.
During this evaluation process we are forced to "weed" through a lot of political rhetoric. That is more evident in this election than in any other I can remember. What is the answer? Where do we get the facts? How do we make a legitimate decision?
Look at what a politician has done; don't just listen to what he/she says. Part of the process may be reaching the point that you turn the channel and watch something else just to get away from the diatribe and distractions. Do your own research, DON'T JUST RELY ON WHAT YOU HEAR OR SEE ON TV... Get this people, they lie to us!
One thing both parties have said is they will CHANGE Washington. Finally, there is something I can agree with - change is most definitely needed in both parties. However, remember that not all change is good. You have to figure out what type of change you are going to vote for and what kind of person can bring about that change.
Talk is cheap, especially during campaigns. What someone does or does not do and how they act or don't act speaks to character. That is what I use to distinguish between rhetoric and reality. Yes, it takes time but it’s the only way to make accurate determinations about politicians. I don't get too enthused about what politicians say, I try to focus on what they have done.
I'll tell you a little story, being originally from Texas I make a great bowl of chili, but about three years ago I found out something I never knew - chili powder and cinnamon look just alike. If you do not taste the chili as you're cooking it, you can end up with a mess like I did - even my dogs wouldn’t eat that mess. When it comes to politics "taste the chili!"
I think another aspect of citizenship is politeness. I live on a dirt road; many of my neighbors are Amish. I have a pickup truck and if you also live on a dirt road you know a vehicle can churn up a lot of dust. I can roll up my windows when I meet another vehicle to keep the dust out of my face, my Amish neighbors don't have windows on their buggies. If their kids are walking to school they can't dodge the dust, so I slow down and let the dust settle before I pass them. Yep, it takes a little longer sometimes for me to get to where I'm going but it's being a good neighbor; it is a polite and right thing to do. Remember the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you”. Think about it the next time you're driving down a dirt road.
Finally, citizenship focuses on accountability and responsibility. The current financial turmoil is not going to just affect those that made bad mortgage decisions, or the companies that financed those mortgages... it will affect each and every one of us. My Mom managed the finances in my family when I was growing up. She understood that there was only so much money and figured out how to save for “the unexpected emergencies”. My Dad's job was to earn the money; her job was to make the household function. Boy, is that not chauvinistic? Maybe so, but it sure worked.
A healthy economy is based on success and failure. In the old days, bad decisions had consequences. If you destroyed your company's viability the company failed, other companies stepped in and if they were smart they succeeded. Growth was based on common sense, good business decisions, accountability and responsibility.
My Dad worked for his money, he did not rely on his neighbors. These "bail-outs" cost us - the citizens. The leaders of these companies exited with golden parachutes and millions of dollars and now we are left paying for their incompetence. And shame on the politicians that received contributions from the "bad guys" and did nothing to prevent this mess.
I have an idea - my Mom, Jinnie Ve Anderson for Congress! She would fix this mess, spank those responsible (probably making them find the switch she would use) and would wash their mouths out with soap and she’d make sure it didn't happen again.
I wish our government would operate like a "normal" American family. Will Rogers coined the term "the great NORMAL majority". I think it is time for a change - a change back to normalcy.
Citizenship on the other hand focuses on the individual, not political parties. It is an active process that requires an individual to make decisions and act on those decisions. Citizenship is demonstrated in numerous activities, most which are not even associated with the political process.
Good citizenship most often starts by going to school, obtaining an education and learning the history of this country. Participation in scouting programs, FFA, 4H, church activities and volunteer programs, give young folks a chance to exhibit and improve their citizenship. Participation in Student Government Councils, are great steps in learning and understanding the political process. Learning to safely and drive a car, learning how to safely handle a firearm are also examples of citizenship. Then there are things like raising a family, serving the country and serving others.
Another element of citizenship is how you support those folks that protected our country and continue to do so. Our freedoms and rights, even the very nature of this country was won during hard fights, terrible circumstances and incredible sacrifices. Our military, police and fire fighters deal every day with the aspect of going to work and NOT coming home that evening. Not only do they sacrifice - the families sacrifice.
