Reclaiming Democracy

The first is the permanent grounding of Concord. Never before has humankind said “Whoa there! This is something very advanced that we have created. So advanced in fact that it is causing issues that we don’t quite understand and it is all quite expensive. Let’s just stop playing with it shall we?”

I have always lived on the forefront of technology. As a child my family was online from near the beginning, with Netscape up and running on our whopping 28k modem (with the beautifully simple Windows 3.11 and our 4 MB of RAM.) and since then I have always been in touch with technology. On my wish-list of things I wanted to do in my life, flying Concorde was in my top five. Well, there goes that wish!

The second occasion, was when the reight (as we say in Sheffield) dishonourable gentleman, George Dubya Bush banned federal funding for stem cell research. Never before has a single line of scientific research promised hope to such a variety of medical conditions.

And this research ground to a halt in America to appease those out there that believe that embryonic stem cell research violates the sanctity of life.

What a load of absolute tosh! I’m sorry, but that is as eloquent as I have the energy to be on the subject. I am usually open to a healthy debate about when life begins and if there are any of you out there that genuinely wish to enter into such a debate, I will be happy to do so. For right now though, “absolute tosh” is the best you are getting out of me.

I think the key here though, is how important it is to maintain a separation of science, religion and politics. And while it may be impossible to keep them entirely separate… I applaud Obama for taking a step in the right direction.

What do i mean by cooling down the delivery?

I feel that many people look at the people that APPEAR to do the talking for the Republican party and come away turned off.  When these messages are forced down someones throat, they don’t taste so good.

I too sometimes am irritated by the constant bickering and complaining they  do.  If you don’t know I am referring to the conservative talk show hosts that the democrats have listened too, talked down about, and made fun of.

Don’t get me wrong. The message for me is correct:

• Smaller government
• Less Taxes
• Less Waste
• Less Government intrusion
• Less Socialistic Ideas

These are things that most Americans can agree on. Most. Not all and that is OK.

What it seems to me is that hosts such as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and others have become the leading voices of the conservative movement and what bothers me about this is that they get so argumentative with their guests that the Republican party looks simply harsh in dealing with others, we think they are idiots, do not have a single good idea about anything, and basically a waste of good air.

I think it might be time to change that idea and find a kinder gentler deliver of the Republican message. A calm voice amid the storm. Someone that can calmly debate and convince dyed-in-the-wool liberals. Get them to use their own words and debates to have turn them in their thinking.

These talk show hosts come across as pompous asses, when they have a chance to meet these people where they are, challenge their thinking, teach them that big government is bad, and that socialist ideas squash innovation.

You simply cannot cram these ideas down someones throat and come across as good party. You simply cannot.

I don’t like the health care program that President Obama has shoved down my throat and many others will not either, but I believe because the Republican party railed against it and railed against without producing any good alternatives…it passed. It passed in the face of only 30% of those polled being in favor of it.

I digress, but talk to the talk show hosts, get them to debate intelligently those that call and support this stuff, convert them to our side. Get them to vote for conservative values. Not to run away from the Conservatives because the party is viewed as a rich old white guys party.

You guys are smart, convince them this is the party for them, the party that endorses them keeping more money in their pockets with less taxes, that they will find jobs because Republicans support small business, that they can give more and help more because they will have more money and opportunities to make even more.

The fact of the matter is that there is no difference between leaders in two major parties. They are all rich ego manics. They all want it there way…the only differences is the way they attempt to run the government and the way the message is delivered.

Start today by calling a liberal a friend and then proceed to change their thinking…one at a time!

Mr. Obama,

I watched your speech last night about health care reform.

It was very informative.

I especially thought the idea of you saving American tax payers enough money to pay for the reform by eliminating waste and fraud in our government.

It is a brilliant idea, but Mr. President I am not sold on the idea.

I am not sold on the idea that you can eliminate the trillion dollars it is estimated that the health care proposal will cost.

So I am issuing you a challenge.

Show me and the American people you are not full of rhetoric. Show us that you mean what you say. Show us that you can eliminate government waste, government fraud, and government misuse of funds. You show me the money that we can use to support health care reform.

I challenge you to do it…don’t give me speeches, don’t give me rhetoric, don’t give me time to play nice, don’t give me we have to do this because America needs it.

I don’t believe you can. I don’t believe that you will even start to eliminate any sort of government before you cram this F***ing tennis ball down my throat (thank you Serena).

Mr. President, please show me and the American public not a chart, not an idea, not a speech. Show us dollars in either our pockets or by making the deficit go down.

