Stray Thoughts

I read everything, from Slate to Vox Popoli. Well, perhaps not EVERYTHING; Kos and Stormer are too much for my sensibilities, and I hear through the grapevine that the Stormer losers have been deplatformed (for the record I'm a free speech defender and I don't think "hate" sites should be shut down. How are we supposed to know who the bad guys and the idiots are if they're not allowed to blather?)

The Alt-Right brigade have jumped the shark with all their nationalistic posturing. Da Joos, da Catholics, people of Irish, German, French, etc stock are not "true" Americans according to their ringleaders. Bah. That line of reasoning excludes almost everyone, because many patriotic Americans truly are mongrels. There is no room in their America for me and my family, or my friends and their families. Good luck with that.

The Left have jumped their own shark with their hatred and ridicule of everyone with white skin (among other things). No, you can't have any more of my money. And if you're against "cultural appropriation" give me your car and your pants. Those things were invented by whitey.

More and more I find my views are best expressed by Ben Shapiro. I don't agree with him all of the time, but at least we're in the same ballpark on most things. He did a good job at Berkeley. Milo is doing a good job too. 

Washington is a cartoon, and who knows what the truth is in the headlines. I do know one thing: Trump had better build the wall, or at least make a show out of trying to build the wall. His constituents will turn on him like rabid wolves if he doesn't. Tackling DACA before giving tax cuts to working stiffs is a strategic error on his part, IMHO.

Have we reached the point where we are ungovernable? Maybe. All the grief that the left is hurling at Trump will be returned a hundred-fold if the left succeeds in installing their candidate in 2020. That person will be torn limb from limb, regardless of race or gender, because people have had ENOUGH. 

One thing seems clear to me: the "media", better described as the propaganda wing of the uniparty, will need to be obliterated before we can turn things around. We have a steep hill to climb. FB, Twitter, and other social sites have banned much conservative commentary. None of the right wing sites I'd "liked" on FB a few years ago show up on my page now. None.

I talked to a college-educated white guy the other day who vehemently believes that Trump is cutting all Medicaid care for sick kids who aren't white. I'm not kidding. Progressivism has become a sick, twisted religion rather than a political flavor. The mob wants to jail climate change deniers. Next thing we know they'll be putting people on the rack or burning them at the stake.

Hey, I warned you that these are stray thoughts! 

Open Thread

I've written five posts for TCKT which I've deep-sixed because fast moving events make them redundant and stale. My head has been whirling with so much winning! Even Trump's crass comments about Mika and Joe made me laugh out loud. Unpresidential? Yep. Spot on? Yes. He's not afraid to roll around in the muck and I love it. Mika and Joe can kiss my deplorable tush.

CNN has been handed their hat and shown the door. It appears that AP is standing in line behind them. Good. Fox News can get in line too, AFAIC.

I've been working on building the new chicken coop. I'll post pictures when it's finally done. Between work and grandkids and my mom being sick I've been going 90 miles an hour lately. I had to plant my garden a THIRD time, after frost killed my first plants and hail hammered the second batch. I'm settling for a few tomatoes and some squash. All my fruit was killed by the frost. Bummer.

Matt, I just heard that you've been under the weather. I'm glad you're home now, and I'm sorry I missed commenting on FB. I've been rather disgusted with FB as of late, and been spending my time on other things. I'm working on a snail-mail letter to you and Fay, watch your post! Also, you all's grandkiddos are SO cute!  Little Miss M and wee Master L are adorable!

Dances, I'm so relieved that your news is good.

What I'm reading.

What's next.

What I've pre-ordered.

My state is working hard on overhauling the medicaid program. Unfortunately, they're considering across-the-board cuts with lifetime caps, which will be devastating to sick/disabled children who need ongoing care. I read the other day that 1/3 of my state's residents are enrolled in medicaid. That's ridiculous.  We need to get adults back to work instead of sitting on their backsides whining. We need tort reform and we need to prosecute those companies who overcharge the system. There are MANY things we can do to get costs down without abandoning sick kids.

So, what are you all up to?

On Anti-Intellectualism

Here is a short piece written by Dr. Alex Berezow The comments section is also worth reading.