I know when I went to Iraq I trained, I was committed - I was ready. When I left however, there was a vacuum here at home that my wife had to fill. Not only did she have to continue doing what she had to do, she now had to deal with what I was not present to do - and the whole time worry about me. God bless those that serve and the families of those that serve. Their service and sacrifices have kept this the land of the free and that will continue as long as America continues to be the home of the BRAVE.
Another element of citizenship is how you support the training of our next generation of leaders. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, schools and churches are the training camps not only for kids, but our next crop of leaders. The academic educations they receive are important, but so is the education they will receive in ethics, integrity, service, leadership and (most importantly) followership. If you can't follow orders, you can't give orders and expect people to follow you.
Voting is another example which again requires activity. First of all, a citizen must decide to REGISTER to vote and then act on that decision by actively casting a ballot. Between the decision and the act, a citizen must decide to become educated on the qualifications of a sheriff, a council member, etc., or the qualifications of a person running for Congress or the Presidency. Then the citizen must seek information, evaluate the information, form an opinion and then vote. Often a citizen cannot find a viable candidate from either party; this often leads to involvement with an alternative or third party candidate. Even in this extreme, the actions remain the same.
In all processes the citizen must evaluate
1. where a candidate stands on issues that is important to that individual
2. what that candidate has shown (by past performance) they will do or not do as it relates to those issues
3. what opportunity that candidate will have, should they win, to fulfill their campaign promises
Citizenship is not just for elections; rather elections are just an important time that we exercise our citizenship. Your character and citizenship are demonstrated every day by what you do and don't do, by what you say and don't say, by how you act and don't act, by what you choose or don't choose and how you deal with that choice.
During this evaluation process we are forced to "weed" through a lot of political rhetoric. That is more evident in this election than in any other I can remember. What is the answer? Where do we get the facts? How do we make a legitimate decision?
Look at what a politician has done; don't just listen to what he/she says. Part of the process may be reaching the point that you turn the channel and watch something else just to get away from the diatribe and distractions. Do your own research, DON'T JUST RELY ON WHAT YOU HEAR OR SEE ON TV... Get this people, they lie to us!
One thing both parties have said is they will CHANGE Washington. Finally, there is something I can agree with - change is most definitely needed in both parties. However, remember that not all change is good. You have to figure out what type of change you are going to vote for and what kind of person can bring about that change.
Talk is cheap, especially during campaigns. What someone does or does not do and how they act or don't act speaks to character. That is what I use to distinguish between rhetoric and reality. Yes, it takes time but it’s the only way to make accurate determinations about politicians. I don't get too enthused about what politicians say, I try to focus on what they have done.
I'll tell you a little story, being originally from Texas I make a great bowl of chili, but about three years ago I found out something I never knew - chili powder and cinnamon look just alike. If you do not taste the chili as you're cooking it, you can end up with a mess like I did - even my dogs wouldn’t eat that mess. When it comes to politics "taste the chili!"
I think another aspect of citizenship is politeness. I live on a dirt road; many of my neighbors are Amish. I have a pickup truck and if you also live on a dirt road you know a vehicle can churn up a lot of dust. I can roll up my windows when I meet another vehicle to keep the dust out of my face, my Amish neighbors don't have windows on their buggies. If their kids are walking to school they can't dodge the dust, so I slow down and let the dust settle before I pass them. Yep, it takes a little longer sometimes for me to get to where I'm going but it's being a good neighbor; it is a polite and right thing to do. Remember the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you”. Think about it the next time you're driving down a dirt road.
Finally, citizenship focuses on accountability and responsibility. The current financial turmoil is not going to just affect those that made bad mortgage decisions, or the companies that financed those mortgages... it will affect each and every one of us. My Mom managed the finances in my family when I was growing up. She understood that there was only so much money and figured out how to save for “the unexpected emergencies”. My Dad's job was to earn the money; her job was to make the household function. Boy, is that not chauvinistic? Maybe so, but it sure worked.
A healthy economy is based on success and failure. In the old days, bad decisions had consequences. If you destroyed your company's viability the company failed, other companies stepped in and if they were smart they succeeded. Growth was based on common sense, good business decisions, accountability and responsibility.
My Dad worked for his money, he did not rely on his neighbors. These "bail-outs" cost us - the citizens. The leaders of these companies exited with golden parachutes and millions of dollars and now we are left paying for their incompetence. And shame on the politicians that received contributions from the "bad guys" and did nothing to prevent this mess.
