The Importance of Being Earnest

Over the summer I got myself involved in my county’s republican committee.  Through that I found all sorts of devilish fear mongering trouble to keep myself occupied, not the least of which was starting a college republicans group at my own college . As I am nearing the end of my under-graduate degree (I’m on the 6 year, super-duper senior track…don’t judge) I have been reflecting on education; what I’ve perceived to work, what doesn’t work, what are some areas lacking, what areas are doing well, etc.  The one area that I can say without a doubt is lacking across the board at every public school and nearly every university is history.

Somehow, somewhere, we got it stuck in our minds that history is boring and not important. Au contraire mis amigos.  While most courses taught in school are very much important, history is one of the most important things we could learn, and not just because I say so (though that should be reason enough.) We can relate to history because history enriches our culture. It reveals to us where our ancestors have been, what they have done, where they came from, and why.  History teaches us cause and effect, what works and what does not, what is needed when, and when what was needed is no longer necessary.  History provides us a picture of our future by showing us winning and losing combinations. Unfortunately, all too often, history gets to repeat itself.  Why? Because we don’t know it.  So why is it that history is often taught by a coach that really could not care less about history unless it happens to be the scores to last night’s basketball/football/baseball game?  How did we grow so apathetic toward our own culture?

Enter public education. Is it a conspiracy propelled by political motive?  Perhaps.  Of course, public schools can only do so much.  However, doesn’t it make sense for a federally funded education to, I don’t know, educate children on what and who is funding their education? Doesn’t it seem logical for the government to ensure that the next generation leading our nation knows what has happened so that our nation can progress and continue to be a leading world power? Did you catch my mistake in this paragraph?  I used the words “logical” and “government” in the same sentence, now the internet will implode….

But seriously, the degeneration of history education began long before the No Child Left Behind Act, and even before standardized testing.  It seems that much of the breakdown occurred when liberals tried to politically correct everything and remove religion from schools.  What so many Americans don’t understand is that history is not just events that have occurred.  History is comprised of culture, philosophy, religion, politics and government, this list goes on.  Religion is so very much a part of history that to sterilize history of religion is to remove its meaning and purpose altogether.  It simply cannot be done while still retaining the meaning and gravity of history.

You may ask what the government gains from ignorant citizens, the answer is simple; power.  When the people forget, the ruling body is free to do as they please.  It’s the most stealthy form of brain-washing because it doesn’t tell you anything, and that’s the precisely the point. The most dangerous weapon against a corrupt government is a keenly educated population….or a nuke. When Americans forget how bad socialism is for the individual as well as the nation the power hungry bureaucrats are free to pursue their self-serving, anti-American motives.  The United States is what it is because millions of people fought to make it so, and preserve it as such.

Without a clear understanding history (both American and world) we WILL lose our nation.  There’s no doubt about it.  To understand where we are going, we have to know where we were, and where we are.

 

Opinions, questions, criticism, I welcome them all.

Liberty Logically

If you’ve read any part of my blog you’ve noticed I’m fairly unapologetic about the positions I take and what I say.  However, I do try to understand those that I disagree with, because the more you know, the easier it is to criticize.  As I was talking to a friend the other day he said something that sent my mind reeling, he said “liberals may be part of the problem, but they are also part of the country – close enough to half to elect liberals a good percentage of the time…” My first thought was to build a liberal island and let it be.  My second thought was, liberals are part of this country, and like it or not we must contend, and like it or not there are officials that represent them, and like it or not there are some officials that have to try to make everyone happy.  What I’ve found to be the case is, the more people one is responsible for making happy, the more people one ends up ticking off.

Back to the topic, what makes this country so wonderful is that we are free.  America  is founded on the principles of freedom, that all men are created equal, and that all men have the freedom to life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness.  As a libertarian/conservative I believe the government should be as small as possible while still fulfilling the necessary roles for the efficient and smooth operation of the United States.  Liberals tend to hand more (read truck-loads) power to the government in exchange for social services.  When government power increases social liberties necessarily decrease, therein the problem lies.  John Locke and Jean Rousseau agreed that when one employs government you give up certain rights.  The more we employ the government to take care of, the more rights we forfeit.  Similarly, the more liberals try to explain their rationale, the more confused they get.