My thoughts after reading his offering:

Dr. Berezow has been closeted in his own little world for too long. While I believe that his opinions are sincerely held, they are extremely shallow and are propped up by nothing more than the rhetoric of his ilk.

I too am a writer, a teacher, and a scientist, engaged in thoughts and ideas. My profession requires me to think outside of the box, to examine and reexamine, and to question everything. However, because my practice and the powers of my mind engage the real world, I am simply called a "nurse" rather than an "intellectual". As such, along with millions of other high functioning Americans, he feels I am not qualified to challenge his belief system. Imagine that. Where have we heard this trope before?

Anyone who says that "the science is settled" is not an intellectual, or a scientist, or a thinker. Is science EVER settled? No. New discoveries beget new questions, always.

While the definition of "intellectual" includes teachers and writers, I scoff at his assumption that it also includes journalists, and hence, himself. He may hang his hat on the intellectual peg as a teacher, but as a writer he is ordinary at best. He presents nothing but a tired regurgitation of the constant propaganda and indoctrination championed by the media and leftist social engineers. It's difficult to take someone seriously who writes at an eighth grade level and presents no original content.

The worst part is that he claims, and is seen to be by many on the left, a "conservative" libertarian. I offer this article as evidence that the "elites" on the left and the right have converged to the point of being unidentifiable in their smuggy smugness.

Men like Berezow bask in glow of their programmed brains, blissfully unaware of their own ordinariness, while the rest of us roll our eyes and pray that they all just...go away.  Pull their government funding, and we'll see who rises to the top, and where the science "settles".

It's Raining Cousins

So, I've had a weird week. I started out with a family x-number of big, and ended up with a family bigger and even more convoluted than it already was. It was nothing as shocking as Fay's family surprise, but it was weird just the same.

I have an uncle who died back in '64. Some say suicide, some say homicide. Who knows, it was a long time ago. There was a lot going on in his life at the time.

Anyhoo, he had two kids by his first wife. They divorced, the ex remarried, and Uncle signed away his parental rights to the new guy (a very nice man, by the way. When the ex-wife passed on too, leaving my cousins orphans, this man raised them in a good home with lots of love). ANYHOO, the family lost touch of these kids, what with all the hulabaloo and drama and whatnot. I've been trying to find them for many years.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

A young man contacted me through Ancestry, and said that he believes his mom to be my Uncle's daughter. Er, what? I replied to him that I didn't think so, as I know the names of my two cousins who were Uncle's kids.

My mom has a lot on her plate right now, so I got in touch with my aunt, and presto! Uncle married a second time before he died and had a daughter. Okay....wow, thanks for sharing THAT 50-plus years later.

AND, while I'm corresponding with this young man about his mom, my cousin that I knew about and have been searching for responds to a note I left for her on a genealogy board.

Holy smokes! It's raining first cousins! And first cousins once removed! And their spouses, and step-sibs, and half-sibs, and...and...and...

Whew. My little brain is shot. What a week.

If you didn't understand all that, don't feel alone. A part of me is happy, and a part of me wants to crawl under the couch. Who are all these people?

They seem nice. There's that.

They seem very nice indeed.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year TCKT family! I hope the coming year brings you all happiness, fulfillment, and prosperity!

Things have been rather upside down at the Redhawk household. Noah and I split up over a month ago, and he’s living in a neighboring town.  It’s been a difficult transition. We were caught up in a rut we couldn’t emerge from. These things happen.  

I've been on medical leave since before Thanksgiving, but I’m slowly making progress.  My fingertips are no longer numb, and I can actually pick things up without dropping them.  I’m hoping to be back to work within the next 6-8 weeks, per the two docs I have in my corner.  In the meantime, I’m planning on ramping up my small genealogy biz to include interviews/memory books, and am learning new software like Muse, InDesign, and Photoshop. I should be up and running by February, and am excited about learning new skills and putting my writing abilities to a profitable use.  The biz will help fund my retirement, while nursing pays the bills. That’s the plan, and I think it’s a good one.