I have an idea - my Mom, Jinnie Ve Anderson for Congress! She would fix this mess, spank those responsible (probably making them find the switch she would use) and would wash their mouths out with soap and she’d make sure it didn't happen again.
I wish our government would operate like a "normal" American family. Will Rogers coined the term "the great NORMAL majority". I think it is time for a change - a change back to normalcy.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Let's Talk About the Real Issues!
Like you, I have watched the political theater of the past too many months. Left/right, Liberal/Conservative, Democrat/Republican - what a mess! Who has the experience? Who’s telling the truth? Can you really put lipstick on a pig? Is this or that comment sexist? Why are we not talking about national security, illegal immigration, assaults on the Bill of Rights and the preservation of our American heritage and traditions? And that is just on the national level. What about Missouri politics, Missouri voters?
I am glad for the opportunity to visit with you. I hope this column will both entertain and educate you - minimally, I hope you'll find some things that will challenge you to spend a little time thinking about them. I fear that much of what most citizens know about how this country operates, what our politicians are doing or not doing is based on information slanted by folks whose primary concerns are not the safety and sovereignty of this country or its citizens. I know that since the 1970s Political Correctness has become a dynamic threat to both free thought and free speech. The entitlement mentality of many ensures then inability of more to ever reach the American dream.
We have a saying back in Texas: "Opinions are like noses and they all smell". I'm going to share with you some of mine. I believe that the strength of this country is not and never has been the government, rather it is in the hearts and efforts of the everyday American citizens, like you and me. Nor do I believe that the conscience of this country resides in Hollywood California, rather it lives in places like Seymour and Mansfield and Marshfield and Springfield and Kilgore, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana and countless towns, villages and cities across this great land. Nor do I believe that the intelligence of this country resides in Harvard and Yale, rather it lives in places like MU, A&M and is represented by folks called things like Bears, Tigers and Longhorns to name a few. I haven't seen a lot of hard work come out of the halls of government, but I see a lot coming out of the fields around my home and out of the businesses that support our community. I see a lot more sweat on the brows of common folks than on the brows of most of our leaders - unless they have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar or someplace worse.
Much is being said about "change" right now and I think that is great, it is about time. However, change for change's sake is a dangerous ploy. Positive, real and realistic change is what most of us are asking for. "Change starts at the bottom not the top." I agree with that, but so does leadership. Not all politicians are liars. However, I must point out in 30 years we have done nothing to fix the energy crunch we saw in the seventies. I must point out that although Texans had been discussing the Texas Corridor plan for three years that I know of, no one in Washington had ever heard of it.
I'm flawed and I embrace that, I ain't perfect by any means - that means every day I have to work harder at being a better man. I wish politicians were more like my friends. I wish they had a little dirt under their finger nails instead of dirt in their professional and personnel lives. You see, I like my blue jeans broken in, that only comes through several washings and working in them. I like my dogs to be mixed breeds, their sturdier. I like my friends honest enough to tell me when I'm about to make a mistake and true enough to stand with me when I do make a mistake.
I don't like soap operas but have no problem if you do. I will never replace Merry Christmas with the phrase Happy Holidays. I don't like dialing 1 for English. I guess I was contaminated by visiting the state of Pennsylvania because I cling to my gun and Bible - but not just in hard times. I believe the Pledge of Allegiance does have the phrase "One nation under God..." And that is the way I will say it - with my hand over my heart. I believe that Roy Rogers really was the King of the Cowboys. I believe you shouldn't squat if you're wearing spurs or kick a fresh cow paddy on a hot day, but you can if you want to. I won't dictate you should attend a particular church or even that you should attend church - but I think you'd be better for the experience. I don't have a problem with immigrants that come to this country for a new life, but I have a big one with those that come to our country illegally, flaunt our laws, cost taxpayers money, cripple our schools and clog our health care system. I believe that Will Rogers and Mark Twain were geniuses - unfortunately, their political commentaries are just as valid today - we have not made a lot of progress.
Now let's establish some of what the military calls Rules of Engagement for this column.
1. I'm not going to try to change your mind, if your mind changes fine, if not - fine.
2. I expect you to accept what is said in this column as fact (though it will be fact); challenge me, do your own research and if you have a different opinion - let's debate it!
