Friday, February 20, 2009

Quotes

One of the best quotes I've read in a long time
Alexander F. Tyler stated: ' A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess out of the treasury with the result that democracies always collapse over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship.' Sound like what's going on today? Oh yeah.

Here is a link to a great essay on the differences between a democracy (which the US is NOT) and a republic (which the US is).

I didn't do it

It passed. Did you know that the House voted unanimously prior to agreeing on the stimulus bill to post it for 48 hours before they would vote on it so that people could read it? They did, and then didn't. They didn't post it because they didn't want people to read it and say hey, I didn't know that was in there and I DON'T WANT IT. Did you know that during his campaigning Obama said that he would post on the White House website any piece of legislature or FIVE days prior to signing it? He did and then didn't. Nope, again he didn't want people to read it. The White House's response to inquires about that was that the system to do so is not in place or ready. Let me just say what I think. BS!! I know how easy it is to create a blog, it may not be pretty but in 20 minutes a person can be broadcasting to the world. So White House people, flimsy excuse, it just shows how inexperienced you are and how NOT transparent this administration is going to be.

Did you know that Vladimir Putin of Russia, at a financial summit in Switzerland in early February, warned President Obama about the problems of Socialism? I thought that was kind of interesting. Here is a man who is trying to rebuild his country after it was cremated by a system that has NEVER proven workable or desirable, warning our President about moving in that direction. Who'd have ever thought that would happen? That Russian leaders would warn American leaders about the problems of being socialist? Kind of ironic huh? Do you think it worked? We'll see.

One month in office and all we have to show for it is a lot of nothing good.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

For your reading enjoyment

Here is the link to the bills being hashed over in the Senate and House.

You know what makes me laugh? I can't wait to hear the pickering between Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reed as their respective houses tyr to come to agreements on what should be included and what shouldn't be included. I can see that discussion getting very heating as each thinks that his or her bill is what is needed and every little item is essential to the survival of this country.

Funny thing though. The Congressional Budget Office has come out and said that yes, in the next couple of years these bills may help the economy BUT in the next 5-10+ years the economy would be BETTER off if we did NOTHING!!! Why? Becuase for eery dollar of additional debt we accrue there is a loss of private investment dollars. What drives the economy? Is it the government? Is it the private sector, aka YOU and ME? Ask the economist. It's US, not the government. All this money they are throwing at the problem is going to put us is worse shape. Why not just use those dollars, which we don't have and which the public needs more to boot, and burn them, at least then the midwest and east can have some heat to warm them from all the cold weather. What do you think? I think they might enjoy the warmth.

I am flabbergasted that there is such a lack of concern and foresight about our money and the debt our children will have to pay.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

How much??

Right now the congress is debating on how to spend close to $1 trillion. Do you know how much that is? $1,000,000,000,000.00. Twelve 0s. There are almost 300 million people in this country, divide that trillion by 300 million and you get a bill of $3333.33 per man, woman, and child. That means that my house is on the hook for $10,000. How about your family? But guess what we didn't account for? Interest. The interest is estimated to bring the total up to $1,300,000,000,000. Now what are you on the hook for? $4333.33. My family is responsible for $13,000. How about yours?

What are we going to gain from that $4333.33? Not much.

Wouldn't it be nice if they would take a little time to consider how this will impact our economy in the long run as opposed to just push push push this bill through? Maybe they could explain why there is over 200 pages on the creation of a national health care bureaucracy? Pages 434-653 inclusive. The whole bill is "only" 680 pages so those 219 pages make up 32% of the bill.Last time I checked there is little coming from Washington to explain all of that except to say that your health records will be digitized. I tried to read those pages and pages of bureaucracy lingo, and all I gained from it is, besides a headache, THIS BILL IS NOT ABOUT CHANGING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM!!!!!! I don't want the government involved in my health care decisions. I want to be able to have the final say over what I will or won't do, not the Coordinator of Health Information Technology or the Secretary of Human Health Services. Do you?

Where I sit

Let me just say it, I am a republican. Why? Because I find that the most important of choices and values to me, are held more closely by the Republicans than by the Democrats, such as abortion and traditional family values. Those values I believe have eternal consequences. While I do agree more so with Republicans about capitalism and the free market than the Democrats, I think that these are lesser reasons to align with one group over the other as they ultimately are much more temporal and transient than eternal. There are ideas and positions that I support held by both groups.

I think that for the most part both sides of the political spectrum desire the same ends, happiness and prosperity for all. It is in the means of achieving this end wherein I see the differences mount. There is merit on both sides.

Why another blog?

Last year while I was working in a tax office I became really frustrated with the seemingly lack of honesty in the media to present facts that were inconsistent or unfavorable to the sources agenda, so I created a blog. I voiced my findings and opinions knowing that no one would probably ever read it but feeling like at least I did something. That blog sat unread or updated until Joe and I decided to use it for updates about our family. In reading blogs by our friends we have seen that there are some who use the forum to voice ideas and opinions about all that is happening politically while there were others who wanted to steer clear of politics. So in an effort to allow both groups to continue with their choice, I support both, I have decided to create this separate blog for those who wish to read and share or politely disagree with my political findings, thoughts, insights, links, etc. Feel free to agree or disagree. All I ask is that ideas shared be done so in a considerate manner. I will state my thoughts honestly, please do not be offended if they differ from yours.