The family is doing great.  Jason stays in close touch, and comes over more often to help with the man-things around the house. He’s finishing his last semester at his local community college, and planning to transfer to a college out west to finish his degree in engineering.  They’re considering Colorado. My granddaughter is growing fast, and is a smarty like her mom and dad. My folks are doing fairly well. Dad has gone off most of his medications, and feels a lot better.  My two dogs, Molly and Bella, are ecstatically happy and spoiled rotten.  They’re great company, and make me laugh multiple times a day with their silly antics.

2015 will bring many firsts for me. This will be my first time living alone (I've always had a child or hubby to take care of). I’m like…woo hoo! Is that bad? Hahaha! I’m sad and exhilarated all at the same time! I've always been a homebody…now it’s time to get out of the house and not isolate.  Lunches, concerts, trips, who knows.  The slate is blank, and it’s up to me to write on it.

Hello 2015. Come on in!

I love you all. Happy New Year! 

Interesting Times

Here is an interesting article by William Galston, published at Politico. A taste:

"Bill Clinton, in whose administration I served as a domestic policy adviser, spoke often of an economy that rewards Americans “who work hard and play by the rules.” Today, these Americans still work hard, but they no longer know what the rules are, and they are no longer seeing the rewards as readily. They want, but are not getting, a credible success story for the American economy in the 21st century. That is one reason why the sense of loss of control is so pervasive." 

I think that Galston captures the mood of working voters. There is a sense that Americans who refuse to work are benefiting more from the economy than those who bust their derrier. Families who don't work have their housing, food, medical care, utilities, and children's college education paid for by those who cannot afford to send their kids to college. Where is the reward in that?

I've personally seen people drop out of the work force because their employers no longer offer health insurance because they have received an "exemption". For individuals and families, the Obamacare premiums are too steep if the breadwinner has a decent job; these folks don't qualify for the subsidies. People who have manageable health conditions who could continue to work for years to come are forced onto the disability/medicaid rolls because it's the only way they can obtain the medications they require. Of course, you won't be reading about these families in the NY Times or watching their hard-luck stories on the ABC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

There is also a sense that government institutions have grown too big and corrupt. This tax season, the IRS will be confiscating the refunds (the actually overpayments of working Americans, not the income redistribution that is known in lower income/no income circles as a "tax refund") of Americans who cannot afford to pay the ACA premiums (of which a large chunk is a donation rather than an actual premium). This will not go over well. At all. 

NASA, the agency that inspired kids to dream BIG in our youth, is now a joke. The CDC, once the elite organization of health care and epidemiology, has been caught like a deer in the headlights by this Ebola business. The head of this once revered agency has no clothes. Have you seen the newest guidelines to stem the spread of this horrible hemorrhagic nightmare? Here, take a look:

The CDC released new Ebola guidelines on Monday for monitoring travelers, including healthcare workers, coming to the U.S. from West Africa.

For asymptomatic travelers at the highest level of risk (e.g., received a needle stick when caring for an Ebola patient, or cared for a patient without wearing protective equipment), the CDC is recommending voluntary at-home isolation and direct active monitoring for fever and symptoms for 21 days. Those with some risk (e.g., a returning healthcare worker) are advised to undergo daily active monitoring and, depending on the local health department, could also be restricted from boarding airplanes or public transportation or going to work, similar to the high-risk group.

Several medical groups, including the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, have denounced some states requiring that all healthcare workers returning from Ebola-stricken countries undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine.

Editorialists in the New England Journal of Medicine write: "We should be honoring, not quarantining, health care workers who put their lives at risk not only to save people suffering from Ebola virus disease in West Africa but also to help achieve source control, bringing the world closer to stopping the spread of this killer epidemic."

Does that give you confidence? Especially after the New York doctor who chose to transverse a city of 20 million people via the subway, after only being home from West Africa for a few days? Or the nurse (cringe) who has thrown a conniption fit because she was forcibly quarantined for day or two, threatening to sue because her civil rights were violated? Do these examples give you the warm, fuzzy feel of certainty that your health care professionals are placing the public health as a first priority over their own comfort?

There is also a sense that our elections are not free and fair, and that shenanigans are commonplace. We've all seen the photos of NBP goons hijacking a polling place, read the stories of voting machines that register straight-ticket democrat regardless of who the voter actually selects, heard the whispers of illegals (and dead people) voting in many jurisdictions. What's the truth? The media isn't trying to find out, that's for sure. If the Rs don't take the senate next week, as every poll says they will, how will conservative voters react? 

