Dooley Observed
LINK
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
BY THE NUMBERS............
$34,000:
the amount of federal taxes that Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner (D) failed to pay during his employment at the International Monetary Fund despite receiving extra compensation and explanatory brochures that described his tax liabilities
$75,000:
the amount of money that the head of the powerful tax-writing committee, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), was forced to report on his taxes after the discovery that he had not reported income from a Costa Rican rental property. His excuses for the failure started with blaming his wife, then his accountant and finally the fact that he didn't speak Spanish.
$93,000:
the amount of petty cash each Congressional representative voted to give themselves in January 2009 during the height of an economic meltdown.
$133,900:
the amount Fannie Mae "invested" in Chris Dodd (D-CT), head of the powerful Senate Banking Committee, presumably to repel oversight of the GSE prior to its meltdown. Said meltdown helped touch off the current economic crisis. In only a few years time, Fannie also "invested" over $105,000 in then-Senator Barack Obama.
$140,000:
the amount of back taxes and interest that Cabinet nominee Tom Daschle (D) was forced to cough up after the vetting process revealed significant, unexplained tax liabilities.
$356,000:
the approximate amount of income and deductions that Daschle (D) was forced to report on his amended 2005 and 2007 tax returns after being caught cheating on his taxes. This includes $255,256 for the use of a car service, $83,333 in unreported income, and $14,963 in charitable contributions.
$800,000:
the amount of "sweetheart" mortgages Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) received from Countrywide Financial, the details for which he has refused to release despite months of promises to do so. Countrywide was once the nation's largest mortgage lender and linked to Government-Sponsored Entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their meltdown precipitated the current financial crisis. Just days ago in Pennsylvania , Countrywide was forced to pay $150,000,000 in mortgage assistance following "a state investigation that concluded that Countrywide relaxed its underwriting standards to sell risky loans to consumers who did not understand them and could not afford them."$1,000,000: the estimated amount of donations by Denise Rich, wife of fugitive Marc Rich, to Democrat interests and the William J. Clinton Foundation in an apparent quid pro quo deal that resulted in a pardon for Mr. Rich. The pardon was reviewed and blessed by Obama Attorney General and then Deputy AG Eric Holder, despite numerous requests by government officials to turn it down.
$12,000,000:
the amount of TARP money provided to community bank OneUnited despite the fact that it did not qualify for funds, and was "under attack from its regulators for allegations of poor lending practices and executive-pay abuses." It turns out that Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), a key contributor to the Fannie Mae meltdown, just happens to be married to one of the bank's ex-directors.
$23,500,000:
The upper range of net worth Rep. Allan Mollohan (D-WV) accumulated in four years time according to The Washington Post through earmarks of "tens of millions of dollars to groups associated with his own business partners."
$2,000,000,000:
($2 billion) the approximate amount of money that House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) is earmarking related to his son's lobbying efforts. Craig Obey is "a top lobbyist for the nonprofit group" that would receive a roughly $2 billion component of the "Stimulus" package.
$3,700,000,000:
($3.7 billion) not to be outdone, this is the estimated value of various defense contracts awarded to a company controlled by the husband of Rep. Diane Feinstein (D-CA). Despite an obvious conflict-of-interest as "a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions to her husband's firms ."
$4,190,000,000:
($4.19 billion) the amount of money in the so-called "Stimulus" package devoted to fraudulent voter registration ACORN group under the auspices of "Community Stabilization Activities". ACORN is currently the subject of a RICO suit in Ohio.
$1,646,000,000,000:
($1.646 trillion): the approximate amount of annual United States exports endangered by the "Stimulus" package, which provides a "Buy American" stricture. According to international trade experts, a "US-EU trade war looms", which could result in a worldwide economic depression reminiscent of that touched off by the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Act.It's not just a culture of corruption. It's a culture of corruption and stupidity. And, unlike Republicans, Democrats appear to be above the law. All of the aforementioned clowns are still in office, ruling like the royalty they've become.
the amount of federal taxes that Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner (D) failed to pay during his employment at the International Monetary Fund despite receiving extra compensation and explanatory brochures that described his tax liabilities
$75,000:
the amount of money that the head of the powerful tax-writing committee, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), was forced to report on his taxes after the discovery that he had not reported income from a Costa Rican rental property. His excuses for the failure started with blaming his wife, then his accountant and finally the fact that he didn't speak Spanish.