Now then, what should happen when a nation becomes polarized, nearly torn in half by liberals demanding more social services, and conservatives frantically fighting against government invasion? There are times when things like welfare, unemployment, Medicaid, etc. are necessary (for a short time).  You would be hard pressed to find a conservative that wouldn’t admit to that, no matter how constipated he looks while pulling his wallet out.  But these issues are not the issues splitting the nation.  To catch you up, in case you’ve been living under a rock or in D.C. for the last two years, the biggest issues freaking Americans out is ‘BamaCare and the national debt.  As always, coming from a purely pragmatic and non-partisan position, the republicans are 100% correct.  Seriously though, when you look at the principles upon which the nation was founded, in an event that power and freedoms are being forfeited or inhibited, and when America is split as deep as it is, logically it makes sense to err on the side of liberty.

We all have to live together and abide by the same national laws.  When it comes to doling out more power to the government and handing over liberty, unless it is agreed upon by a landslide majority, the issue shouldn’t even be considered! Why?  That’s a very good question Grasshopper.  The quick, wrong answer is because our founding fathers granted us liberty.  The correct answer is because God granted us liberty.  That which grants may also take away, that which receives may also forfeit, that which does neither is the government.  The government does not grant us liberty, God does.  We receive liberty, and forfeit some of it in exchange for protection, it is re-appropriated to the government.  Now then, when you get a mass of people that do not believe in a god, government can become God.  Under government-god there is no re-appropriation of liberty, merely grantor and receiver.  In that scenario, one is thankful to the government for a bread line.

On the flip side, Americans as a whole depend too much on the government to take care of people. Believe it or not, there was a time in America before welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, disability, unemployment, social security, food stamps, FEMA, the EPA, et cetera.  And, believe it or not, natural disasters and poverty occurred.  Crazy I know, but hold on to your hat one more time. Neighbors and churches helped each other through these things!… I know it sounds like folklore, but it’s true.  People really do help each other in times of need, but now it’s just expected for people to turn to government aid at the first sign of trouble.  This has, in turn, increased taxes making charitable donations and good ol’ neighborly help much more difficult.  However, the more we help each other and our community, the less the government is involved, and the less say it has.  The less responsibility we give the government, the more freedom we retain.

I could write a book on this topic but I’ll stop here.  Post your comments, questions, snarky remarks, anything, I love your feedback.

 

Coming soon – When efficiency and freedom compete

Proponents of Welfare Lead Nation in Debt Crisis: Shocker!

For weeks all we have been reading about is debt ceilings and budgets and republicans not compromising and republicans not providing a satisfactory plan and how we’re just going to have to tighten our belts and give the government more money (says the man for whom I would have to remove both my shoes to count his family’s vacations). This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Arkansas Republican Committee meeting. A lovely group of folks were in attendance but one thing remained consistent… Everyone is livid about this debt crisis.

In this tough economic time small businesses are closing their doors and scaling back, but for the first time in my life large corporations are also scaling back. Check out Santitas tortilla chips; they decreased the portion of a bag from 13 oz. to 12 oz. Aussie hairspray did the exact same thing. Decreasing portions by small increments = more savings and revenue for the company without too much consumer resistance. Not many people notice a 1 oz decrease but on a large corporation scale for every 13 bags of chips they’re in essence making one of those bags for free. Some companies are even still giving raises and bonuses because it’s cheaper to retain employees and keep them happy than it is to hire new employees and train them to the level of productivity of an existing employee. It’s the smaller things to save that add up.

So, why is it that businesses and corporations understand capitalism and how to survive, but our federal government can’t get a hold on its finances? Well, my inquisitive friends, you have asked a very good question. In 2008 the United States was sick of its republican war-mongering president who was driving this nation into debt and under whom gas prices were rising. Aren’t things so much better now? I could go on about that but I won’t, I’ll stick to the topic…This time.