May we live in interesting times.

Indeed.

Morning Coffee

Egads! Headline-mania! I just can't believe it...no, no...surely this isn't true...Shep Smith is gay? Oh wait. Shep Smith might be gay. Oh wait. Shep Smith is allegedly gay. A pox on Gawker for outing him if he is indeed gay, and a double-pox on Gawker if they are lying. Hang in there, Shep. Don't let the bastards win.

The statist train barrels down the track. Choo-choo! They are insisting that the most popular online store in history blacklist "haters". No more cheap Chinese shit for you buddy! Al Sharpton will be heartbroken. Oh wait...he has immunity. Rachel Maddow will be heartbroken. Oh wait...she has immunity. That leaves the true haters; white men. Yes, you. Hater!

I'm thinking that if the Clippers players are all butt-hurt by Sterling's rants, they should walk. That's right. Hang up your jersey and retire Clippers, or go play for another team. Oh wait...they're not THAT butt-hurt. Hypocrites. Stripping someone of their assets because of an opinion will not end well. The most offensive comments I've ever heard are from minorities and the democrats who despise them. Sterling has been spouting off his garbage for years and nobody cared; now Obama is in hot water over Benghazi and the media needs a story to drown out the pack of lies emanating from the White House. Thanks, alphabet networks, for fanning the flames of racial hatred to save Obama's scrawny backside.

Only 67% of ObamaCare signer-uppers have paid their first "premium". I'm going WAY out on a limb and guess that the majority who did "pay" are fully subsidized by the gov't/taxpayers. Meanwhile, at the street level, the entire thing is FUBAR. Sick babies getting lost between programs, old folks losing services they desperately need, doctors and nurses walking away in droves...but of course HIPPA prevents any health care worker from talking. Please pass the duct tape.

Lady Red's Musings

The Superbowl...wasn't. It was a complete mismatch. I don't know if Seattle is indeed that good or if Denver is indeed that pathetically horrible, but either way I went to bed while the 4th quarter was still playing. The only good thing was the halftime show; Bruno Mars was very enjoyable. The Red Hot Chili Peppers? Not so much.

I believe Noah has rescued my Toshiba laptop from sluggishland. It was taking up to two minutes to load a page, and was locking up on a regular basis. It seems to have gotten a second wind today, and is functioning almost normally.

 Have you all seen the price of propane? It has skyrocketed. Millions of Americans heat their homes with propane. I just read that Colorado's propane prices have jumped to $6 a gallon, from $2.30. Ouch.

There's lots I'd like to say about the effects of Obamacare in my neck of the woods, but HIPAA laws have effectively duct-taped the mouths of docs and nurses. I will say that very sick people are falling through the cracks. I've wondered if sick/elderly patients are issued numbers that won't work intentionally, a stalling tactic until Dear Leader can coerce the youngsters to sign up and start coughing up their cash. I know that sounds evil, but it may be the truth of the matter.

Random thoughts anyone? Tidbits of news? Funny happenings? Good books or movies?

Racy Humououour

So, I'm browsing on line for some long-sleeved thermal tops to wear under my scrubs when I come upon this gem:

Once I spluttered the coffee out of my nose and finished LMAO, I kept on shopping, but I couldn't quit giggling over the butt-lifting thermals. How would I look in those?

Oo-la-la!

There was also "lifting" undies for the menfolk. Picturing Noah's face as he opened them on Christmas morning was almost enough of a motivator to buy them (but, as they say, paybacks are a you-know-what!), hahaha!

I'll keep the pic of THAT little gem off of our front page: view at your own risk. Remember I DID say "racy"!

Random Musings

 I can't seem to write an intelligent post or comment the past few days. My brain is at full-processing capacity, and I guess I need time to sort and file. I've certainly appreciated all the thoughtful comments on my last post, from all perspectives. The quality of conversation on TCKT is exceptional, and I'm so honored to be a part!