3. I welcome differing opinions and dialog and I will respect you as a reader - those differing opinions and dialog will make their way into the column.
4. I seek your comments but if they are vitriolic nonsense - they will go into my trash can.
5. What I say will not always set well with some, I do not mean to offend. I do ask that you to be challenged by a perspective that may be different from the one you have now - then make your own decisions.
6. I will talk about citizenship in this column, nothing is more important in America than citizenship.
7. I will promise to wave the nonsense flag any time any party or candidate does not demonstrate that their primary goal for being in politics is the health and welfare of America and its citizens.
8. I will be polite and professional but I will not promise to be politically correct. As is said in the Steve Gentry song, Isn't anything you see worth fighting for, Political Correctness has become a fence between us and common sense.
9. I am pro-American military and I will tell you stories that the main stream media would never print. I am an unapologetic American, I believe in God, I believe in the 2nd Amendment, I believe in this country, its sovereignty and traditions and heritages and want those to be passed down to my grand children - I have five.
10. I do not care much for the kinder and gentler approach, it doesn't work. I believe in challenge and doing the hard and right things. I believe in victories not in victims, but we can agree to disagree - agreeably - that is the beauty of free speech, a right we still enjoy.
Since 9/11 just came and went. Let me point out some things that trouble me. We have not secured our border which means our citizens and way of life is still threatened. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Illegal Immigration has not been a subject of political dialog from either party during the campaigns or since the candidates have been selected. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
The economy is having issues but no one can tell me much about it or how to fix it. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Our military and their families have been asked to sacrifice, but our military and their families are at war and the rest of America appears to be at the mall. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Some Congressmen and politicians and the news media publish and comment on every perceived failure of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines where ever they are stationed, but no one has cleared the record, restored their honor when these charges have been proven wrong. Why? Not news worthy, frankly I'm mad at all of the networks and most politicians for this failure.
In the name of freedom of speech, some fringe group protest at a military members' funeral and add turmoil to the grief of a family that has just lost a loved one. Frankly I mad at all of those fringe groups that participate in such madness and very proud of a bunch of veterans on motorcycles that have chosen to stand between military families in a moment of grief and those that would make a funeral into a sound bit for the news.
There are companies and even cities in this country that willingly promote illegal immigration. Let me describe the real issue. An illegal immigrant made the decision to ignore our immigration laws - to work and receive a pay check they have to steal someone's social security number and identity, second violation of our laws. If they choose to work for cash, they clog our emergency rooms and deny legitimate citizens of their rights. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for putting votes and special interests above the citizens that elected them.
One last point, Americans are not stupid - well most aren't. Americans can be distracted. Americans can be confused. Americans can be fooled for a time but not forever. Most of the confusion has come from our politicians and frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Now before I come off as just another angry American conservative let me tell you a few things about this country:
1. This is the best country in the world. If you have not traveled out of this country you may not realize that, but it is true. Far more people are trying to get in rather than get out - ever wonder why?
2. This is a generous country, every time there is a disaster, who shows up first and with the most? The USA.
3. There is an American dream - it is based on working as hard as you are willing and receive as much reward as you have earned.
4. There is an American nightmare - it is based on do nothing - blame everyone else and take what you have not earned.
5. This is a country with a foundation of respect and honor for God. Unfortunately, too many have begun to confuse religion with God and as a result both have suffered. Well, that is not exactly true, God hasn't suffered - we have because we have allowed this political correctness to turn our backs on faith.
6. Do we have problems? Yes. Have we made mistakes? Yes, but no country on the face of the earth has worked harder to correct those problems and mistakes.
7. The strength of this country is not our government and never has been. It is our individual citizens that come together, put aside their differences and special interests in order to maintain a country of the people and by the people.
8. We have the finest Police, Sheriff's offices, Fire Fighters, First Responders and Military in the world. They live and work every day in a world most of us cannot comprehend. Every now and then we get a bad one, this is a fact, but the percentage is amazing small. Unfortunately we never hear of their honor, bravery or courage - just the scumbags that disgrace themselves.