With three years of liberal fiscal behavior D.C. tools have trapped America in a debt we can barely pay the interest on. It’s funny how survival of the fittest, a Darwinian concept that logically (key word) liberals should hold to, is abandoned at the first sign of trouble (i.e. bailouts). Finally after this last congressional election conservatives gained the upper hand in the House. Conservatives, representing their constituency, have put forth a detailed plan that is able to be carried out; to pass a balanced budget amendment, cap the debt ceiling, and cut spending. The cap and cut portion of the bill even have actual numeric value! Amazing how budgets have numbers and line items isn’t it? However, much to the logical and reasonable public’s dismay, all of this has been met with nothing but negative feedback from Obama and his league of lunatics. Liberals have put forth a plan to, oh wait…nevermind, I forgot saying “raise the debt ceiling and increase revenue (aka tax hikes on the working middle class and upper class and businesses)” isn’t actually a plan. My bad.

Though I’ve yet to hear anyone accuse the Bamster of being presidential or wise, taking the my-way-or-I’ll-veto-and-mock-your-whole-party-on-my-way-to-the-golf-course approach isn’t exactly the best decision right now. Americans are stressed and fed-up with the political games. The republicans have compromised and I’ll be darned if our representatives give up more just to get something passed. The liberals in D.C. apparently play the wait, demand, and do nothing game very well, they are proponents of welfare afterall. But I have faith that our D.C. conservatives will out-perform and end up with the upper-hand. It’s hard to fault a party that continues to work to solve the crises while liberals stand by and shout criticisms. It’s high time for our government to think of Americans first. What is in our best interest is to get our spending under control, we lead by example, paving the way to success so that others may follow. It’s the American way.

I’d love to hear what you have to say so leave me some feedback. If you do not agree tell me why, if you think I’m an idiot, say so, if you have questions I’ll answer them and if you think I’m brilliant take a number .

Stay tuned… Coming later this week a post on how a lack of religion feeds the government monster!

Why I don’t care about Weiner’s wiener

The Weiner “incident” has caused quite the raucous since that fateful tweet so many moons ago.  Alas, the media and politicians are still jumping Weiner’s bones about the misconduct.  My parents along with so much of the country were all over it, talking about Weiner since the dawn of the tweet.  Finally in an attempt to gain some household peace I constructed an infallible argument (is it possible for me to construct any other kind?) for why I refuse to be distracted by a narcissist’s fantasies and drunken missteps.

Lately I’ve been looking at all things pertaining to national politics and goings-on through the lens of political strategy.  While being so skeptical was saddening at first, I’ve found it means I’m right much more often and usually ahead of the curve, which more than makes up for the sadness of not being able to extend the benefit of the doubt. Whenever anything crazy is said or done, or any action at all is taken I think about what it could/will do for Obama’s ratings.  Basically, take any single event and think ‘how can Obama turn this to try to make himself look fabulous and make republicans look like the rich, evil, war mongering killers they really are?’  I don’t put all of this blame on Obama and his czar-squad, I share the blame equally with the media which is merely infiltrated by his czar-squad (does anyone else remember him attempting to ban Fox News from the press room on capitol hill?). Since liberal policies don’t work they need help by media and liberal supporters to try to make them look like they work.  These essentially provide the make-up for the ideas, except in this case it’s Tammy Faye Baker amounts of make-up, not the Maybelline suggested “maybe she’s born with it” amount of make-up.  So finally, my point:

The liberal (and unfortunately the other media) media and Obama’s posse can use Weiner’s wiener to DISTRACT the nation, much like I did with the previous two paragraphs. You see, while the economy is failing, while unemployment rates are pushing 10%,  while Obama is campaigning in foreign countries and territories with no voting privileges and ignoring oil companies’ desperate pleas for drilling permits, while wild fires are ravaging millions of acres of west Texas and Arizona and no aid is being sent, while the US Government is suing states for passing bills  pertaining to people here illegally (something the state should NEVER even have to touch), while half the country is suing the US Government over the constitutionality of the health care bill, while the congress has YET to decide on whether or not to raise the debt ceiling and when they do by how much, and finally, while the Republicans have YET to find a worthy candidate for next election, what better than to distract us with a pee-pee?  While all of these events are devastating our great nation, leading us into destructive peril, why not plaster news papers, web-sites, and television with something so small?