The Christmas season can create overload all by itself, without the additional emotional events we're facing this year. All the buying, the crowds, the struggling young people trying to afford something under the tree for their kids...the shootings, the bloody media frenzy, the "end of the world" crapola...it's given me a touch of the Yuletide blues. This may sound strange, but I'll be relieved when it's over.

This year, we only bought presents for the kids. Simple things. Coloring books. Crayons. One inexpensive "toy" each. For the adults, we've made a donation to our local food bank in their name. We'll have tubs of homemade cookies under the tree for our guests.

We've been playing lots of Christmas music, which Noah and I find very uplifting. We enjoy singing along as we tinker around the house, doing all the little projects we haven't had time to do until now.

Our family and many of our friends have kept their kids out of school today. Bomb threats, threats of violence, and rumors of terrified children bringing guns to school for protection have the Ozarks in a bit of a lockdown mode. Extra police and sheriff deputies have been assigned to all area schools, but I don't think many children will be attending today.

What are your random musings today?

Random Thoughts On A Quiet Sunday Morning

We've turned off the television and thrown out the newspapers. The media is engaged in the most despicable feeding frenzy I've ever seen. We'll play Christmas music, spend time with our family, and keep the memory of the lost children in our hearts. We'll pray for their families.

Gun control is coming. If you feel the need to purchase personal protection, now is the time to make that investment. Buy from an individual or at a gun show, not from a store where you must register your purchase with the feds. Use cash to purchase ammo, and don't buy too much from any one store. And don't forget cleaning supplies.

At my graduation ceremony yesterday, nearly all of the students receiving Masters degrees in mathematics were Chinese, with an occasional Indian/Pakistani thrown in for good measure. Nearly all of the students being conferred with Masters degrees in Fine Arts were Americans.  The reality shock of both students and spectators was palpable.

On a positive note, my youngest brother is coming from California to spend Christmas with us. My granddaughter and I have plans to bake lots of cookies with sprinkles and icing, and we're both excited to try the new cookie cutters we bought the other day. Hubby and I have been happily discussing the menu for Christmas Eve...we're thinking a good quality smoked ham, baked slowly with a pineapple/mustard/brown sugar glaze. Mmmm!

What are your random thoughts this morning?

Morning Coffee & News Scan

The malignant, parasitic, idiotic, freedom-dooming Title IX mutates yet again on the backs of white males:

Quotas limiting the number of male students in science may be imposed by the Education Department in 2013. The White House has promised that “new guidelines will also be issued to grant-receiving universities and colleges” spelling out “Title IX rules in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.”

Um, yeah. That'll work. Instead of training the BEST minds in science, math, and engineering, let's squander our nation's treasure and intellect on offering remedial algebra...oh wait, that could be asking a bit much...remedial general math courses at MIT.  Now THIS is hope and change we can believe in! 

Whisper from the back booth of the TCKT coffee shop...."Who is John Galt?" 

*Looking around at everyone slurping their brew and staring pointedly out the window*  Who said that? Never mind.  Meanwhile, in howler monkey land...

Bob Beckel isn't just a slow-witted slob, he's a RACIST because he disagrees with Allen West. Colonel West is black, and Beckel is really, really pasty white. White! Screamin' Bob's ancestors could have been evil slave owners, or could have lived next door to someone who's ancestors were evil slave owners. It's racism, plain and simple. Anyone can see it.

“Shut up,” Beckel said. “Just shut up you blowhard.”...

...Beckel spluttered in rage, after hearing a tape of Colonel West saying "Just this past month, the 85,000 went on Social Security disability as opposed to 80,000 jobs created. So we are creating this sense of economic dependence that is, to me, a form of modern 21st century slavery."

Yep, racism!  It fact, ANYONE who disagrees with Colonel West is a racist; I mean, who are we kidding? If West were white, Beckel would have never launched into a tirade against him. What a shame the left is composed of racists. Cluck cluck. Bwak bwak.

See? We can play this game too. It's easy!  Hah!  Ahh solus...we miss you friend.  And now on to...fashion! A TCKT favorite!

Have you seen the spankin' new duds our Olympic team is wearing for the big shindig in London? Here's a peek!

Berets! What could be more Fre...er, American, than berets!  We are the world, baby!