$93,000:
the amount of petty cash each Congressional representative voted to give themselves in January 2009 during the height of an economic meltdown.
$133,900:
the amount Fannie Mae "invested" in Chris Dodd (D-CT), head of the powerful Senate Banking Committee, presumably to repel oversight of the GSE prior to its meltdown. Said meltdown helped touch off the current economic crisis. In only a few years time, Fannie also "invested" over $105,000 in then-Senator Barack Obama.
$140,000:
the amount of back taxes and interest that Cabinet nominee Tom Daschle (D) was forced to cough up after the vetting process revealed significant, unexplained tax liabilities.
$356,000:
the approximate amount of income and deductions that Daschle (D) was forced to report on his amended 2005 and 2007 tax returns after being caught cheating on his taxes. This includes $255,256 for the use of a car service, $83,333 in unreported income, and $14,963 in charitable contributions.
$800,000:
the amount of "sweetheart" mortgages Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) received from Countrywide Financial, the details for which he has refused to release despite months of promises to do so. Countrywide was once the nation's largest mortgage lender and linked to Government-Sponsored Entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their meltdown precipitated the current financial crisis. Just days ago in Pennsylvania , Countrywide was forced to pay $150,000,000 in mortgage assistance following "a state investigation that concluded that Countrywide relaxed its underwriting standards to sell risky loans to consumers who did not understand them and could not afford them."$1,000,000: the estimated amount of donations by Denise Rich, wife of fugitive Marc Rich, to Democrat interests and the William J. Clinton Foundation in an apparent quid pro quo deal that resulted in a pardon for Mr. Rich. The pardon was reviewed and blessed by Obama Attorney General and then Deputy AG Eric Holder, despite numerous requests by government officials to turn it down.
$12,000,000:
the amount of TARP money provided to community bank OneUnited despite the fact that it did not qualify for funds, and was "under attack from its regulators for allegations of poor lending practices and executive-pay abuses." It turns out that Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), a key contributor to the Fannie Mae meltdown, just happens to be married to one of the bank's ex-directors.
$23,500,000:
The upper range of net worth Rep. Allan Mollohan (D-WV) accumulated in four years time according to The Washington Post through earmarks of "tens of millions of dollars to groups associated with his own business partners."
$2,000,000,000:
($2 billion) the approximate amount of money that House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) is earmarking related to his son's lobbying efforts. Craig Obey is "a top lobbyist for the nonprofit group" that would receive a roughly $2 billion component of the "Stimulus" package.
$3,700,000,000:
($3.7 billion) not to be outdone, this is the estimated value of various defense contracts awarded to a company controlled by the husband of Rep. Diane Feinstein (D-CA). Despite an obvious conflict-of-interest as "a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions to her husband's firms ."
$4,190,000,000:
($4.19 billion) the amount of money in the so-called "Stimulus" package devoted to fraudulent voter registration ACORN group under the auspices of "Community Stabilization Activities". ACORN is currently the subject of a RICO suit in Ohio.
$1,646,000,000,000:
($1.646 trillion): the approximate amount of annual United States exports endangered by the "Stimulus" package, which provides a "Buy American" stricture. According to international trade experts, a "US-EU trade war looms", which could result in a worldwide economic depression reminiscent of that touched off by the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Act.It's not just a culture of corruption. It's a culture of corruption and stupidity. And, unlike Republicans, Democrats appear to be above the law. All of the aforementioned clowns are still in office, ruling like the royalty they've become.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
What Next?
The morning news ............... Pirates, terrorists, tornados, fires, shootings, kidnappings, and that was just this morning. Another ship, tugboat, taken over by pirates, still trying to get the last one taken care of. Obama certainly has not been decisive about this situation. While he is thinking about it, they take another one.
I am afraid we are going to become the laughing stock of the world. SAG wants him to join, he is on TV more than any actor. I have seen more of Obama since his election, than all of the Bush family put together. More than Bill and Monica.
I would like to know just how much has been spent, so far, on AF1, since the election. A kid with a new toy.
Who would have thought that PIRATES would become a problem. I guess they have been for some time on the Inland Waterway. I think piracy, bank robbing, by that I mean robbers with guns taking money, not the officers of the banks, is becoming one of the highest paid professions. We probably could put many of those "executives" in the pirate category.