Obama says that in Weiner’s position he would resign because Weiner has been rendered inefficient.  Is this a joke?  Was he able to say this with a straight face?  On the other side of the spectrum, Boehner is also stating he should resign.  I love Boehner and would probably drop everything to marry him if he asked (he has pretty eyes), but I just can’t ride this bandwagon.  I don’t know Weiner, but given the current circumstance any time a republican says he should resign it looks like a desperate attempt to gain another conservative seat (or just lose a liberal seat, it doesn’t really matter). Any time a democrat says he should resign it just looks like pompous douche-baggery.  An attempt to further weave the blanket of drama that they’re using to disguise the rest of the turmoil we as a nation are facing.

One should note that refusing to be distracted is in no way condoning Weiner’s idiocy.  He made a huge error in judgment and such juvenile actions from an elected official (elected official does not imply “grown-up”) are an alarming cause for concern, but we should not let one man’s personal destruction distract us from the current administration’s national destruction. I refuse to be distracted by so small a matter, and so should you.

Reform that Tort!

Healthcare has been a “hot button issue” for a long time now.   I recently started working with a medical billing office and have seen a different side of the healthcare problem.  At first I thought that maybe the democrats have something… Then I thought about it for about two minutes and was re-affirmed in my conservative/libertarian leanings.  You see, I believe in solving the source problem, not treating symptoms.  If a doctor only treats symptoms the problem persists, it simply goes unnoticed until your body inevitably builds a tolerance to whatever medication has been prescribed.  Similarly, if we allow the government to simply treat symptoms of the underlying issue, our problem will persist and then magnified exponentially, as does any symptom the government tries to treat.

Growing up my dad always had careers that provided health insurance, really good health insurance.  I didn’t realize what a big deal that was until he became self employed and insurance was no longer part of the deal.  Health insurance (as well as dental and eye insurance) is no w a luxury, a very un-affordable luxury.  My mother has a lot of medical issues that require monthly visits to doctors and constant prescriptive attention.  No private medical insurance will accept her based on all of her previous procedures and pre-existing conditions.  It was quite an ordeal buying state insurance because one must have evidence of so many denials first.

At first glance this looks like a perfect scenario to be pro-social health care.  Except that I enjoy the free market and liberty.  Look at how much doctors charge without insurance just to be seen; anywhere from $50 to $150 or more.  We arrive for an appointment and an hour and a half later are seen for 10 minutes, then pay outragous doctor’s visits fees.  Then go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription that may be on wal-mart or Kroger or target’s $5 list but usually not.  The first step in the “why the healthcare system sucks” chain is doctors charging obscene fees and banking hand over fist.  Go a little further though, why would a doctor need to charge outrageous amounts?  One of a couple of reasons is that doctors, believe it or not, get cheated pretty often.    People will get insurance that they pay monthly but receive a six month card.  They will then proceed to cancel their insurance after a month or so but continue to use the card.  It’s not until after services have been rendered and billing to the insurance is declined that the medical office realizes they’ve been cheated.  One may think they wouldn’t have to cheat the doctor if the doctor didn’t charge so much.  If they charge more to cover other people’s costs isn’t that already somewhat socialized healthcare? No.  It’s called capitalism.  Foreseeing projected loss and accounting for it as well as profit by charging those with morals more.   It’s the same thing department stores do when they increase their prices from cost; they leave enough room for profit margin and to cover losses due to theft or defective products.