A Bit Of Levity...

To tickle your funny bone!

Happy Tuesday!

Grenade Toss

We’ve all been following the antics of New York’s megalomaniac mayor Michael Bloomberg, and I think most Americans are chaffing at the bit over his draconian measures to improve the health of “his” citizens. He feels that no trans-fat, reduced salt, and reduced sugar will reap a healthier, more productive society. Undoubtedly. More to the point, ruling by decree scratches his itch for power over the little people, and increases the dependence of the populace upon a benevolent, all-knowing, ever-wise government; something we have far too much of already.

I’m not quite as offended by the consequences of this kingly decree as many conservatives. I take more of a libertarian viewpoint. Do I want my government to tell me what I can and cannot eat? No. I want to make my own choices. I want my neighbor to make HIS own choices. However, if he makes idiotic decisions with his health, I do not want to pay for the consequences.

Bitch Slaps And Cowbells

Kentucky and Arkansas voters sent a clear message to the Obama camp yesterday, where the Jug-Eared Messiah, fondly known as "JEM" around the Table, lost 40% of the vote.  My in-depth analysis can be summed up this way:

Of course, the clown show at the Washington Post has their own analysis, namely that:

Democrats pointed out that no one expected either Kentucky or Arkansas to be competitive states in the fall and, therefore, what happened in the two states is entirely meaningless.

Really? As an Arkie, my response to the fine hacks at WaPo is simply this:

More cowbell!

I also read yesterday that the establishment Repubs may choose an illustrious, dignified, well-coiffed businessman to be a speaker at their convention:

Yes, definitely more cowbell.

Odds And Ends From The Heartland

Have you seen the price of meat lately? We generally shop for meat twice a year; we buy the big family packs, and repackage them for our freezer. Monday we went to our favorite meat department and left with almost nothing...we paid $4.20/lb for 80/20 ground beef, and almost that much for pork cube steaks. The quality of the meat selections was poor, and the sticker price was outrageous to the point that we simply didn't buy much. Being the people-watcher that I am, I observed other shoppers slowly walking up and down the meat counters, staring, and shaking their heads, their baskets empty or nearly empty. I worry for young families; prices are soaring, work is scarce, and paychecks are stagnant. Even a bar of soap costs more, and toilet paper is so precious that I've wondered if Charmin is felling agarwood for their paper mills.

I see that Tim Tebow, the unrepentant Christian quarterback of the Denver Broncos, is still winning games by the skin of his teeth. It tickles me to see him take a knee on the sideline, because it throws the atheists and Muslim appeasers into a frothy meltdown. The oh-so-politically-correct staff at ESPN have been shrieking like banshees on crack, and the louder they squall, the firmer my stance is in support of Tebow. Christianity has taken quite a brutal bashing in the last few decades, and I'd like to see more Christians express their faith with the courage displayed by Mr. Tebow.

Noah and I were chatting with a retired couple last week. They shared with us that they have pulled all of their retirement monies from the stock market, and will invest in land. They said their tax hit was horrendous, but they're weary of worrying if/when the system will implode. They said they were happy with their decision and now have peace of mind. I found it incredibly sad...and chilling.

The rise of that old scalawag Newt Gingrich in the polls doesn't surprise me. Is he REALLY a conservative? Probably not. Is he a *spit* progressive? I guess that depends on how "progressive" is defined, and whether a person is analyzing Newt's recent positions or his past positions. I think I know why so many TPers are cheering him on anyway...it's not his politics as much as it is the certainty that he could kick Obama's ass in a debate. We may pay dearly for our fervent desire to see such an event. Time will tell.

Our family has scaled back the commercial aspect of Christmas this year. For the first time, we are drawing names for gifts, with a $10 limit if the gift is store-bought rather than handmade (children excluded from the $ limit). For the children, the adults are buying one gift per child, per couple. Instead of the insane glut of material "stuff", we are concentrating on things like baking and singing songs around the tree. We'll have our traditional Christmas Eve feast, and share stories of Christmas past. In a crazy world, we are attempting to instill a bit of sanity and peace.

Whether you are celebrating the Birth of the Christ Child, the Festival of Lights, or both...Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah my friends!