Can you?

Will you?

Signed,

The American people that care for America and the people of America.

Watch out for Tricks!

I think it is entirely possible that the Universal Heath Care commonly known as ObamaCare is going to be repackaged.

Repackaged as KennedyCare. While it does have a better ring to it

This is a trick to make US Citizens think we are honoring the great senator. While he may deserve an honor, having his name attached to this will turn out to be worse than chappaquiddick.

Instead of repackaging this issue –

I would ask the question –

Do we need Universal Health Care?

The idea as I understand it is to make sure that Citizens of the United States  has affordable insurance coverage so they if they need health care, they can receive it.

While I for one and most people too, wouldn’t deny that there are people in need of medical attention that seem to get shut out of sufficient health care. I would argue that the government hasn’t proven capable of providing a solution that will help anyone.

In my town, there is a major public hospital that can not turn down a person in need. There is a public health clinic that anyone can go to for a very small fee if the issue is minor or doesn’t demand immediate attention.

I do have pretty good coverage that I pay for some of, my employer pays the other bit, and for that I am grateful. If I didn’t have health care coverage, I certainly would take advantage of these resources. They have been there for use by everyone for as long as I can remember too.

So, do we really need another layer of government involved in what everyone says is the best  health care system in the world? Health care is already taxed, managed, ruled, regulated to death…will another social program help us receive better care? better coverage? I don’t think so.

There are people that could use some assistance in health care. About 5 million. That number is large, but the US is about 330 million people now. So less than 2% of the US population is not covered. Maybe their cases should be examined as to why aren’t they covered and what can be done if anything to cover them.

I am not a rich person and yet, I still feel that I have access to the best coverage in the world. The 2% do as well.

So that begs the question…if only 2% of the population is without insurance coverage, why would the United States Government what to get involved to the tune of trillions of dollars every year?

The US is moving and has moved more and more toward a socialist style of government. The people in power want to retain power, which is why they have made rules that keeps us basically a two party system. If they can create another layer of government intrusion in our lives, than they have even more control on what we do, where we go, how we spend our money, etc.

Listen why would you think this will work. Even if you support the plan?

The government hasn’t succeeded in any social programs it has ever started.

Welfare – sort of joke, that instead of helping a person reach up has connected them permanently to the government teat. It needs to be reformed.

Medicaid — This is socialist medicine and care to the masses. Failed. Can not be saved. Provides nothing but government problems instead of government help. If they want to help the majority of people, why not revamp this system, put in some good checks and balances and revive it…or better yet, why not save the US tax payer a ton of money and put the system to rest.

Fannie Mae — Yes it was the mortgage people. Government involvement in mortgages. Loans. OMG! Where in the constitution does it say that our government should be involved in lending to citizens or insuring they get a home loan? Another failed government program to help the masses.

Social Security — Cannot pay it’s own way anymore even though they continue to take more and more money out of pay checks from ordinary citizens…some still delusional enough to think they will get this money back when they retire. Why is the government involved when we retire. Why?

People when you think about supporting this idea of Universal Health Care…get the past some thought. There is an old saying…those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

Ok…so you say…you hate it then what is the solution.

There are several.

Let families take care of families like they used to. Before social security, before medicare, before fannie mae, People took care of their own. If you stop propping up people and letting them expect the government owes me then they will step up and contribute.

Failing that idea. Why not use the health care clinics and hospitals in place. It you could educate US citizens these places exist. Encourage them to start here with baby care, non-emergency care, etc. Why not? The  buildings and most of the staff are in place. While it would be open to all US citizens, most have health care coverage and wouldn’t take advantage of this facility.

What about staffing you ask…real doctors to help these babies and non-emergency illnesses. The solution to that is easy too. Most people attend public institutions of higher learning. While they attend they take out another great government intrusion called the Student Loan. Why not make it compulsory for a say a 3rd or 4th year medical student and 1st and 2nd year residents to work one or two weeks out of their lives in these clinics. It would give them practical experience and it would be a great repayment method for a convenience the government provided. The government shouldn’t give any incentives either, no rate reductions, etc. It should just tell these students. Hey, you took advantage of a program and now, we are taking advantage of you. There are plenty enough doctors at these levels to give it a go. IF they need more, make it once a week for all doctors that took out student loans until the loans are repaid in full. Which now that I think about it would be a great incentive to get working and make sure the loans do not go into default.

