Sunday, May 31, 2009

Can We Opt Out of Socialism, Please?

What is Socialsim? A short answer can be found in Wikipedia, where they define Socialism as "Any one of various economic theories of economic organization advocating state or cooperative ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of good." So, in Socialism, the State controls businesses, either in part or in whole.

Keep this in mind as you think about how Obama's Federal government tries to get its hands in everything. Government tries to manipulate the economy, with questionable effects. Government intervenes in previously private businesses and banks that are "too big to fail."

Now, even though Obama's budget deficit will be historically high, Obama wants to step in, spend even more money and muddle about with our private health care system. An aside: How does government interference help restore or rebuild our economy? Answer: It doesn't.

This scares me more than most of the other systems, since it has the potential to do several things, none of them good. I've listed some of the effects below.

First, it will INCREASE the cost of care, not decrease it. We would have to fund the system twice, both as patients and as taxpayers. When we go to the doctor, most Americans would still have to pay money out of pocket for service. In addition, taxpayer money would have to go into paying for the administration of this system. And we all know how efficient government administered programs are.

Second, there will be fewer doctors and fewer specialists to treat everyone. Don't believe me? Then quickly review this New York Times article about how the current government run healthcare system, Medicare, is working.

The recommendation from the article seems to be that individuals should find "Concierge Medicine" in their area. The anecdote provided at the end illustrates how coverage in concierge medicine, coverage for services not covered by government funding, saved a person's life. Would a government paid doctor answer the phone after business hours to offer life-saving services? As mentioned above, even with "Government Healthcare," individual spending for appropriate, necessary, life saving care is necessary.

Finally, we would have face a shortage of service. This is the really scary effect, one that will kill people. With fewer doctors and specialists, rationed health care is garunteed. Look at the evidence provided by this video.



With all of these effects of Socialism, why is Obama pushing us further in that direction?

Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday Really Funny

Gotta love the way the "Progressives" try to discuss Anthropogenic Global Warming.



See more of Michael Ramirez's art at the IBD Editorials website.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

These are PARENTS??

This video is incredible, not for the fact that the teens are "sexting", but for the reaction from the parents after they were caught. I don't think these are real parents.



The callers have some interesting comments. One caller mentions teaching 'personal responsibility' to teens. This means allowing the kids to live with the consequences of their actions.

Another caller, a high school student, points out something interesting. He discusses how promiscuity was popularized by his parents, and so is carried on by the children. It's the old, "I can't hear what you're saying because of what you're doing," argument. And he's right.

What we need is for parents to be real parents and teach their children real morals. This means living within the laws of the land.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day Reminder

For those who have given their all, we thank you.

Check out this Medal of Honor Web site.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Awesome Friday Funny... Burn!!

I saw this video and knew I had to share.


The sad thing about this video is it pretty accurately portrays what Obama has done with our tax dollars.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Fact Vs. Emotion in the Credit Card Debate

Obama's administration, including many Democrats in Congress, wants to force the credit card industry to cap their percentage rate at a ridiculous 15% (blocked, luckily). However, it looks like the bill they're putting together would reward bad behavior and punish good behavior.

I think the Democratic Congress and Obama are stepping in over their heads, trying to tackle credit card companies during a recession. As this article from the Motley Fool details, there are some major problems when government tries to regulate an industry. In this case, the government meddling and populist backlash against credit card companies will only hurt the industry, and ultimately, all consumers. Even NPR, normally a 'progressive' station, is reporting the regulation could backfire.

The sad thing is, responsible spending and paying attention to your credit card statements, two basic principles of correctly handling a credit card, seem to be lacking in those crying loudest for credit card reform. The example Obama cites for 'unfair practices' is: 

"One... woman saw her credit card interest rate jump to nearly 30 percent because she mistakenly went over the card's limit." (Emphasis mine.)

Okay, so the woman makes a mistake... and it's the company's fault for raising her rate? Somehow this just defies logic.

More personal responsibility and less whining to the government for regulation, please.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Anti-Gun Treaty

Call you Senators and tell them to vote against ratification of the SIFTA treaty. See this video to learn more about this gun registration treaty Obama wants to pass.


At least Senator Barrasso has it right. Our Second Amendment right should not be curtailed. Of course, when you have an anti-gun presidency, you have to work hard to protect those rights.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Bail Outs, as Explained by South Park

This is AWESOME!!! I mean, how else can you explain the government mucking about in the economy, throwing away billions of dollars, without any noticable effect?