Unemployment is high, layoffs, shutdowns, and what's on TV this weekend, a car auction, from Florida ............... people bidding on and buying, cars at rediculous amounts of money. Maybe Socialism ain't so bad.
We watch baseball players making millions, basketball players, making millions, listen to screaming, yelling, howling, called music, making millions, millionaires buying cars for a half a million, a president giving away .............. trillions of dollars ............. how do we keep the old head on straight?
Something is terribly wrong in the world, if you think not, start at channel 4 and slowly go through all your channels ............ THAT, is what we're watching on TV. POKER entertains us, catching crabs, entertains us ..... doesn't take much, does it.
Something is wrong!
I am afraid we are going to become the laughing stock of the world. SAG wants him to join, he is on TV more than any actor. I have seen more of Obama since his election, than all of the Bush family put together. More than Bill and Monica.
I would like to know just how much has been spent, so far, on AF1, since the election. A kid with a new toy.
Who would have thought that PIRATES would become a problem. I guess they have been for some time on the Inland Waterway. I think piracy, bank robbing, by that I mean robbers with guns taking money, not the officers of the banks, is becoming one of the highest paid professions. We probably could put many of those "executives" in the pirate category.
Unemployment is high, layoffs, shutdowns, and what's on TV this weekend, a car auction, from Florida ............... people bidding on and buying, cars at rediculous amounts of money. Maybe Socialism ain't so bad.
We watch baseball players making millions, basketball players, making millions, listen to screaming, yelling, howling, called music, making millions, millionaires buying cars for a half a million, a president giving away .............. trillions of dollars ............. how do we keep the old head on straight?
Something is terribly wrong in the world, if you think not, start at channel 4 and slowly go through all your channels ............ THAT, is what we're watching on TV. POKER entertains us, catching crabs, entertains us ..... doesn't take much, does it.
Something is wrong!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On the news today .....
Letterman got married, what can be more newsworthy than that? His kid ain't a bastard no more. And, then someone was late to the ceremony, car got stuck in the Montana mud. Slow news day to headline with that story.
I think the last to hear that AIG was paying large bonus checks to many of their execs, was the White House and the staff. Hell, I knew it, and I live way back here in Ohio. I also know that the head of AIG makes around a MILLION a month, and, he got fired once for losing too much money. Then the BAILOUT and they hired him back ....... at ............ a million a month. Makes sense to me. If I knew it back here, everyone back there must have known it.
But, they say they are going to give the money back. My guess, with all the millions they received, it will all trickle back to them in the future, in one way or another. They need the money to keep up those yachts, million dollar summer places, penthouses, jets, limous and their around the world trips. Maybe Obama will let them use his jet, if it is ever available. Wonder what all his trips have cost us, plane hasn't set idle very long.
Congress was overcome when the execs from the car companies flew to Washington in their private jets. Wonder what they think of Hussein Obama flying all over the world ..... and his is so much bigger and costlier .............. less of course than Pelosi's private jet to fly her to California. What a gas bill the taxpayers must have each month.
USA lost at the AMERICAN pastime game ...... baseball ...... Japan and Korea played for the championship last night .......... not sure who won ................ really didn't care.
WE started basketball and baseball ............ and have lost to other countries at our own sport. BUT our "athletes" make much more money at those sports ....... that must say something, not sure what it is ........................ but it must say something.
A TV show, Celebrity Digs, or something like that, takes you tours of our athletes homes, and our ................ I use the term loosely, singers and entertainers.
Nothing is as inspirational as seeing a guy ............ pants showing his ass, baggy pants, hat on crooked, multiple body piercings ................ "this be my kitchen, where I cook," these be my 10 cars ............... no .............. I guess there are 11, don't know when I got dat one."
And there is that soccer player, from somewhere, got the most expensive car in the world, and then had it chrome plated ....... they are thinking of only letting him drive a night, too much glare during the day. Do you think he's getting payed tooooo much ...... to play ............ soccer?
It all boils down to VALUE .............. if a sports team makes 100 million ............. what is the worth of the "star" ............... who draws the crowd ............ that helps them make that 100 million?
VALUE .............. WORTH ....................... then how much ............... should the SOLDIER get paid .............. whose very presence wherever he is ................. makes it safe ........... for us to live.?