9. We are the most diverse group of citizens in the world; we are also the most distracted. Sometimes it seems we can't get along. Sometimes we lose sight of the bonds that hold us together. Sometimes we can't agree on the simplest things. Some have even begun to hyphenate themselves. That hyphen was originally employed to help us determine demographics - it has become the most divisive punctuation mark in the history of man. Yet, on occasion we can put our religious beliefs and differences aside. We can put our party affiliations aside. We can put our skin color aside. We can put our ancestors aside, and for those few moments, few weeks, few months or few years - we can join together to protect a nation unlike any other ever seen. Like we did on September 11, 2001.
10. Where else could I write this? Where else could you debate this? Where else is there another America? What other country works harder to do right? What is so bad about that?
I am glad for the opportunity to visit with you. I hope this column will both entertain and educate you - minimally, I hope you'll find some things that will challenge you to spend a little time thinking about them. I fear that much of what most citizens know about how this country operates, what our politicians are doing or not doing is based on information slanted by folks whose primary concerns are not the safety and sovereignty of this country or its citizens. I know that since the 1970s Political Correctness has become a dynamic threat to both free thought and free speech. The entitlement mentality of many ensures then inability of more to ever reach the American dream.
We have a saying back in Texas: "Opinions are like noses and they all smell". I'm going to share with you some of mine. I believe that the strength of this country is not and never has been the government, rather it is in the hearts and efforts of the everyday American citizens, like you and me. Nor do I believe that the conscience of this country resides in Hollywood California, rather it lives in places like Seymour and Mansfield and Marshfield and Springfield and Kilgore, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana and countless towns, villages and cities across this great land. Nor do I believe that the intelligence of this country resides in Harvard and Yale, rather it lives in places like MU, A&M and is represented by folks called things like Bears, Tigers and Longhorns to name a few. I haven't seen a lot of hard work come out of the halls of government, but I see a lot coming out of the fields around my home and out of the businesses that support our community. I see a lot more sweat on the brows of common folks than on the brows of most of our leaders - unless they have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar or someplace worse.
Much is being said about "change" right now and I think that is great, it is about time. However, change for change's sake is a dangerous ploy. Positive, real and realistic change is what most of us are asking for. "Change starts at the bottom not the top." I agree with that, but so does leadership. Not all politicians are liars. However, I must point out in 30 years we have done nothing to fix the energy crunch we saw in the seventies. I must point out that although Texans had been discussing the Texas Corridor plan for three years that I know of, no one in Washington had ever heard of it.
I'm flawed and I embrace that, I ain't perfect by any means - that means every day I have to work harder at being a better man. I wish politicians were more like my friends. I wish they had a little dirt under their finger nails instead of dirt in their professional and personnel lives. You see, I like my blue jeans broken in, that only comes through several washings and working in them. I like my dogs to be mixed breeds, their sturdier. I like my friends honest enough to tell me when I'm about to make a mistake and true enough to stand with me when I do make a mistake.
I don't like soap operas but have no problem if you do. I will never replace Merry Christmas with the phrase Happy Holidays. I don't like dialing 1 for English. I guess I was contaminated by visiting the state of Pennsylvania because I cling to my gun and Bible - but not just in hard times. I believe the Pledge of Allegiance does have the phrase "One nation under God..." And that is the way I will say it - with my hand over my heart. I believe that Roy Rogers really was the King of the Cowboys. I believe you shouldn't squat if you're wearing spurs or kick a fresh cow paddy on a hot day, but you can if you want to. I won't dictate you should attend a particular church or even that you should attend church - but I think you'd be better for the experience. I don't have a problem with immigrants that come to this country for a new life, but I have a big one with those that come to our country illegally, flaunt our laws, cost taxpayers money, cripple our schools and clog our health care system. I believe that Will Rogers and Mark Twain were geniuses - unfortunately, their political commentaries are just as valid today - we have not made a lot of progress.
Now let's establish some of what the military calls Rules of Engagement for this column.
1. I'm not going to try to change your mind, if your mind changes fine, if not - fine.
2. I expect you to accept what is said in this column as fact (though it will be fact); challenge me, do your own research and if you have a different opinion - let's debate it!
3. I welcome differing opinions and dialog and I will respect you as a reader - those differing opinions and dialog will make their way into the column.