Monday, May 18, 2009

Creativity is Needed Everywhere

TED is AWESOME!! 

What I took away from this talk was that curiousity and creativity are present in both the arts and sciences. Without creativity in the sciences, some of our most important discoveries wouldn't have been made. By the same token, art can benefit from the application of scientific knowledge.




The first video seems to work well in tandem with this presentation. This speaker's arguement is for the need to help foster creativity. This means stop crushing creativity. It's only by taking chances that people can really learn; and creativity is crucial in taking chances.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Gangster Government on the Rise

The United States is supposed to be a Republic. Our nation was founded on the rule of law, to help protect smaller and less popular ideas from being snuffed out by the rule of the mob, which we would see in a Democracy. In a Republic, laws and contracts apply to all individuals equally. However, our new Federal government seems to be changing that.

This article outlines how Obama's leadership is "undermining the legal and financial stability of the United States." And it's not the only article to notice our President's disdain for the rule of law. The articles touch on some major ways in which Obama's organized labor friends are receiving preferential treatment, instead of being treated equally under the law. Of course, influence pedaling and corruption is the Chicago way.

In addition to issues relating to Unions and other cronies , the Obama administration is interfering in our open banking system. This includes forcing certain private banks and financial organizations, such as Citibank, to take TARP money. This, in turn, gives the Federal Government a say in how these companies are run. This is not open business.

So far, with Obama's administration, we've seen bigger government being more intrusive in our businesses and everyday lives. Couple this with some of the losses of freedoms from Bush's push against terrorism with the misnamed Patriot Act and it's a dangerous mix. This is not how we made this nation great.

The recent tea parties, far from being partisan protests, show more that people are ready for the Federal government to step back out of our lives. If we are to succeed as individuals and as a nation, we need the Federal Government to get out of our way instead of laying down road blocks.

I believe it was Thoreau who said, "That government is best which governs least." On that note, I think we need a better government.

Hat Tip - Hot Air

Friday, May 15, 2009

Friday Funny

Here is an article about one dedicated soldier. When duty called, he didn't even take the time to pull his pants on. Instead, Spec. Boyd put on his helmet and body armor, then ran out the door.

Someone needs to give this guy some serious recognition for his dedication to duty. Even if the pink underpants are a little tacky. 

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Continuing Coverage of Media Bias...

So CNN ran a front page story about the 'enhanced interogation' techniques, which we use during SERE training for our own military members, not being effective. As evidence, they use the testimony of one man, Ali Soufan. He stated these techniques are "ineffective, slow and unreliable." 

Balance this against the coverage they gave Cheney's request to release official memo's stating the techniques were effective in gathering information about an imminent threat. "Coverage," you'll ask. "What coverage?" And that's exactly my point. 

CNN, by giving more credence and weight to the testimony of an unknown man over the statements of a public figure, is editorializing the news. They are slanting the message to fit what they think the answer should be. I mean, typically, public figures are hounded and their words reported with great frequency. It's the only reason People magazine and TMZ exist. However, in this case, the unknown man's story fits with the narrative the liberal main stream media (but I repeat myself) wants to project. Cheney's assertations just muddy the water.

Can we please get back to the "Fourth Estate" acutally reporting the news instead of just trying to tell a story that supports their views of the world? Please?

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

America, the Republic... Thankfully

Contrary to popular belief, America is not a Democracy. Thank God for that. Instead we have a Republic, based on a body of law that keeps everyone in check, including our political leaders and popular individuals. Because we are in a Republic, Senator Ted Stevens was indicted. Because we are in a Republic, some of Obama's origial cabinet choices were rejected for not following the law. The law works to restrict the power of government and gaurantee our individual rights.

This video offers a great definition about the American form of government.


The scary thing about this video is the details about the Fall of the Roman Republic. It happened when some of the rulers started disobeying the law for their own, and their constituents', benefit. This eventually led to Mob Rule (Democracy) and eventual Oligarchy.

As Benjamin Franklin stated, we have "A Republic... if you can keep it." Let's hope we can do the work necessary to keep it. This includes being informed voters and letting our elected Representatives know we want less government interference and the rule of law. Let's hope that's enough.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

US Corporate Taxes Explained... Obama, are you listening?