People skipping out on their bills like they’re walking out on a meal ticket is not the only reason doctors charge so much.  Because about 95% of physicians will be sued (check out this article for a little more information) insurance to cover malpractice suits is extremely expensive.  While a person’s health is nothing to play around with, mistakes happen and judgment calls must be made.  Malpractice suits are usually exorbitant amounts that involve “pain and suffering” (in allowing states) because one can’t possibly put a price on health.  The problem is when someone sues for millions of dollars because a sponge was left inside.

With tort reform, limits are set for how much a doctor is allowed to be sued for certain incidents.  While a person’s needs are covered, they will no longer be able to pull a Bonnie and Clyde on an unsuspecting doctor.  As a natural chain of command, when malpractice suits are no longer a get rich quick scheme malpractice insurance costs go down.  When doctors’ insurance costs are lowered their office visit costs are lowered, when their office visit costs are lowered not as many people skip out on their bill, further lowering the cost office visits.  When doctors are able to lower their costs a couple of things happen including but not limited to:

1. medical insurance no longer becomes a necessity, it can move to what it is should be (like car insurance, paying for accidents or the big stuff, not the oil changes and the maintenance).

2. medical insurance is no longer so expensive because it doesn’t have to pay large doctor bills, it is  therefore more affordable.

Happy things come from tort reform, see?

Who wants to print the t-shirt?  “I <3 tort reform!”

Relaunch: Truth is Unkillable

I fell off the face of the earth, but I’m back!  This semester I transferred schools (3rd time’s the charm right?) and with that comes lots of new opportunities!  I have more time now to write for fun, and I have the opportunity to get to know a whole new set of people. Part of what I love about moving is getting to observe how different groups think and interact, I get to note the differences and similarities.

Something that I’ve noticed that I think Helen Keller would have sensed is that conservative Christians get stereotyped (I admit many times deservedly) for being anti-intellectual; however, I see anti-intellectualism not just as a Christian or religious demarcation, but as an American plague.

As a Christian, I know that many times we start a study with huge pre-suppositions looking only to support them (there are many to choose from so take your pick; inerrancy of scripture, authorship of certain books,  dates, times, etc.).  Excuse for dismissal of arguments questioning the validity of a pre-supposed truth include but are not limited to:  “it’s wrong” “that’s not what the Bible says” “that’s not traditional” “that’s not what I was taught”

Pre-supposed study is not limited to the religious realm, it’s everywhere; where one or two or three or more are gathered in the name of scholarship, there pre-supposed truths will be also.  Science is particularly guilty of this fault.  When the conclusions to answers do not line up with what is already a rickety hypothesis answers are made up and left at that.  Paleontologists have discovered soft tissues within fossils and bone marrow within the bones of dinosaurs within the last 10 years (2004 particularly). The findings and implications do not fit into the dinosaur time table very well, so the research is usually just hidden (it is google-able now!) or awkwardly placed without any further research or explanation as to whether the all important time table could, wait for it, contain errors.

Whether it be within the realm of religion, science, history, or any of academia, to deny ourselves the truth is entirely absurd.  If what we have faith in is true it will stand on its own, it doesn’t need us as a safeguard.  If scripture is inerrant it will prove itself to be so.  If a scientific theory or hypothesis is true, it will prove itself to be so.  It is natural to start a study with an end result in mind, we all do it.  The problem is when we are afraid of the outcome.  If our pre-conceived notions are proved wrong we have then gained knowledge and truth, if they are proved correct we are affirmed.

To truly find answers and get conclusions requires real work and study which is perhaps why it does not happen too often.  The problems go too deep to even discuss in one blog post but much of the problem is the all-American feel-good attitude.  Americans don’t like to be proved wrong, we want to read things that make us feel good and tell us we are right; we read semi-pseudo academic books that are entirely main stream and meant for the masses, to make us feel intellectually superior.