4. I seek your comments but if they are vitriolic nonsense - they will go into my trash can.
5. What I say will not always set well with some, I do not mean to offend. I do ask that you to be challenged by a perspective that may be different from the one you have now - then make your own decisions.
6. I will talk about citizenship in this column, nothing is more important in America than citizenship.
7. I will promise to wave the nonsense flag any time any party or candidate does not demonstrate that their primary goal for being in politics is the health and welfare of America and its citizens.
8. I will be polite and professional but I will not promise to be politically correct. As is said in the Steve Gentry song, Isn't anything you see worth fighting for, Political Correctness has become a fence between us and common sense.
9. I am pro-American military and I will tell you stories that the main stream media would never print. I am an unapologetic American, I believe in God, I believe in the 2nd Amendment, I believe in this country, its sovereignty and traditions and heritages and want those to be passed down to my grand children - I have five.
10. I do not care much for the kinder and gentler approach, it doesn't work. I believe in challenge and doing the hard and right things. I believe in victories not in victims, but we can agree to disagree - agreeably - that is the beauty of free speech, a right we still enjoy.
Since 9/11 just came and went. Let me point out some things that trouble me. We have not secured our border which means our citizens and way of life is still threatened. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Illegal Immigration has not been a subject of political dialog from either party during the campaigns or since the candidates have been selected. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
The economy is having issues but no one can tell me much about it or how to fix it. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Our military and their families have been asked to sacrifice, but our military and their families are at war and the rest of America appears to be at the mall. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Some Congressmen and politicians and the news media publish and comment on every perceived failure of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines where ever they are stationed, but no one has cleared the record, restored their honor when these charges have been proven wrong. Why? Not news worthy, frankly I'm mad at all of the networks and most politicians for this failure.
In the name of freedom of speech, some fringe group protest at a military members' funeral and add turmoil to the grief of a family that has just lost a loved one. Frankly I mad at all of those fringe groups that participate in such madness and very proud of a bunch of veterans on motorcycles that have chosen to stand between military families in a moment of grief and those that would make a funeral into a sound bit for the news.
There are companies and even cities in this country that willingly promote illegal immigration. Let me describe the real issue. An illegal immigrant made the decision to ignore our immigration laws - to work and receive a pay check they have to steal someone's social security number and identity, second violation of our laws. If they choose to work for cash, they clog our emergency rooms and deny legitimate citizens of their rights. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for putting votes and special interests above the citizens that elected them.
One last point, Americans are not stupid - well most aren't. Americans can be distracted. Americans can be confused. Americans can be fooled for a time but not forever. Most of the confusion has come from our politicians and frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
Now before I come off as just another angry American conservative let me tell you a few things about this country:
1. This is the best country in the world. If you have not traveled out of this country you may not realize that, but it is true. Far more people are trying to get in rather than get out - ever wonder why?
2. This is a generous country, every time there is a disaster, who shows up first and with the most? The USA.
3. There is an American dream - it is based on working as hard as you are willing and receive as much reward as you have earned.
4. There is an American nightmare - it is based on do nothing - blame everyone else and take what you have not earned.
5. This is a country with a foundation of respect and honor for God. Unfortunately, too many have begun to confuse religion with God and as a result both have suffered. Well, that is not exactly true, God hasn't suffered - we have because we have allowed this political correctness to turn our backs on faith.
6. Do we have problems? Yes. Have we made mistakes? Yes, but no country on the face of the earth has worked harder to correct those problems and mistakes.
7. The strength of this country is not our government and never has been. It is our individual citizens that come together, put aside their differences and special interests in order to maintain a country of the people and by the people.
8. We have the finest Police, Sheriff's offices, Fire Fighters, First Responders and Military in the world. They live and work every day in a world most of us cannot comprehend. Every now and then we get a bad one, this is a fact, but the percentage is amazing small. Unfortunately we never hear of their honor, bravery or courage - just the scumbags that disgrace themselves.
9. We are the most diverse group of citizens in the world; we are also the most distracted. Sometimes it seems we can't get along. Sometimes we lose sight of the bonds that hold us together. Sometimes we can't agree on the simplest things. Some have even begun to hyphenate themselves. That hyphen was originally employed to help us determine demographics - it has become the most divisive punctuation mark in the history of man. Yet, on occasion we can put our religious beliefs and differences aside. We can put our party affiliations aside. We can put our skin color aside. We can put our ancestors aside, and for those few moments, few weeks, few months or few years - we can join together to protect a nation unlike any other ever seen. Like we did on September 11, 2001.