PROTECTING LIFE VS. DRAWING A CROWD
That soldier, whose family is barely getting by, maybe on food stamps, is making it safe for Jeter to play baseball ............... and make his millions .................... ???????
I think the last to hear that AIG was paying large bonus checks to many of their execs, was the White House and the staff. Hell, I knew it, and I live way back here in Ohio. I also know that the head of AIG makes around a MILLION a month, and, he got fired once for losing too much money. Then the BAILOUT and they hired him back ....... at ............ a million a month. Makes sense to me. If I knew it back here, everyone back there must have known it.
But, they say they are going to give the money back. My guess, with all the millions they received, it will all trickle back to them in the future, in one way or another. They need the money to keep up those yachts, million dollar summer places, penthouses, jets, limous and their around the world trips. Maybe Obama will let them use his jet, if it is ever available. Wonder what all his trips have cost us, plane hasn't set idle very long.
Congress was overcome when the execs from the car companies flew to Washington in their private jets. Wonder what they think of Hussein Obama flying all over the world ..... and his is so much bigger and costlier .............. less of course than Pelosi's private jet to fly her to California. What a gas bill the taxpayers must have each month.
USA lost at the AMERICAN pastime game ...... baseball ...... Japan and Korea played for the championship last night .......... not sure who won ................ really didn't care.
WE started basketball and baseball ............ and have lost to other countries at our own sport. BUT our "athletes" make much more money at those sports ....... that must say something, not sure what it is ........................ but it must say something.
A TV show, Celebrity Digs, or something like that, takes you tours of our athletes homes, and our ................ I use the term loosely, singers and entertainers.
Nothing is as inspirational as seeing a guy ............ pants showing his ass, baggy pants, hat on crooked, multiple body piercings ................ "this be my kitchen, where I cook," these be my 10 cars ............... no .............. I guess there are 11, don't know when I got dat one."
And there is that soccer player, from somewhere, got the most expensive car in the world, and then had it chrome plated ....... they are thinking of only letting him drive a night, too much glare during the day. Do you think he's getting payed tooooo much ...... to play ............ soccer?
It all boils down to VALUE .............. if a sports team makes 100 million ............. what is the worth of the "star" ............... who draws the crowd ............ that helps them make that 100 million?
VALUE .............. WORTH ....................... then how much ............... should the SOLDIER get paid .............. whose very presence wherever he is ................. makes it safe ........... for us to live.?
PROTECTING LIFE VS. DRAWING A CROWD
That soldier, whose family is barely getting by, maybe on food stamps, is making it safe for Jeter to play baseball ............... and make his millions .................... ???????
Been a while
It has been a while since I posted last, not sure why, probably my ADD kicked in and I started doing other things.
I was reading some of the older posts on here, pre-election, and it is interesting to see some of the comments made, and how they are coming true.
The "Celebrity Prez" is doing the rounds of all the talk shows, flying all over the country, and getting exposure, for some reason. I think he likes the attention. I don't see how he has had time to do anything in regards to his office, maybe it is better for us that way.
Time will tell, I am still of the opinion that things will never be the same in this country. We are slowly being "sold down the river."
I fear for our future, well, not mine, but those being brought in to the world today.
We elected a celebrity .............. WOW
I was reading some of the older posts on here, pre-election, and it is interesting to see some of the comments made, and how they are coming true.
The "Celebrity Prez" is doing the rounds of all the talk shows, flying all over the country, and getting exposure, for some reason. I think he likes the attention. I don't see how he has had time to do anything in regards to his office, maybe it is better for us that way.
Time will tell, I am still of the opinion that things will never be the same in this country. We are slowly being "sold down the river."
I fear for our future, well, not mine, but those being brought in to the world today.
We elected a celebrity .............. WOW
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Old Age
It is inevitable, like day coming after night, and it hits people at different ages, and in different ways, at different times. One day, you just start thinking differently, that youth, that you have held on to so tightly, for so long, you realize is gone. It signals a whole new way of thinking and looking at things. Realization sets in, and you realize that each heartbeat, could be your last.
You are acutely aware of skipped heart beats, or any unusual chest pains, wonder if this is the one. You no longer think of the future in an optimistic way, the door has slowly closed on the future, and that optimistic thinking about tomorrow, is gone.
Instead, you have a tendency to reflect, mistakes you have made, things you think you could have done differently, other paths you could have taken, what "might" have been, if only.