The Destruction Of Rick Perry

"Niggerhead", inscribed on a large, flat rock in the middle of nowhere, marked the entrance to a hunting property. The Perry family did not own this property; they merely joined a lease. Even so, Perry the Elder took it upon himself to spray paint over the place name and turn the rock on its face. A simple gesture by a good man, an action that all of us would take without a second thought. This event occurred some thirty years ago.

But that isn't good enough. The fact that Perry's dad breathed the same air as the offensive rock is a damning commentary on Rick Perry himself. Rick even hunted on the property a few times through the years, thereby also breathing the same air as the defaced, toppled rock.

Someone whom I respect, Herman Cain, made a ill-advised statement condemning Rick Perry for the words on the rock, based solely on a hit piece by the Washington Post. Not good. At all. He seems an honorable man; let's see if he walks back his hasty comment in the days to come.

Meanwhile, democrats in Perry's home state of Texas have rallied loudly and angrily behind him, claiming that Perry doesn't have a racist bone in his body. Is anyone listening?

My point is this: we cannot allow newspapers, magazines, and television networks to select our next president as they did in the last election. By inflating and embellishing this tale and plastering it on their front page, the Washington Post has unleashed a media torrent which Perry may not politically survive. How do ordinary Americans fight back against ugly yellow journalism and the media's blatant manipulation of our political process? Suggestions?

Sunday Morning Coffee

Robert Reich correctly identifies some of the problems plaguing our faltering economy, but adding more cowbell isn't the answer. The government breaking the backs of the middle class (or even the rich) to support the lower classes is the American Dream denied...for everyone. Says Reich:

THE 5 percent of Americans with the highest incomes now account for 37 percent of all consumer purchases, according to the latest research from Moody’s Analytics. That should come as no surprise. Our society has become more and more unequal.

When so much income goes to the top, the middle class doesn’t have enough purchasing power to keep the economy going without sinking ever more deeply into debt — which, as we’ve seen, ends badly. An economy so dependent on the spending of a few is also prone to great booms and busts. The rich splurge and speculate when their savings are doing well. But when the values of their assets tumble, they pull back. That can lead to wild gyrations. Sound familiar?

The economy won’t really bounce back until America’s surge toward inequality is reversed. Even if by some miracle President Obama gets support for a second big stimulus while Ben S. Bernanke’s Fed keeps interest rates near zero, neither will do the trick without a middle class capable of spending. Pump-priming works only when a well contains enough water.

I agree wholeheartedly. However, I disagree with his conclusions:

We might have enlarged safety nets — by having unemployment insurance cover part-time work, by giving transition assistance to move to new jobs in new locations, by creating insurance for communities that lost a major employer. And we could have made Medicare available to anyone.

Big companies could have been required to pay severance to American workers they let go and train them for new jobs. The minimum wage could have been pegged at half the median wage, and we could have insisted that the foreign nations we trade with do the same, so that all citizens could share in gains from trade.

We could have raised taxes on the rich and cut them for poorer Americans.

The problem isn't that rich people pay only 35% of their income for taxes; the problem is that they don't. Capital gains, which I would venture is a substantial portion of of the top 5% income, isn't taxed. It should be. Ordinary Americans don't enjoy a big chunk of their income being "tax-free". Pack-a-lunch-bucket Americans pay the full payroll tax out of their stagnated paychecks; upper-tier earners are capped. The wealthy can afford to hire top-notch accountants to itemize, depreciate, and generally take advantage of loopholes the rest of us have never even heard of. The solution? Do away with payroll taxes, and only tax purchases. It's the only way that everyone will have a proportional amount of skin in the game.

Despite Reich's wistful plea to cut taxes for "poorer" Americans, how is that possible when over half of Americans pay no income tax at all? Perhaps he's referring to other types of taxes, but to be means-tested before pumping gas or buying a new car strikes me as impossible.

Having the government pay workers to relocate is ridiculous. Have a huge garage sale, pack the car with the what's left, shoehorn in the kids, and hit the road. Stay in a cheap motel for a few weeks if you need to. Americans have been doing just that for many generations; keep Uncle Sam out of it (and Sam's hand out of my pocket).