In this debate about making sure the U.S. corporations pay their 'fair share,' let's take a look at the current laws and what Obama proposes to change. 



This video quickly and concisely breaks everything down in a logical manner. And as anyone who chooses to use their brain can tell you, doubling taxes on U.S. companies abroad is not going to help our recession anymore than increasing taxes on U.S. citizens will.

This tax dodge myth is one Obama is trying to use to his advantage. As the article's author states, "Obama sacrificed substance for grandstanding." Sounds about par for the Obama course.  

Hat tip - Hot Air

Monday, May 11, 2009

Obama is Not Really Helping the Economy

This video is scary. Not only are we in tough economic straits, but apparently the tax money give away that started with Bush and went rampant with Obama is not really helping things.

One thing that struck me is the accounting rules that changed recently. Oh my gosh! It appears that, instead of trying to acurately report items, banks and financial institutions (with the help of our Federal Government) said, "Let's just change how we report things to mak eour balance sheets look better."

I also agree with Black about the bogus stress tests. It's a FARCE and a SHAM! And we know this based on the real facts, not the revised accounting numbers. How do we know the tests are a sham? Stress test doesn't test for asset quality. And, as Black states, "How can the banks all pass the stress test if they collectively need $2 Trillion in U.S. Taxpayer money?"

Also, the whole idea that we can simply inject capital into the banks to make them solvent is ILLEGAL! Black states, "The prior administration violated that law and the current administration is violating that law."

I love his almost blunt answer to the question, "Tim Geitner's the Treasurey Seceratary. Doesn't he know what he's doing?" He starts to say, "No," but backs off and gives a more politic answer, although going on to offer MOUNDS of evidence detailing how Geitner is not qualified.

Watch the whole thing to understand just how screwed up things are right now.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Can Gun Control Work? Probably Not.

I recently read a blog post a friend forwarded to me. The post text is not nearly as important as the video. In the video, ABC News interviews the author of the book Can Gun Control Work?, Professor James Jacobs from New York University. 

I was very interested in what Prof. Jacobs had to say about gun control. I thought his interview would include more emotion and rhetoric than reasoned discussion. Prof. Jacobs approached the subject rationally, with an open mind when he wrote the book. Of special interest is the fact that he's not a gun owner himself.

His answer to the question? "I think it's not possible to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people." You can tell this is not the answer the hostess wanted to hear. She tries to qualify his answer by talking about "trying" gun control if it will save one life. Prof. Jacobs rightly points out, however, the cost of that law would be more than most of society would be willing to bare. Jacobs states that the number of gun deaths each year (almost 31,000 in 2006*) is the cost we pay for gun ownership.

As an example, Jacobs points to the known statistic of traffic fatalities (over 45,000 in 2006**). If we wanted to save one life, we could definitely enact more traffic laws, or even ban all private cars and make everyone use public transportation. Would these laws save more lives? Yes, undoubtedly. However, whether society would actually be willing to do this is another question. 

This interview happens without even touching on an important point, however, the constitutionality of more gun ownership. The 2nd Amendment gives individuals (i.e., "the people") the right to have guns. Any laws developed have to be balanced against this fundamental right.

*This number includes ALL gun related deaths, including accidents, sucides, homocides and officer involved shootings. Numbers based on information from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.



Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Understanding the Other Side

This article in the Hot Air Green Room points out some things conservative-thinking people need to keep in mind as they discuss politics with some of their left leaning friends. Of particular note is the descriptive paragraph close to the end of the essay, where the author lists the different types of Liberals and their particular motivation.

Important in all of this is the assumption the conservative "champions both the moral and practical superiority of liberty and individualism." This is opposition to liberals, who support more government "because they need to believe that someone out there knows what they're doing" (emphasis in original) and they want this person to tell them what to do.

Read the whole article.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Controlling the Discussion

As a follow up to Wednesday's discussion about how science is limited by government funding, this video looks at how the Left seeks to silence discussion or opposition to their viewpoints. We call this 'political correctness.'  


When the evidence doesn't support their views, the Left seems to fall back on "Shut up." Anthropogenic global warming in question? Shut up. Obama's bail out program isn't awesome? Shut up. Lower capital gains tax rates will bring in more revenue? Shut up.

Instead of saying shut up, I propose we have a real discussion with real evidence based on real numbers and historical facts.