But then, you realize that any small change in the past, could have had consequences on today, on you, your family, your friends, and you finally realize that you would not change a thing, that if it any way altered the present, right or wrong, everthing worked out for the best.
That is the only way you can justify what you have done in the past, mistakes were not mistakes, because if you had done things that way, then this would not have happened.
So there is contentment in your life, regardless of your situation, everything you did was right, every decisions you made was correct, because you are at this point, you are alive, and possibly, if anything in the past had been done differetly, you would not be where you are today.
At some point, you become your age, for one reason or another, it is inevitable, it varies from person to person. If you are alive, you have done something right, regardless.
"If only" could have an impact on where you are today, "if only you had" could mean..........
You are acutely aware of skipped heart beats, or any unusual chest pains, wonder if this is the one. You no longer think of the future in an optimistic way, the door has slowly closed on the future, and that optimistic thinking about tomorrow, is gone.
Instead, you have a tendency to reflect, mistakes you have made, things you think you could have done differently, other paths you could have taken, what "might" have been, if only.
But then, you realize that any small change in the past, could have had consequences on today, on you, your family, your friends, and you finally realize that you would not change a thing, that if it any way altered the present, right or wrong, everthing worked out for the best.
That is the only way you can justify what you have done in the past, mistakes were not mistakes, because if you had done things that way, then this would not have happened.
So there is contentment in your life, regardless of your situation, everything you did was right, every decisions you made was correct, because you are at this point, you are alive, and possibly, if anything in the past had been done differetly, you would not be where you are today.
At some point, you become your age, for one reason or another, it is inevitable, it varies from person to person. If you are alive, you have done something right, regardless.
"If only" could have an impact on where you are today, "if only you had" could mean..........
Monday, May 12, 2008
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Many years ago, a great hitter named Paul Waner was nearing the end of his long career. He entered a ballgame with 2,999 hits -- one hit away from the landmark total of 3,000, which so many hitters want to reach, but which relatively few actually do reach. Waner hit a ball that the fielder did not handle cleanly but the official scorer called it a hit, making it Waner's 3,000th. Paul Waner then sent word to the official scorer that he did not want that questionable hit to be the one that put him over the top. The official scorer reversed himself and called it an error. Later Paul Waner got a clean hit for number 3,000.
What reminded me of this is the great fervor that many seem to feel over the prospect of the first black President of the United States. No doubt it is only a matter of time before there is a black president, just as it was only a matter of time before Paul Waner got his 3,000th hit. The issue is whether we want to reach that landmark so badly that we are willing to overlook how questionably that landmark is reached. Paul Waner had too much pride to accept a scratch hit.
Choosing a President of the United States is a lot more momentous than a baseball record. We the voters need to have far more concern about who we put in that office that holds the destiny of a nation and of generations yet unborn. There is no reason why someone as arrogant, foolishly clever and ultimately dangerous as Barack Obama should become president -- especially not at a time when the threat of international terrorists with nuclear weapons looms over 300 million Americans. Many people seem to regard elections as occasions for venting emotions, like cheering for your favorite team or choosing a Homecoming Queen. The three leading candidates for their party's nomination are being discussed in terms of their demographics -- race, sex and age -- as if that is what the job is about. One of the painful aspects of studying great catastrophes of the past is discovering how many times people were preoccupied with trivialities when they were teetering on the edge of doom.
The demographics of the presidency are far less important than the momentous weight of responsibility that office carries. Just the power to nominate federal judges to trial courts and appellate courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, can have an enormous impact for decades to come. There is no point feeling outraged by things done by federal judges, if you vote on the basis of emotion for those who appoint them.Barack Obama has already indicated that he wants judges who make social policy instead of just applying the law. He has already tried to stop young violent criminals from being tried as adults. Although Senator Obama has presented himself as the candidate of new things -- using the mantra of "change" endlessly -- the cold fact is that virtually everything he has said about domestic policy is straight out of the 1960s and virtually everything he says about foreign policy is straight out of the 1930s. Protecting criminals, attacking business, increasing government spending, promoting a sense of envy and grievance, raising taxes on people who are productive and subsidizing those who are not -- all this is a re-run of the 1960s. We paid a terrible price for such 1960s notions in the years that followed, in the form of soaring crime rates, double-digit inflation and double-digit unemployment.