We can't peg minimum wage to median wage. Companies cannot afford to pay uneducated workers double-digit wages to mop bathroom floors or bag french fries. Many minimum-wage workers are ALREADY overpaid. The American dream has always been to work harder, educate yourself, and climb the ladder based on your talents and merit, not a hand-out and a pat on the head from a socialist gov't. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need". Sound familiar? And why should American companies be forced to "retrain" and/or grant severance pay to workers they shitcan? Isn't that rewarding incompetence? Companies should be allowed to make their own personnel policies, not have them dictated by the government.

If Obama waved his magic wand and instituted all of Reich's disastrous ideas, our country would complete its tumbling journey to third-world nation by tomorrow.

Perhaps that's the point, and the ultimate goal.

Thoughts? Comments? Coffee? Tea?

Gay And Christian?

I generally find myself in agreement with the Judeo-Christian values upon which our country was founded. I'd be happy with a monument of The Ten Commandments displayed prominently in every school and courthouse. I believe that life begins at conception. On things such as these, I guess you could say that I'm fairly socially conservative.

But not on this. Scroll down the page for the results of the poll, which asks "Is it possible to be both a committed Christian and a practicing homosexual?" 78% of respondents answered negatively.

My understanding of Christianity is that it accepts all people. I do not believe that a person can choose their sexual orientation any more than they can choose their skin color. I'm saddened and disappointed by the results of this poll, even taking into account that it's not a scientific sampling.

The conservatives may be well advised to stay away from this kind of social issue in 2012 if they hope to woo independent voters like me. Our nation was forged on hard-fought-for tolerance; in our workplace, in our neighborhoods, and in our places of worship. You may not like sitting in a pew next to a homosexual man or woman, but to exclude him or her from the joys and rewards of your faith is wrong, and about the most un-Christian thing I can think of.

That's my couple of shiny copper pennies, submitted respectfully. (Pull pin, hurl grenade, run for cover).

A Reply To Bill Keller

Bill Keller of the NYT penned an interesting opinion piece this week.  In it, he attempts to tackle the media's spittle-flecked hatred of Sarah Palin.  He begins by stating the obvious:

If the 2012 election were held in the newsrooms of America and pitted Sarah Palin against Barack Obama, I doubt Palin would get 10 percent of the vote. However tempting the newsworthy havoc of a Palin presidency, I’m pretty sure most journalists would recoil in horror from the idea.

Mr. Keller, what you fail to address in this remark is the fact that "Sarah Palin" could be replaced by the name "Rick Perry", or "Michelle Bachmann" or "Herman Cain" or "Paul Ryan", or ANY social/fiscal conservative, and the media's vote would reflect the same percentage (and I think 10% is a stretch).  Also, excuse me if I'm wrong, but is it the media's duty to "recoil in horror"?  Aren't you supposed to be the epitome of impartiality?  Isn't it your job to investigate and report facts, not personal feelings?

Your first two sentences sum up the reason why so many Americans, regardless of political affiliation, have lost faith in the mainstream/cable media, and why Palin's disdain resonates so loudly and broadly.  You cannot be trusted to simply report the news.  You have BECOME the news.  You actively work to shape the direction of our country.  Hard-news reporters overtly campaign for favored candidates and personally/corporately held political beliefs from every nightly "news" broadcast.  This is journalism?

You go on to have a field day reconstituting the same old blather, building every Palin gaff into a mountain of outrage, including the umbrage of the reporters wasting their time chasing her around.  As a media consumer, I don't care if your reporters are inconvenienced.  Their job is to report the news, not be afforded the comforts and perks of opera divas.  Just shut up.  The news is NOT about YOU. 

You trot out Palin's lack of experience completely oblivious to the fact that Obama has even less experience, and yet you championed him all the way to the White House.  Your bias is breathtaking in its scope, and your insistence that this blanket bias is "journalism" boggles the mind of many Americans.

You don't get it, Mr. Keller.  The mainstream media has forsaken the trust given to it by the people.  We're angry.  We need a vibrant, impartial press that is above the clamoring and caterwauling of the political process.  You, and the rest of the mainstream/cable media, are not providing that.  I think we all mourn the loss of a once respected institution.