Our love of truth must supersede our love of comfort.  Within the Christian realm that means having a faith that does not fear an outcome.  To deny ourselves the opportunity question tradition and learn truth is preposterous.  Within the scientific realm to deny a blatant truth because it doesn’t fit into an already failing box is beyond reason.  The irrational fear of being challenged and the disinterest in seeking truth must end.  Truth doesn’t need boxing gloves to protect it, it has built in brass knuckles.

How To: Run the Country Better

It’s been entirely too long since my last post.  I’ve been itching to write but time has evaded me almost as much as common sense evades liberals

I jest…

Recently I took a quick trip up to Arkansas, barely a day long trip, but because of said adventure I have learned quite a lot about myself and what I believe in.  My political thirst was re-awakened with the help of my new friend Jonathan Spinks whom just finished a good race for Justice of the Peace.  He got me thinking; ‘if I were a civil servant, entrusted to make decisions, how would I strive to appease all the constituents, not just those that voted for me?’  The middle of the road is a difficult position to take.  Unfortunately those that truly have a heart for the people they are representing are not respected for this very reason. Too often we allow our straight tickets to decide what we believe rather than taking a step back to examine the merits and short comings of an idea or legal matter.

Consequently I would like to present some ideas, certainly not groundbreaking ideas but I have yet to hear anyone else mention anything similar.  Please examine, critique, and tell me where I’m wrong, where logistics are not plausible, where things are not consistent, let me have it

In being honest with myself, I have realized that government programs are not intrinsically evil, seeking to devour whom they may.  When we get to the heart of the matter conservatives are not against helping people, and they are not against government programs per se.  Sure, there are things that make conservatives and liberals respectively tic, but there are also fundamental truths (or as a liberal would say social ideals) that we can all agree upon and work from.  I don’t expect any national committees to take a night off to sing cumbayah, in fact that would be rather nauseating. BUT, it is possible to have some semblance of understanding (or at least appeasement) if we can beat the partisanship that threatens to rip our nation apart in a matter of years.

Through a little soul searching (YUCK!, that sounds too liberal)… Through some introspective study (hrm, nope, even worse.)…. Through self-guided observation (much more official sounding without carrying the weight of any meaning right?) I was able to identify the specific elements of what it is that I don’t like about government programs, and what it is that I do like about government programs, and how we can truly help people by both assistance and encouragement.

The first thing I absolutely hate about nationalized programs is that the government takes more than it gives.  National healthcare for instance may give healthcare to everyone but what does it take?  1. more money than this nation can muster 2. destroys free enterprise (consequently the economy suffers even more, the bear-bull market becomes mostly bear that produces a whole heap of bull ) 3. gives government unreal amounts of power and control, there is no check or balance 4. choice is vastly limited 5. states rights are ignored 6. increases man’s dependence on the government 7. no more quality healthcare.

I can explain these things more in depth in the comments, I have gone on and on about them in previous posts as well, so for the brevity of this post I’ll leave it at that.

The national government has grown more and more powerful with each passing president.  With the government’s growing role in society it has also increased people’s dependence on it, this isn’t right.  In a more politically neutral manner of speech, why should we rely on the government to take care of us?  If it’s not a matter of national security a job well done is probably best overseen by the individual.

Keeping these complaints in mind, I also realized that we do have a need for healthcare in our nation.   As one that does not have any health insurance (eye, dental, or medical) I realize the need.  I’m sure our nation could benefit from several government programs.  This is where the states come in!

That’s right D.C. fork it over.  Give the states back their rights and no one gets hurt!  No seriously, if Washington was to rework their healthcare idea to work on a state level and give the state the power, jurisdiction and legislation over the “allotment” of healthcare a check and balance infrastructure between the national and state level would be put into place.  The proposed idea; D.C. develops or maintains a healthcare committee and gives each state so much funding based upon their economic and demographic characteristics.  The state is then responsible for providing healthcare for those that meet the necessary qualifications and sign up (none of this requiring everyone in the nation to have healthcare ridiculousness).  However, the state must define certain stipulations to be eligible for this federally funded healthcare, these stipulations are to be enforced by a county or city overseer.  This overseer would have the responsibility of checking up on each recipient to insure compliance to certain personal health and nutritional standards.   Reason being, if tax dollars are going to pay for someone’s medical bill they better be doing their darndest to stay healthy, this means that the state owns you.  Personally, I think the state should mandate that any recipient of federal healthcare must:

1. Submit themselves to random drug testing, at the overseer’s discretion

2. May not smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol while a recipient of federal healthcare

3. Must maintain certain nutritional standards (in other words, the lady trying to eat herself to 1000 lbs wouldn’t be covered)

4. STDs will not be covered… (promiscuity cannot be governed, but I’m not paying for someone’s wart removal because they couldn’t keep their legs closed.)

5.  Treatment to fight addiction will be covered once but only during the enrollment process.

These may seem harsh, but the point is not to provide some cush program that competes with the free market or that is desirable above any other healthcare program.  The point is to help citizens while encouraging them to become self-reliant.  If companies start to hurt because their production or efficiency is down because their employees have to leave or take off of work to pee in a cup for the government maybe they would be more inclined to offer healthcare packages.  Likewise, when people get sick of having to take off of work, or in the case of liberals stop hugging trees long enough to pee in a cup to prove they’re not doing drugs, maybe they will try to get a better job or go back to school to get a better job that provides for his/her needs.

I know some might be asking what’s to keep the states from misappropriating federal dollars meant for healthcare?  The U.S. Government, remember the healthcare committee?  Yep, they are to keep the states honest.  Also, state government is a whole heckuvalot more efficient than national government.  They also know better than D.C. what the residents would most benefit from.  Say a state has fewer people enroll in the healthcare program than they expected, they can then use that money to fund a health related program such as teaching nutrition to high school seniors or new mothers or issuing an activity campaign.  One neat thing Russellville did was turn their designated over-flow area (there is a dam in Russellville on the Arkansas River that forms Lake Dardanelle so as a back up they have a designated area to flood incase of emergency so the whole town doesn’t drown) into a long walking trail, complete with activity stations and directions for suggested exercises.

Healthcare at a national level cannot provide the way a state could.  However, when broken down into watch dog, administrator, watch dog, not only is accountability increased, but the well being of individuals is looked after in much finer detail and more specified care can be given.  Does the organization sound complicated?  A bit, but it’s government, everything once simple is complicated.

Unionizing Our Future

This post was directly inspired by the Morning Bell e-newsletter that I receive every morning from the Heritage Foundation.  I was pretty surprized by what I read.

Since Obama took office just one year ago I have been concerned about certain key issues that any true conservative would be concerned about (things such as big government, detrimental changes to the public school system, etc.) What I read in the Morning Bell illuminated that concern.  It explained that since Obama took office unemployment rate has risen to 10% (I wasn’t too shocked at that statistic, I thought it was higher) however, it also mentioned that the US has lost 3.4 million jobs.  When I look at it that way, that’s like nearly all of Los Angeles being without a job (in 2007 their population was a little over 3.8 million check it out here).  So, of course, union jobs are down as well, it only makes sense that if a nation loses 3.4 million jobs in one year the unionized labor force is going to be struck right?  There is however one branch of unionized labor that has risen since President Obama was sworn into office, would you like to take a stab at it?…….Anyone?

That’s right, the government.  Government unionized labor (including federal, state, and local) has actually grown since one year ago.  The government sector now comprises more than half of union jobs (52%). So what? What does this mean to us?  It means that while the private sector is vastly diminishing government workers are having their cake and eating it too.  Why? Because the government pays their union bill, and while several particular elected leaders seem to think that money grows on trees (because we can print more right?) it doesn’t…Actually, it comes from several kinds of fibers but that’s another topic.  The money that is used to pay the union dues is tax money.  SO, when the union has to investigate, enforce, or do anything uniony including staple two pieces of paper together because paper-clipping is just so gosh-darn complicated, it will be payed for by tax-payers. 