During the 1960s, ghettoes across the countries were ravaged by riots from which many have not fully recovered to this day. The violence and destruction were concentrated not where there was the greatest poverty or injustice but where there were the most liberal politicians, promoting grievances and hamstringing the police. Internationally, the approach that Senator Obama proposes -- including the media magic of meetings between heads of state -- was tried during the 1930s. That approach, in the name of peace, is what led to the most catastrophic war in human history. Everything seems new to those too young to remember the old and too ignorant of history to have heard about it.
The Author, Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy.
What reminded me of this is the great fervor that many seem to feel over the prospect of the first black President of the United States. No doubt it is only a matter of time before there is a black president, just as it was only a matter of time before Paul Waner got his 3,000th hit. The issue is whether we want to reach that landmark so badly that we are willing to overlook how questionably that landmark is reached. Paul Waner had too much pride to accept a scratch hit.
Choosing a President of the United States is a lot more momentous than a baseball record. We the voters need to have far more concern about who we put in that office that holds the destiny of a nation and of generations yet unborn. There is no reason why someone as arrogant, foolishly clever and ultimately dangerous as Barack Obama should become president -- especially not at a time when the threat of international terrorists with nuclear weapons looms over 300 million Americans. Many people seem to regard elections as occasions for venting emotions, like cheering for your favorite team or choosing a Homecoming Queen. The three leading candidates for their party's nomination are being discussed in terms of their demographics -- race, sex and age -- as if that is what the job is about. One of the painful aspects of studying great catastrophes of the past is discovering how many times people were preoccupied with trivialities when they were teetering on the edge of doom.
The demographics of the presidency are far less important than the momentous weight of responsibility that office carries. Just the power to nominate federal judges to trial courts and appellate courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, can have an enormous impact for decades to come. There is no point feeling outraged by things done by federal judges, if you vote on the basis of emotion for those who appoint them.Barack Obama has already indicated that he wants judges who make social policy instead of just applying the law. He has already tried to stop young violent criminals from being tried as adults. Although Senator Obama has presented himself as the candidate of new things -- using the mantra of "change" endlessly -- the cold fact is that virtually everything he has said about domestic policy is straight out of the 1960s and virtually everything he says about foreign policy is straight out of the 1930s. Protecting criminals, attacking business, increasing government spending, promoting a sense of envy and grievance, raising taxes on people who are productive and subsidizing those who are not -- all this is a re-run of the 1960s. We paid a terrible price for such 1960s notions in the years that followed, in the form of soaring crime rates, double-digit inflation and double-digit unemployment.
During the 1960s, ghettoes across the countries were ravaged by riots from which many have not fully recovered to this day. The violence and destruction were concentrated not where there was the greatest poverty or injustice but where there were the most liberal politicians, promoting grievances and hamstringing the police. Internationally, the approach that Senator Obama proposes -- including the media magic of meetings between heads of state -- was tried during the 1930s. That approach, in the name of peace, is what led to the most catastrophic war in human history. Everything seems new to those too young to remember the old and too ignorant of history to have heard about it.
The Author, Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy.
Monday, May 05, 2008
HOW did things get so MESSED UP?
I got this reply in an email the other day in regards to an EMail I had sent about no more "In God We Trust" on currency, etc.
HOW did things get so messed up? When did it start, and who started it? Have we been slowly taken over and had all of our thoughts and rights taken over and changed by some mysterious source?
Right after our founding fathers decided to establish this country, and on our money place the phrase, that some OTHER source started working to take it off. There is a right and left and a good and bad. Is there always opposition to anything that takes place? When did SOMETHING become so powerfull that it can change almost anything.
Are atheists that powerfull, or is it the ACLU that is "protecting" all of our freedoms, and interpreting all of our laws in one way or another.
IN GOD WE TRUST, what should it be if not that? There was a TV show years ago, Who Do You Trust, I think it was, they never decided, as I recall.
Why can't we trust GOD? We know primarily who we CAN'T trust, at least most of the time, and with total certainty. I can't think of anyone I can trust with 100% certainty, other than GOD, so why not use the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST.
TRUST, there were Savings and Trust companies, we trust banks, generally, but they failed at one time, and, I think, once you lose your "trust" in someone, it is difficult, or can never be regained, it is unrepairable or non repairable, "I can never trust you again."