10. Where else could I write this? Where else could you debate this? Where else is there another America? What other country works harder to do right? What is so bad about that?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Another September 11th Has Come and Gone
September 11, 2008 just passed. For those of us that were alive and old enough to remember when President Kennedy was assassinated remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we got the word of his death. The same is true for those of us alive on the morning of September 11, 2001. In less than two hours our country changed, the world changed - we changed. I don't know about you but I went through waves of anger, fear, disbelief, confusion and pride.
Since 9/11, our economy was staggered, then improved and staggered again. We have been fighting the Global War on Terrorism on several fronts. In Afghanistan and Iraq we have engaged militarily. Recently the death toll of American service personnel topped 500 in Afghanistan and it is now over 4,000 in Iraq. With the death toll of the original 3,000 that died as a result of the airplanes that crashed and those emergency personnel now dying as a result of exposure at ground zero, it seems sometimes as though the price might be too high.
Was 9/11 handled correctly? Probably not, but how do you train for the unimaginable. Has the war on terrorism been prosecuted correctly? Probably not, Patton once said, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy - remember the enemy gets a vote!"
Did the Emergency Personnel that responded to Ground Zero, the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania perform heroically? Yes. Has our military performed remarkably? Yes, and far more than you will ever see in the mainstream press. Did this country bound with and try to support the original victim's families? Yes, unlike at any time in the past.
However, the threats of 9/11 still exist. The dangers of another attack still exist. Our borders are still easily defeated, our economy is struggling again and now we're trying to elect a President. The After the 9/11 attacks, American flags that suddenly sprouted all over the country on cars and trucks, business and homes have, for the most part have disappeared. The pain of loss for the families of the original victims hopefully has eased, but it will never go away. The pain of loss for the families of the military dead is still fresh.
So another September 11th has passed. Like the Fourth of July and Pearl Harbor Day, it has become a day of deep feelings and difficult memories, but it was also a day when this country came together. For a few months we were just Americans. We weren't hyphenated Americans, we were just Americans and we stood together. We weren't Democrats and Republicans, we were just Americans. We weren't Liberals or Conservatives, we were just Americans.
I wonder what the world will be like on the next September 11th but I pray we never have another 9/11.
Since 9/11, our economy was staggered, then improved and staggered again. We have been fighting the Global War on Terrorism on several fronts. In Afghanistan and Iraq we have engaged militarily. Recently the death toll of American service personnel topped 500 in Afghanistan and it is now over 4,000 in Iraq. With the death toll of the original 3,000 that died as a result of the airplanes that crashed and those emergency personnel now dying as a result of exposure at ground zero, it seems sometimes as though the price might be too high.
Was 9/11 handled correctly? Probably not, but how do you train for the unimaginable. Has the war on terrorism been prosecuted correctly? Probably not, Patton once said, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy - remember the enemy gets a vote!"
Did the Emergency Personnel that responded to Ground Zero, the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania perform heroically? Yes. Has our military performed remarkably? Yes, and far more than you will ever see in the mainstream press. Did this country bound with and try to support the original victim's families? Yes, unlike at any time in the past.
However, the threats of 9/11 still exist. The dangers of another attack still exist. Our borders are still easily defeated, our economy is struggling again and now we're trying to elect a President. The After the 9/11 attacks, American flags that suddenly sprouted all over the country on cars and trucks, business and homes have, for the most part have disappeared. The pain of loss for the families of the original victims hopefully has eased, but it will never go away. The pain of loss for the families of the military dead is still fresh.
So another September 11th has passed. Like the Fourth of July and Pearl Harbor Day, it has become a day of deep feelings and difficult memories, but it was also a day when this country came together. For a few months we were just Americans. We weren't hyphenated Americans, we were just Americans and we stood together. We weren't Democrats and Republicans, we were just Americans. We weren't Liberals or Conservatives, we were just Americans.
I wonder what the world will be like on the next September 11th but I pray we never have another 9/11.
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