Enough about this. People…the government was not set up to provide every single thing you need to get through life. They’re already too intrusive. Make them back off, not get more involved.

ReclaimingDemocracy.org

C.A.R.S. or as it is commonly known as Cash for Clunkers is just another government waste of 3 billion dollars.

While I can see that is helping, GM (Government Motors) just announced they are going to up production, is just another intrusion in the life of US citizens.

How do you say? Well the money has to come from somewhere. I mean at least eventually. This is simply a delayed tax. There is no way that the United States can continue to spend its way out of this economy. Economies are cyclical and this one is no different. All this is doing is pumping up a government investment (bad idea to begin with) with some non loan investments.

Look at…who is this helping? The biggest givers to the Obama campaign…The auto unions, the auto companies, and the auto suppliers. It helps the car dealerships and it helps the salespeople. It might helps some residual folks too.

But really, is a car that gets less than 15 miles a gallon a clunker? I am not sure that is a good definition. If you were to look at those cars, many are very nice SUV’s, some are high end sports cars, others are older cars. My thinking is…why even address this. I am insulted that the government has decided to help the industry once again and I think it is only self serving.

Why else do it?

I want to write more about the government health care, but I will do that later. That fight is far from over, but is very interesting to watch.

I implore you to get busy and do what you feel is right in this…make sure your senators and representatives know how you feel. Even if you are against what I say…say it anyway. Reclaim your democracy. Let your representatives know that you care and that you are interested in what YOUR government is doing.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the United Socialist States of America!

President Obama has announced that he has asked for and got the resignation of the CEO of General Motors. Although, GM is a private concern, I suppose that by the company taking “bailout” funds, that gave the President broad access rights to ask a CEO to step down.

Hmmm…add that to: The treasury asking for broad rights in taking control of companies the treasury head deems as feeble and about to fail and that could have an impact on the American economy.

Add that to: a Uniform currency that the US Treasury has been spouting about a la the Euro.

Add that to: A call for a redistribution of wealth in the United States, not a grab necessarily, but a higher tax for the wealthy and other ways to take from those that have earned it.

Add that to: A call for a Nationalized Health System.

Add that to: An increased call for gun control and stripping away of 2nd admendment rights to own guns.

And what to you have?

The United Socialist States of America!

Welcome to it and it will not change.

Why…Let me tell you a story. A naive young man (me) thought that the government was telling me the truth once. I was sold a package of a one percent sales tax that was supposed to hit the locals and the vistors to my area. We have a ton of tourists and that grows yearly. The tax was supposed to be for a road that was once proposed by President Truman in the 40′s as a way to cross the city. It was never built for whatever reason. Well, we the people said, “this sounds like a good idea and it is only for five years, tourists will pay the bulk of it…excellent idea…let’s do!”

Well, folks, 22 years later, road is still not complete, but we have still have the tax. Sure we have a number of cool things that the money went toward and the road is almost complete (if constuction started today on the final phase, probably looking at another 4-5 years before it were to open).

That’s not all though…we the people have allowed and bought into the idea of extending it several times. Each time the we have allowed for an extention of years too and now we have two of these one percent sales tax.  I know some of you are saying…so what? One percent is nothing. One percent of 300,000 residents spending, plus millions of visitors for 22 plus years to construct a road that isn’t finished.

WOW.

That is your Government at work and now, they think they can run private companies better?

Good luck people of America. Get your passport ready. This will get worse.

Is the stimulus package really necessary?

Might be time for the President to reconsider the stimulus package.

Why? Several reasons.

First, the ecomony is showing signs of life that lead me to believe it is starting to turn around. The United States economy is the most dynamic in the world. It is cyclical, but it also always bounces back. It is doing that. Housing starts are up, home purchases are up, hiring is up, banks that were in dire straights are earning money, the economy is coming back!

Second, it is just too big. Many pundits have said that this will add trillions of dollars to our debt. More than all other presidents combined. Consider for a moment that we went through WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and Iraq wars and we did not incur as much debt as we are about to incur. By pumping this many dollars into the economy, we are likely to get a boom, but the bust that will follow will be large and long lasting because of the debt we are incurring to get the boom.

Ask anyone that got a new job, went out charged a bunch of stuff on a credit card thinking their new job would only increase in income and when it doesn’t, bam…the debt has to be paid back…and the boom is somewhat of a bust. Stop the package now, trim it back at least. Cut out some of the pork and resubmit.

So, with that being said. I don’t think the stimulus package is really what we need.

What we need is…well, I’ll save that for next time.