So we have IN and WE, which by themselves are little two letter words. Alone they don't mean much but put in that phrase, they have deep meaning IN God ........... WE Trust, four words, 12 letters, but a whole world of meaning, and they harm no one, yet they cause so much consternation in some... how can they, that do not believe in GOD, be so much stronger than those of us who DO believe there is a God.
The new Dollar coin does not have that inscription upon it, so if offered one, by a bank or anyone, just refuse it, and ask for a dollar bill, or change to make a dollar. Take that dollar bill, or that dollars worth of change, and buy a RED arm bracelet, and wear it, for our troops and armed forces, show them we TRUST and believe in them, and appreciate the sacrifices they are making so that all of us, including those who deleted the phrase from out dollar coin, can live free and out of harms way.
HOW did things get so messed up? When did it start, and who started it? Have we been slowly taken over and had all of our thoughts and rights taken over and changed by some mysterious source?
Right after our founding fathers decided to establish this country, and on our money place the phrase, that some OTHER source started working to take it off. There is a right and left and a good and bad. Is there always opposition to anything that takes place? When did SOMETHING become so powerfull that it can change almost anything.
Are atheists that powerfull, or is it the ACLU that is "protecting" all of our freedoms, and interpreting all of our laws in one way or another.
IN GOD WE TRUST, what should it be if not that? There was a TV show years ago, Who Do You Trust, I think it was, they never decided, as I recall.
Why can't we trust GOD? We know primarily who we CAN'T trust, at least most of the time, and with total certainty. I can't think of anyone I can trust with 100% certainty, other than GOD, so why not use the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST.
TRUST, there were Savings and Trust companies, we trust banks, generally, but they failed at one time, and, I think, once you lose your "trust" in someone, it is difficult, or can never be regained, it is unrepairable or non repairable, "I can never trust you again."
So we have IN and WE, which by themselves are little two letter words. Alone they don't mean much but put in that phrase, they have deep meaning IN God ........... WE Trust, four words, 12 letters, but a whole world of meaning, and they harm no one, yet they cause so much consternation in some... how can they, that do not believe in GOD, be so much stronger than those of us who DO believe there is a God.
The new Dollar coin does not have that inscription upon it, so if offered one, by a bank or anyone, just refuse it, and ask for a dollar bill, or change to make a dollar. Take that dollar bill, or that dollars worth of change, and buy a RED arm bracelet, and wear it, for our troops and armed forces, show them we TRUST and believe in them, and appreciate the sacrifices they are making so that all of us, including those who deleted the phrase from out dollar coin, can live free and out of harms way.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
POLITICIANS
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Co urt Justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton- picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is NOT their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a SPEAKER, who stood up and criticized G.W. BUSH for creating deficits.The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.Who is the Speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they ca n pass it over his veto. REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ .There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, wh om they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobb yists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is NOT their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a SPEAKER, who stood up and criticized G.W. BUSH for creating deficits.The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.Who is the Speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they ca n pass it over his veto. REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ .There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, wh om they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobb yists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
HEALTH UPDATE
Some have inquired about my progress, so an update.
CARDIO-REHAB, there is a lot more to it that I initially understood. BIPASS surgery is so invasive that they don't know what all is going to happen in the post-operation time frame. I felt great, with soreness exceptions, after the surgery. THEN so mysterious symptoms surfaced, DEPRESSION, PANIC ATTACKS and more, took over my life. And, they were out of my control, then controlled me.
How long will they last, I don't know. I take one day at a time, and emotional highs and lows as they come. Some days good, some days bad.
I have tried to stick to a routine, so I know how things are going, and walking seems to be a large part of the equation. My days are more normal if I walk in the morning. I try to do at least 15 minutes, and generally do 20 to 30 minutes per walk.
CARDIO-REHAB, there is a lot more to it that I initially understood. BIPASS surgery is so invasive that they don't know what all is going to happen in the post-operation time frame. I felt great, with soreness exceptions, after the surgery. THEN so mysterious symptoms surfaced, DEPRESSION, PANIC ATTACKS and more, took over my life. And, they were out of my control, then controlled me.
How long will they last, I don't know. I take one day at a time, and emotional highs and lows as they come. Some days good, some days bad.
I have tried to stick to a routine, so I know how things are going, and walking seems to be a large part of the equation. My days are more normal if I walk in the morning. I try to do at least 15 minutes, and generally do 20 to 30 minutes per walk.
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