Now then, once the government takes over the unions through shady palm greasing, under the table deals, and leverage of threats and black-mail, not only will tax payers be paying government dues, the whole point of unions will be lost. It will become another paper-pushing bureaucratic black whole (hmmmm, this sounds strangely familiar, something like DMV?) into which TONS of time, energy, patience, and MONEY go in, and a few papers come out.  I thought that energy could be neither created or destroyed, only transferred…Liberal politics changed that. 

With government comes no competition, once we loose our system of checks and balances (something that seems to have gone missing a while back)  there is nothing to stop the government from growing like Jabba the Hut, consuming everything in sight.  The private sector stands no chance against an unchecked garbage disposal of a government. 

Like most conservatives, I cringe at the thought of unions (if you had not already noticed).  I do however understand the need for them…at times.  The thing about unions is that they are an idealistic institution made for an un-idealistic situation.  When unions function ideally they protect BOTH parties (members and employers, schools, etc.)  They keep employers from making hastey or unethical decisions about an individual’s employment, thereby protecting the employer from lawsuits and other costly ventures.  However, most of the time they seem to keep mediocre employees “getting by” in jobs that are ill-suited for them.  This is not only unfair to the member of the union (they might otherwise go back to school or get a job that they enjoy more) it is unfair to the employer for not being able to expect above-average work, and when teaching is involved it is extremely unfair to the students (it doesn’t really matter though, everything will be standardized soon enough!). 

In closing, I’m not looking forward to a “unionized” nation. 

Let me know what you think about all of this. For more information, visit the Heritage Foundation.

Rogue

So my good friends Cory and Twyla bought Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue on audio book for me so I could listen to it while making the 7 1/2 hour drive to my parents house for Christmas.  I must say, I was already a Palin fan prior to hearing the book (that was weird to type), but had I not been, I would have been converted. 

Sarah Palin is an exemplary demonstration of how a politician should prioritize his or her life.  She personifies a concerned mom who wants to give back and ensure a safe world for future generations.  She is unapologetically a “common-sense conservative” who is a registered republican, but is not afraid to reveal republican scandals, dishonesty, and the like.  She has proven that her loyalty is not to a party, but to ideals.  I think that she and Glenn Beck would get along well because both are conservatives, and both are sick of the watered down, straight ticket, party loyalism that has become American quicksand. 

Going Rogue  changed my ideas about several aspects of politics within America.  This is hard to say, but I must (my liberal friends will leap for joy when they read this) Sarah Palin’s book made me realize that the republican party does not have all the answers.  That was painful to type.  Yes, in my head I knew that before, but in my heart I truly hoped and wanted to believe that they did.  One of my heroines is Ann Coulter, how could I not think that the Republican party is all that and a jar of salsa?  BUT, Palin brought things back to perspective, no political party will ever have all the answers, there is simply no way for one party to focus on everything that needs attention, to the extent that it needs attention.  So, I will say this once, and ONLY once… Liberals are useful…

I have acquired a new found respect for Palin, I hope she runs for president someday.  While toward the end of the book she did seem  a tad “excusey”, I understand her desire to feel like she needed defending, the republican national convention sure didn’t try to help. 

Finally, I think I took comfort in her book, in the reassurance that there are still Americans with the qualities I was raised to respect.  She did an amazing job with Alaska, and a fantastic job working with both political parties.  In a society that has been torn so discriminately (similar to what the emergent movement has done with the Bible) in partisanship it is comforting to know that there are still leaders that want to work on both sides of the fence…Simultaneously. 

I apologize for not having written in a while.  I’ve been a bit preoccupied, but I hope to get back to the swing of things shortly.

Thanksgiving

It’s been a while since I’ve written.  School seems to take over everything, imagine that!  In fact, I didn’t even write this post, I stole it from the Heritage Foundation, here ya go.

Thanksgiving was not formally made a federal holiday until 1941. However, it has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November annually since President Abraham Lincoln delivered the address below in 1863. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Heritage Foundation.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

 

 

This post and more can be found at http://blog.heritage.org/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell