America Might Be Taken Down by The Desperation of ALL Those Clamoring for Inclusion

We've all seen it before...
Someone trying to flippantly pass off the most ludicrous, backwards ideals, as something they should promote or we should (rather easily) believe!
IT'S GETTING TO BE SO EXHAUSTING!
...Exacerbated by the fact that spotting this behavior is neither complicated nor that useful for seemingly either party.
:-/ And yet it is SO DESTRUCTIVE❗

With SO MANY folks possessing such a HUGE YEARNING to be included with a certain "fraternity", sub-culture; or perceived social-economic classification (which they aspire to; feel they've "earned"; or will one day be "invited" to join,) ...they will quite desperately forfeit & willfully "sell-out" and/or compromise, their own culture's best interest; their heritage; their theology; their local community; even their morality.  And they'll covey this personal, intellectual and perhaps spiritual "sell-out", even more quickly and easily; when this opportunity involves others of different lifestyles or persuasions which they can't or don't wish to relate to!

Moreover, you'll likely witness even their own core understandings of science; along with their "God given ability" to apply critical thinking to a rather basic problem, principal, policies or situation; be freely abandoned, in order to obtain this "inclusion" & "adoption" they so desperately and ostensibly desire!

They are often struggling so hard with these fears & insecurity based conflicts; butting heads with their own personal goals & more sensible behavior & interest; that this desperation tends to often be very quickly revealed through a common dependency on the same desperate, tiresome "dog whistles" or "slogans" as it where!

These catch phrases and excuses are used almost psychically by COUNTLESS people. With each presenter believing their (not so clever) cliche, will cause us to ignore or pretending what they are doing or promoting, must have some other (presumably more sensible) hidden, "higher", motivation or clever agenda.
...it becomes rather apparent that nothing could be further from the truth when they also repeatedly avoid, comparing actual facts and/or credible resources pertaining to the topic being discussed or encouraged.
...or, once either of these are volunteered (against their will,) they try to claim "all sources are biased" and alternative/contaminated facts are therefor prevalent, so NOTHING can be trusted!
(face/palm)

These abundant "dog whistles" exhibited by those so desperately willing to trade, facts for fanfare; as well as their own character & principals, for some naively sought "inclusion"; include...
~ "you do you; I'll do me."
~ "well that's your belief; mine are different."
(despite the fact the discussion concerns proven facts or realities; be it "biblical", constitutional scientific or socially acceptable.)
~ which means you'll also here things like; "who made you the know it all?"
~ and "you think your so politically correct don't you?";
~ Or how about, you and I just don't think the same; "we are all entitled to our own opinions".
...which on its surface, certainly sounds reasonable enough...
(eye roll)
...UNLESS you're discussing something as systemically & societally necessary as treating all men, women & children equally; avoiding bigotry; condemning hate crimes; avoiding civil or foreign war and killings; admonishing and condemning those profane points made in a generalized manner about others whom you no so little about; and therefore condemning others based on piety or lack of acceptance to a life you yourself wouldn't wish for or hope to impose on those you do claim to care for and "love"!

Until these types of cowardly (perhaps jaded and also marginalized) people; within countless varied subcultures, classifications, cliques & classes of citizens across our country and our world; decide that the principles and morality and subsequent "character" which they represent, all serve as something far more important less disposable factors (either within the community and the people they live around; or especially those communities they feel they will never come in direct contact with); we will all continue to be doomed to these mundane, ridiculous, brain-dead, self-centered yet self-destructive replies, to facts, needed changes and amendments to our current Constitution and way of life❗

The "American Experience", is unfortunately riddled with lame unchecked and unaccountable indifference to others and even own own best interest!
...And our incessant, entitled, exceptionalism, represents such a truly sinful level of pride; it evidently causes us (perhaps the entire human race) to miss out on blessings we all might otherwise have experienced & enjoyed❗

The simple fact is, America might be taken down (even further) by the (cowardly) desperation of all those clamoring for inclusion.

America Might Be Taken Down by The Desperation of ALL Those Clamoring for Inclusion

Examining The War Within Our Own Country And The Subsequent Wars We Cause

Something worth reviewing before we do it again...

At some point, the Generals, politicians, and leadership who can't manage with all their wisdom, power, technology, sub-contractors and claims, to come up with any better "end-games" to the endless embroilment's asked of our citizens; their tax dollars, the lives of those who serve in the military, and the lives of the natives within whichever region we have now invaded; need to be held accountable for the results of these shameful conflicts, the trillions of taxpayers dollars, the INSANE death tolls and utter quagmires they create.

Leaving whole countries (including ours) in ruin; emotionally, politically and financially, is unacceptable! ...it's heinous!! ...It's criminal!! Yet, the wrong people are suffering and being punished!

The loyalty of our brave citizens can't continue to be expected to shoulder the burden of foolish decisions, "unintended consequences", and/or the losses caused by fools in positions of power and economic influence. And each of us as voters can't continue to participate in a seemingly naive manner each time we enter the polls.

This (embedded) compilation video of the many reunions we've witnessed over the years on the News and YouTube, serves as a very touching and emotional portrayal for so many reasons. Yet, it is the captured moments of only the elated, happy, relieved emotions!

           http://youtu.be/hkGzqpGx1KU - Part 1

Part 2: http://youtu.be/GSTKoKjJ5XA

Part 3: http://youtu.be/kJi1v15yhlM

Part 4: http://youtu.be/VKyaif6lgjs

Christmas Edition: http://youtu.be/2SjVXFItWnQ

Imagine if you were forced to watch (or much less live) the realities of those facing painful, sad, lonely, detached, deceased, divorced, unparented, unemployed, underappreciated moments! The REAL sacrifices made DAILY to remain embroiled in the two longest (and incredibly simultaneous) wars in our history are simply IMMEASURABLE!!

There is no way to calculate the cost, the losses, the sheer sacrifice by so many! If it doesn't make us rethink, (once again,) our approach to war, retaliation, crude oil dependency, our votes, our stewardship of "super" power, etc., then nothing ever will!!
...how is the "soul" of this country affected by such irresponsible leadership?

My hope is that functional healing and recovery can occur within this Country, in relation to all the many (somewhat unspoken) tolls, which our policies have yet again placed on so many hundreds of thousands of our citizens over the last dozen years. The status quo has a death toll, and a toll on our entire society which we much STOP ignoring!

Reexamine your "loyalties", your "traditions", your peer pressure, your own resulting political views, and where they have gotten us! Then vote based on personal testimony; versus just that of the latest titillation. You now have a lifetime of your own observations and experiences which must compel you towards individual thinking, and an individual vote that can actually count for better wisdom.

Remaining subject to campaigns, miscellaneous claims made for ratings and/or poorly associated anger and resentment; or a lack of desire to study the real causes and effects of our history and humanities; is no longer a responsible way to participate in this democracy!

Ignorance has become a personal choice for many, within this era of our "information age". If you are reading this, then you have the ability to rise above your own previous voting limits. You can now aggregate your own fact checking; clarifying any intended responses and forge a true ability to evaluate your own positions and votes. (Sounds like "work"? Well, if you didn't work for your vote, then you are simply taking it for granted; and you sure shouldn't EVER brag about it's subsequent representation!)

Your clear alternative is to continue being fed some slew of "programming" & "commentary". We simply owe it to our historic (and at times, shameful) sacrifices made, to stop confusing the two for "news" and "facts"! Our own ethics and our countries soul are worth more than this confused version of "common" sense. Our media is NOT a reflection of our merit, nor should it be used to limit our Country's worthiness for a better future and life for those who trust in each of our democratic decisions.

You have a chance to do something both knowledgeable and redeeming; something worthy and capable of fixing our countries many mistakes and lacking wisdom.
...you're either part of the problem, or part of the solution.

Examining The War Within Our Own Country And The Subsequent Wars We Cause

Fear is an effective bait for conservative positions. Our children deserve better!

Definitely the very sensible position you would hope more of us would have, and take, for our students; which is what makes the GOP's stance of eliminating methods for encouraging critical thinking from our Texas Public Schools so utterly devastating. As if our school system isn't already backwards and devastated enough as the 27th worse ranked in the nation.  :-(
(Further exacerbated by the fact the U.S. is already ranked 28th in the world!)

To summarize the GOP's position within the formal 2012 Platform, they recently published back in August; it states (and I'm paraphrasing):
"Critical thinking skills can serve as nothing more than a "behavior modification"; having the potential of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs."  The fear the GOP then further encourage parents to consider and adopt, is the idea that a student who is encouraged to "challenge their current fixed beliefs", will then become a student which will ultimately wish to "undermine parental authority."

Fear, is always such a wonderful bait for conservative positions, isn't it?  Sad...  :-(  So ironic, to encourage parents to, "fear the undermining of parental authority"; in order to encourage the blind allegiance of those who are susceptible to such fears, as they seek comfort through conformity and party loyalty.  Offer them fear of their own children's advancement and ability to think with critical pragmatism, so you can in turn corral those who have lost the very same ability by believing such nonsense.  So poor kids, never had a chance.

My first thought when I read the GOP 2012 published Platform was; how in the world would ANYONE feel it is healthy to encourage a young, student to simply conform to their own current level of "fixed beliefs"?!  I mean we're talking about a growing, living, young, students. Isn't the whole point, to encourage them to see who they might become; versus stagnating, right where they are or where they can be held back to conform to be.  Very sad.  Very telling of our countries decline in education and worldwide competitiveness. Shameful...

We must find inspirations and hope from speakers like Sir Ken Robinson: http://youtu.be/r9LelXa3U_I
In order to cope with the current disastrous leadership we are witnessing within our own political landsacape, which forces us towards "conservative" positions, at a time when radical changes are so desperately needed. (RSAnimate Productions are always enjoyable to watch as well: (Same speaker, different speech.)  http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U )

Regardless of how some choose to sugar coat the GOP's current 2012 Platform of the State's 2013 goals for our school's curriculum; (or how some attempt to more narrowly point to curriculum's associated with Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) & Outcome-Based Education (OBE)); the discouragement to teach skills related to establishing knowledge, comprehension & application; represents one of the scariest versions of continuing to limit our countries potential by forever limiting our students thought processes and/or ability to learn and think for themselves. http://goo.gl/ks6Xw

Many GOP supporters of such limiting "traditional" teaching methods, will simply tell you there is no modern mechanism for empirically measuring a students performance when they are offered any form of objective learning skills; therefore we must stick to age old  methods focused on rote learning and memorization.  Such as the dependency on flash cards and word memorization and spelling exercises in order to teach a language  versus any newer approaches of "Whole Language" instructive techniques focus on meaning and strategy instruction. The list goes one as to the nature of limits presented and maintained in every subject of elementary and secondary education.

===========================
You can read the platforms full report, in it's entirety, for yourself at the following link: http://goo.gl/G1qAu  (Go to page 12, the section on "Knowledge-Based Education")
In contrast here is the Democratic Platform: http://txdemocrats.org/2012/platform.pdf

Fear is an effective bait for conservative positions. Our children deserve better!

You Have To Ask Yourself, Is Fear And Loathing Your Guide To American Politics?

A friend recently posted the following quote on his social network "wall":
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill

The quote garnered responses like: "Too bad people don't know that's where we are headed (or where we already are)."

Hmm ...because nothing good has ever come from American's working together, or attempting to be more than the sum of their parts??  After all, that's how we become a "Super Power"...
...we avoided combining resources. Right?

HERE'S SOME MORE THOUGHTS...  :-)

I'm afraid folks started rashly confusing something called a, "spending deficit", with our country's ability to actually afford running our government.  In fact, any country such as ours; and certainly one with the most successful GDP in the world, can more than afford each and every year of our current and proposed Federal Budget. (Which is typically much less than 16% of our GDP)

The problem is, our tax receipts and method of "balancing" anything in Washington, has become an abomination of any responsible approach to finance.  Putting off the reasonable approach of immediately paying for the things we can very reasonably and easily afford.

For decades now, Washigton's method of "Political Finance" has instead been about delaying a person's feeling of obligation, and devising creative, misinformed areas of blame for the resulting debt.  Such practices were and are initially put in place to please deep pocketed constituents; arranging for "creative" practices with regards to tax incentives and an INSANE reckless choice of abatement and debt management; over responsible, sane, approaches to debt free finance.


** I'm just not sure how such mistakes equate to dumping on the idea that American's do EXTRAORDINARY things when we pull our resources and work together?

Asking the middle class to continue shouldering the largest percentage of any effort involving our Federal Budget, (not to mention something as mundane and needless as debt management; a.k.a. interest paid to the Chinese and Middle East;) is simply, ridiculous nonsense!! Especially, given the VERY disproportionate way in which the GDP is garnered. Such practices are certainly no longer the answer; and never should have been.  They are cleaver political schemes, run-a-muck!

** None the less, the middle class voices, and voters, seem to be susceptible to this continual, sensationally marketed message, being campaigned and sent down to them.  (So we end up misrepresenting quotes like the one above, and acting as if the U.S. is crippled!  It's crazy really...  Our leadership is the only thing causing a limp!)

Simply bizarre to watch how well we've been toyed with! ...and a bit embarrassing!  But such irresponsible behavior and manipulation of public opinion, is why guys like Rupert Murdoch and his unethical business practices, as well as all related, dominating, influences; over, at least a subculture of public opinion, are banned from their native countries.  Most governments have learned (the hard way; including ours,) how detrimental such continual influences of controlled press and media can be on their country's long-term stability, and ability to function as a Democracy.  Therefore, other Democracies luckily pass and uphold laws, preventing such perversions; well before the pockets of their congress were lined in such a way as to prevent such common sense approaches.

** When private interest is able to effectively undermine our public's sensibilities, we all lose something VERY valuable!  Our public sovereignty!


Many more of us should carefully rethink this non-sense of continually defending something, representative of a disproportionate method of dealing with our tax receipts and the avoidance of responsibly paying, up front, for the opportunity, privilege and power of a Federal Government, such as ours. ...Something, we, as the majority of the public at large, stand to gain from in no way; long or short term!

** Otherwise, we will all end up getting exactly what is deserved.  ...no vote, no power, no say, no sovereignty, no future.


Incidentally, as for the quote: Churchill became saddened and fearful of countless aspects of social power and control, given the events he was witnessing unfold.  Many of which were a social anomaly at the time, spawning from Hitler's well timed influences over a starving aspect of Europe's Germany.  Churchill, rightly so, become an individual, forced to be often guided by fear. (As was the case with much of the world at the time.) He witnessed the very worst in mankind.

If you want to understand more about how such fear is now dealt with in Europe, you should look into Germany's mandates as to how they assure they never forget such atrocities and how they teach their future generations to avoid falling prey to such tyrannous leadership and influence.

You have to ask yourself, is fear and loathing your guide?  ...and at the very least, study the context and timing of such messages; and what forces were being brought to bear at the time; and by what means had they come to power.

Otherwise, the context of such quotes, has little meaning for us American's.  For that matter we felt Churchill's entire war and struggles had little meaning for us, until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  The man felt shamefully and painfully alone, most of the time! (Hidden away in a bunker, isolated and unable to see his family and closest companions.)  Life at the time, was simply an utter nightmare! Despite knowing he was rightfully fighting the most evil forces his modern armies had ever been required to engage. :-(

We are now able to review such history and decisions with very different eyes. ...opened eyes.
Don't be inspired to close them.

You Have To Ask Yourself, Is Fear And Loathing Your Guide To American Politics?

Affordable Health Care Act (a.k.a. ObamaCare) A Bill That Ignores So Much, while Accomplishing Even More

I have no delusions about the Affordable Health Care Act's ability to address the abomination our insurance industry has made of American medicine and the affordability of our care. It accomplishes little to nothing to correct this quagmire; this INSANE system, we have allowed to run-a-much for so many decades. And regardless of what it will or will not achieve towards putting these insurance company's in their place; there are the minimal establishments it offers which MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR UNDERESTIMATED.

I am merely hopeful and confident, an individual who has no other fair way, to step up to this table of bloated, "managed health care" non-sense; can at least, count on approaching the desperately needed attention and care they require when the time comes! But this bill goes far beyond this!!

http://youtu.be/3-Ilc5xK2_E

It will quite simply save the lives of countless citizens, while preventing bankruptcy for 10's of thousands of others. In addition, it will offer countless millions an the opportunity I mentioned above, to finally seek care they would have otherwise neglected. And perhaps the most "American", capitalistic, benefits, will be the opportunity for many of those who have felt shackled to a pathetic means of livelihood and income to finally feel compelled to pursue something much more befitting of their aspirations, talents and potential; without the fear they will be denied coverage elsewhere.

What is the point of trapping American's in situations where they fear adequate coverage will be unaffordable or completely denied, without a current (often dead-end) employers' continued involvement and medical policy related compensation? Our country was not built on such trappings.

Our insurance industry has architectured a system which assures your health care is un-affordability; unless, you pay them a monthly premium; which you also can't afford. And then by design, they are able to refuse, reduce and deny any portion of coverage and/or service cost they see fit.

In addition to this insanity, some voters act as if a fear of "socialism" is their impetus for avoiding government intervention. This is absurd given the hypocritical fact that no one can afford medical care without depending on insurance, and insurance in and of itself is a socialized, group participant, economy of scale. 

http://youtu.be/nXfGeMNnBsM

In many cases, our fellow citizens don't even have an employer capable of absorbing the $20,000 per year overhead in order to assure their family's premiums are covered; in addition to whatever generous salary they've been offered; (or in many cases, instead of offering them anything all that generous; take your pick.) The Affordable Care Act is additionally extremely sensitive to such costly challenges to small business owners and those individuals braving self-employment. Hence its' provision of tax cuts for small business to help offset the costs; and the aggressive, largest middle-class, tax cut for health care in history!

If government scares you; (and Cigna, Aetna, Hamanna, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, etc., inspires you;) in turn you don't feel systems chosen by the people for the people will ever, ultimately offer a better say or better control than purely trusting the board members of each of our 1/2 dozen, major health insurance companies; (as they only cater to shareholders;) which have bastardized our medical system for all of the years; then so be it. Vote for the continued inactivity which has been the only course of action the federal level of GOP" leadership" has bothered to convey on such matters for as long as any of us have been able to vote.

On the flip side, if you feel such lacking responses to one of our country's most pressing burdens, places to many families and individuals into perilous of a situation. And you feel such liabilities for so many can't help but place an additional stranglehold on the health and well being of not only our individual citizens, but also our country; then vote to lesson the priority of the insurance company's shareholders, (although they will still get paid handsomely given the embedded compromises,) and increase the ability of our citizens to survive a bit longer.

A voter is either naive to the challenges our health care presents to countless millions of families and individuals here in the U.S., or they feel it is high time the government get involved and provide a survivable alternative.

Affordable Health Care Act (a.k.a. ObamaCare) A Bill That Ignores So Much, while Accomplishing Even More

Social Progression From Resentment And Prejudice, wouldn't that be something?

Here's another "beautiful sentiment" floating around the social network walls of some of my favorite Right Wing Nuts.

I think the humor is just lost on anyone who has ever struggled, or been around those who do. I was raised with a good margin of wealth, but that lifestyle changed in my early teen years. I was then able to see very vividly, another side of going without; struggling, and wondering what the future would hold.

I remember how refreshing it was in college to take my first Sociology courses, and really gain a better understanding of the VAST differences in the challenges and values I never imagined between social classes.  Just one of which was the absolutely perplexing learning curves, varied classes often face or never obtain, were related to saving a dollar or understanding the value of one.

Such as, never been taught or understanding, turning off an electric light when one leaves the room would save money at the end of the month.  And as for the pressure to try and fit in or have dignity in one's self, through spending money on something which shouldn't be afforded at the time; it is often just as surprisingly and complex as all of our fellow Americans of each and every class and status who are eating themselves to diabetes and death.

It appears, even folks who know better, can't always do better!

The more ways in which folks find to make light of such disparities, versus understand them, the less likely such nuances and challenges within our society ever are to change.

I'm not sure when it became patriotic to criticize, not only our American leadership, but also our fellow Americans; versus, offer any real solutions? Nevertheless, it seems this country is on a roll.  Just hard to imagine when any of us have witnessed a productive manifestation of hatred, resentment, prejudice, judgment and raw criticism?  Many folks are evidently counting on our country being the first to ever benefit from such behavior.  I'm afraid such delusions will never pay off.

Social Progression From Resentment And Prejudice, wouldn't that be something?

Comparing The Poor To Wildlife Is Only The Beginning

The insanity has got to stop!!

Several people whom I respect have begun circulating the following image; typically, with the caption:
"Great advice from a park ranger."

My most restrained response, thus far, was the following:

"Very sad insinuation when photos like this are circulated to lesson our sensitivity towards the human condition, poverty, or philanthropy; not to mention the programs developed with regard to all three. 

Nor am I convinced there are many children, growing up from impoverished circumstances which would come to respect, and therefor grow, from being compared to a park Ranger's advice on how to handle bears. Therefore, I'm not sure there is any hint of valuable mentorship, wisdom, or accountability being offered within such misleading sentiments.

I could be wrong? Perhaps it's very inspiring to a certain group. I'm just not sure I would ever care to count on the folks finding inspiration in such messages if I or my wife were ever in a pinch or precarious stage of life, or heaven forbid, without food on our table!

The despicable nature of today's politics and the resulting G.O.P. message is truly shameful! :-("

Meanwhile, MY REAL FEELINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING!!!

I'm so completely disgusted with the mentality being bred by today's politics!

Such distributed newspaper clippings are just the latest in an endless, careless, barrages of GARBAGE which now circulates throughout our lives; breeding ideals of judgement, prejudiced, lacking wisdom, and an inability to relate to anyone outside of your current success or social stratosphere.

It's bad enough when a Rush Limbaugh states publicly; following a natural disaster where over 100,000 people lost their lives within a few hundred miles of our boarder; that "the Haitian earthquakes were a custom ordered disaster for Obama to shine." I can cope with an uneducated, shock jock, looser like him, bread and paid to say anything and everything to his constituent of oddly titillated listeners.  However, when well-meaning members of our general population have started finding some patriotic comfort in also blasting those whom have needs, or disparaging the programs designed to help during trying times in life; we have lost our ever loving minds!!

You see, none of the folks being influenced to further proliferate such garbage sentiments, are getting paid the millions of dollars a Rush Limbaugh is.  And even if you were, you can probably tell how much respect I feel folks who think making the almighty dollar is a valid excuse for undermining others.  (Refer to my past blog entry: "Real Men" http://goo.gl/2abmM)

I'm actually losing more and more relationships to this sort of insanity!!  It does make me truly sad!  People whom I respect for a number of reasons; folks who even claim to be guided by the life, death, humility and grace of Jesus Christ, if you can believe it; are actually being inspired by political rhetoric, more it seems than by their own good sense of morality and perhaps their own faith.

And I'll admit the most ironic thing for me, is the fact that NONE of these "friends and family" could tell you anything about the money they have personally contributed in their life towards those geniuses, down and out embezzlers that are out there robbing our social programs of all their good merits. NOR can they possibly quantify the amount of money they have personally contributed to the federal government that has gone towards the building of bombs, tanks, fighter jets, jet fuel, dessert air conditioning, the rehabilitation of countless wounded soldier and civilians.

BUT I WILL PROMISE YOU THIS!!!  Every one of us, has spent far more in just the last ten years, on wars we have no grasp, goal, benefits or understanding of, than we EVER will the alleged, "con-artist", indigent of our country; whom have all somehow managed to pull the wool over our eyes and outsmarted the system in order to take from our good and generous nature!  Give me and everyone around this sad realm of  insinuations a BREAK!

I'll say it again, you're either part of the problem or part of the solution; and many folks are on the very WRONG side of such fights. I wish I were better at discouraging these misdirected, angered, folks just how to avoid being a HUGE part of the problem when it comes to offering this country a legacy which history will avoid holding us in contempt for!

**A separate words of advice about the "News" you're listening to these days:

The people of this country have really got to rethink if a Billionaire (a.k.a. Rupert Murdoch, a.k.a. Newscorp), whose nefarious business practices and abuse of the media caused him to get THROWN OUT of his own country, are worthy of undermining the morality, philanthropic abilities, influence of the middle class, and proud spirit of this country?

Incidentally, in that last statement; I'm not talking the bad type of "pride"; the one typically touted as a "sin"; causing us to think we are "better", MORE deserving, somehow having more to lose than the next, etc.; I'm talking about a pride in knowing with confidence that the "Super" in our "Power" was ultimately a label, generously offered to this country, not because of our ability to fight; but because of our ability to care and steward this world towards the good and right decisions necessary for the type of long term prosperity and leadership any country should actually take pride in.

If you don't understand the power of the press and the media, you are kidding yourself. And if you don't think a man who single-handedly owns more of this influential vehicle than anyone else in our country, isn't able to manipulate his viewers, then again, naivety is simply not your friend.

Start questioning, whole heatedly, the source of your mis-founded insensitive and prejudicial influences; before it is too late for you to even remember what your actual, personal values, once represented.

I've started writing about these atrocities more, since it is after-all an election year; and it would be nice if each of our votes, (here in the bible belt,) counted for something more than bitter resolve, prejudice, pride, or a local, possibly family or church "tradition"; such as those you don't even know enough about to question, therefore you don't. You just punch the button and scoff at whatever point you're instructed. That's not leadership, and it's sure not a "vote", nor a personal choice one should simply surrender to any man's political campaign. http://goo.gl/xSRRr

Comparing The Poor To Wildlife Is Only The Beginning

Is Your Own Method Of Voting, A "Tradition" Worthy Of Our Country's Future?

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said at a Senate hearing:
"Many of those sources of which we are absolutely dependent are in volatile or potentially volatile places on Earth, and some of those oil suppliers probably don't have our best interests at heart. We would never depend on those oil suppliers to build our ships, our aircraft, our ground equipment, but we give them a say in whether the ships sail, the aircraft fly or the ground vehicles operate, because we depend on them for fuel."

Given the fact our Navy is likely the world's single largest consumer of liquid fuels; it is certainly refreshing to see seemingly, common sense approaches, being touted as a future at least some branches of our armed forces might experience; even if right wing nuts were able to restrain such sensible approaches from having a lick of prudent impacts on the lives of the general U.S. population.

Here are some additional quotes and thoughts to grow on:
Mabus later added, "When anyone says we can't afford to invest in developing alternative sources of energy, my reply is, we can't afford not to! We can't afford to wait until price shocks or supply shocks leave us no alternative."

Its' always an entertaining notion when folks against aggressive alternative energy solutions, and subsequently related technological, social and political progress, also claim they are in a camp with "fiscal conservatives"; given the fact that every time the price of a barrel of oil goes up by one dollar (as in a single $1 bill per BARREL), it costs the military $130,000,000 MILLION, according to the Pentagon.

Secretary Mabus, "Alternative fuels can't become competitive with oil unless there's demand for them; however, demand at commercial scale will never be possible unless there's a supply to meet that demand."

This is simply the kind of logic, morality and capitalism you would be hard pressed to explain or teach to a predictable 25% of the conservative leaning, voting population. And that is simply a shame with respect to the future of their beloved GOP.

As is always the case, you are either part of the solution, or part of the problem.

Real fun fact about the folks who would sway you to vote with that far right wing crowd I was previously referring to:
You'll typically see arguments in our part of the country (Texas that is,) directed not only against alternative energy, but very poignantly against our military branches support of the additional cost such technologies now endure, by an outspoken U.S. Representative by the name of Mike Conaway.

Before serving in the House, he was the chief financial officer of Arbusto Energy Inc, an oil and gas exploration firm operated by George W. Bush. (His recently, 2005 created, Texas District #11, stretches from Midland to Frederiskberg.)

Unfortunately and ironically he now serves on not one, but four committee seats in Washington:

• Committee on Agriculture
• Subcommittee Chairman on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
• Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Committee on Ethics
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 

I'm sure he considers himself "Part of the Solution", but the interesting part is the fact that within our democracy our votes and our own sensibilities; versus any man's agenda, desire for power, or personal career goals; still remain the driving force behind the directions this country turns and the legacies we will leave to history.

Such men's goals, ambitions, and lacking vision for our country; clearly guided by his and a few other individuals own livelihood; is far too small a matter to be influenced by. We must each focus on the future our country must offer as an example of prosperity founded on ethics, sensibility, sustainability and true progress.

To not show the world how to develop and uphold such core values, versus carelessness, conservative squandering in a time of much needed course correction or individual prosperity over movements which affect the whole of mankind, is by any definition shameful.

I say it again, you are either part of the solution, or part of the problem.

Why even show up to the polls if the only thing you can offer is, "tradition", loyalty to a group, influences outside of your own personal testimonies, influences which deny the things you actually feel are right and true; or worst of all, feelings of anger inspired by a rhetoric you never bother to analyze versus simply react to.

Any or all of these nasty influences and hindrances will only serve to at best stagnate our nation, and at worst dismantle it's chances. Study the problem, don't react and flail. Anger and hate never produced anything history was proud of, and negativity accompanied with resentment hold no better opportunity for our country.

Consider the actual influences from the messages you are receiving on a daily basis: If they are sponsored, then only be loyal to the products they represent; versus the unrelated views they utilize to capture your viewership. If they are politicized, then understand most attempts to vie for your vote will include lying about the facts. If they are traditional, then understand; this country was founded on non-traditional thinking and the types of bravery, originality, individuality and innovation which we certainly can't afford, at a time so far advanced from those glorious founding years; to have squandered by beliefs or denials perpetuated by one's own local or family "traditions"; or their hate, fear, lacking facts, or sponsored viewership.

We all may wish to feel our country can rise above such limited influence and potentially corrosive manners of thinking! But do we deserve it? Regardless of what we personally deserve; our country and our unique foundation and sustained survival up until this point, definitely deserve more!

I for one feel, The United States of America, deserves radical improvement, radical accountability, radical solutions and a voting population with a radical determination to ignore their own past hang-ups or daily titillation in favor of a future and a patriotism far better than recent decades of squandered votes have delivered.

Research sources:
http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/08/militarys-plan-for-a-green-future-has-congress-seeing-red/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Conaway

Is Your Own Method Of Voting, A "Tradition" Worthy Of Our Country's Future?

Making Sense of Ill-fated Influences

A friend recently made me aware of this troubling interview with a prominent, Protestant, Southern Baptist, Minister:

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/47090111/#47090111

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

While it is very difficult to understand such contradictory motivations and confusing direction from a "Christian" leader; it is necessary to use such examples bad "preaching" (and opinions) as catalyst for reviewing the sources of influence we each often allow to guide our own personal, moral and ethical compasses.

Simply depressing to envision folks viewing a pulpit, any pulpit, occupied by such staff members; whom are potentially yielding, unquestioned, "spiritually inspired", influence over their trusting congregations.

But I do know it happens everyday! Incidentally, this occurs while each of us, "bible belt audience members", have a front row seat.  It is more than a bit unnerving to be so close to; and quite frankly, not a show I like having season tickets to.

Such bizarre rhetoric, from folks thought of as "spiritual leaders"; is almost as depressing as witnessing whole News networks (a.k.a. Rupert Murdock owned media outlets) devoted to simular, unfounded, false inspirations; while effectively and embarrassingly, influencing droves of naive viewers, day after day, for years at a time.

All in the name of commanding repeat, titillated, viewership; so Gillett can sale some more razors! We are nothing in this country if not exceptional consumers!  Moreover, such shallow influences are evidence that our principles can truly be compromised for the oddest of reasons.

Hatred, fear and misdirected anger are powerful, yet shameful, emotions. Pride and insecurities are evidently the sneaky resources we each depend on to make sense of such ill-fated influences.

... It's embarrassing. ... humbling. Cause for concern.
"Concern", which we can't afford to also convert to fear and insecurity.
We must just continue to keep our grace in check, along with any growing wisdom we can muster.

Thank you friends, for your continued exceptional stewardship, influence and steadfast encouragement. :-)

Making Sense of Ill-fated Influences

A Musket Armed Private Militia, Versus A 21st Century Drone! Fact or Fiction?

I see this same image and quote floating around the political circles and social networks from time to time, and I just can't seem to relate to or understand the attraction?? Honestly, it seems sort of a moot, dated, point (or quote) to me, given todays modern version of armament and multi-billion dollar, anual, military budgets.

"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." - George Washington

I'm just not sure (or motivated by the idea that,) any single individual or privatized militia could really compete with a modern day Super Power.

As a result, I find it odd so many Americans seem to be attracted to these fantasies, or find themselves so motivated by the 2nd amendment, as if their patriotism depends on it?? What am I missing??

I guess the idea that we could each grab up a musket and head out the door and accomplish something or form a movement or rebellion is a fun idea for some; I just don't know that it is very realistic, and certainly not very current or modern.

Seems to me their passion and the real original points made by past leaders on this topic, 200 years ago; while trying to prevent taxation without representation, or renegade militias; are all kind of lost ideals in this day and age. How after all, would such ideals still have any real relevance??

None of us after all could do much about a laser guided, full armed, drone, 30,000 feet above our home or compound; or torch lit, nighttime, musket march. That drone after all, also has an infrared, live, night vision, feed, back to the base. A simple phone call would blow out any mob's lit torches.

Interesting article on some of the legal specifics surrounding the courts current position on the 2nd amendment: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/beararms.htm

A Musket Armed Private Militia, Versus A 21st Century Drone! Fact or Fiction?

Vying, Equals Lying For Your Vote

You have to be impressed with what our dependency on foreign (specifically, Middle Eastern) oil can buy!  Has created the most impressive landscape ever imagine, out of a completely desolate desert!

The oil we get from the Persian Gulf, is enough to yield 32 million gallons of gasoline, fueling roughly 2 million cars with 16-gallon gas tanks, PER DAY!!!  Since we don't each fill up, "once a day", it's fair to say this region's imports alone, cover a sizable amount of our current thirst.

Understanding we get even more oil from Canada and Mexico; which makes you wonder what they are spending it all on??  Surprisingly, we actually import almost the exact same amount of oil from Venezuela as we do from Saudi Arabia; whereas, we get twice as much from Canada.

To read more details about our Foreign Oil dependency, you may want to visit this link: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/how-dependent-are-we-on-foreign-oil

Nice to at least research a bit about how this current economic quagmire and technological impotence on our part, continues to burden our economy as well as our ecology; rather than be one of those bizarrely, naive voters whom actually believe any U.S. presidential administration, directly effects our gas prices by even the most marginal percentage points.

Worked out great for us, having a Texas oil man in office for 8 years! Remember the record setting prices of Summer, 2008?? They still hold the all time record for the U.S., historic highs! If he couldn't control OPEC and the production management schemes by other corporate and foreign forces, what makes anyone think any other Presidential administration ever will?? Simply not a power, force, influence or a capacity the President EVER wields, despite the lies you are told by those vying (a.k.a. lying) for your vote.

F.Y.I. - OPEC's founding members are: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Later members include Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Qatar, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.  We invaded the one we could, while the getting was good. It has done nothing for us, to control 1 out of 12 of these countries.

Don't kid yourself into believing our President can do ANYTHING more drastic than Bush's action in the years that followed 9/11. Certainly, no current of future administration could call up the U.S. based Exxon execs either and ask them to cut us a break, and say, fork over some of the record setting profits in the history of man kind, they have repeatedly garnered (45.2 BILLION, in a single year!) to help offset the results of OPECs, world wide, inflated value and indisputable influences.

When candidates are vying for your vote, they are lying for your vote.  Keep your own honest research and education at the helm of your opinions and beliefs.  Don't depend on hype and/or "News Networks" simply tying to "hook" you into repeated viewership.  Your vote, and the truth of the matters, are simply not worth a belief in false, oddly naive, titillation.

Vying, Equals Lying For Your Vote

Part 4 - GOP "Conservative" -vs- Fiscal Conservative

Here's a quick visual for understanding of how "Fiscal Conservative" the GOP is!

http://visually.visually.netdna-cdn.com/AddingtothedeficitBushvsObama_4f2c2a360baf6.jpeg

The GOP is no longer able to effectively market to those believing in ironically postured "moral conservative" positions of evangelical friendly alignment, so continue to resort to equally ironic "Fiscal Conservative" marketing; hoping these continued fallacies will not only allow the wavering Christian votes to find a new, obscure reasons to follow them, but also Tea Party members. (Talk about diversity!)

For a scary notion of the INSANE, additional, future spending to be lead by the likely GOP candidate, Mitt Romney; view his speech from two weeks ago, aired on C-SPAN (Yes, like a complete nerd I was watching C-SPAN live last weekend when it aired.)  

At the 13 minute point he covers his INSANE desire to expand our Navy, etc! (Our navy is currently larger than the next 17 Navy's in the world COMBINED!)

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/CityFl/start/792/stop/935

Any truly, "Fiscal Conservative" thinking, simply MUST seriously adjust our militarized DUMPING of tax payer money towards the ENDLESS government funding of private, military contracts and programs!  No other spending programs hold a stick to the insanity of the one's the GOP is directly responsible for campaigning on, growing and supporting!

When viewing the speech you will also see where Romney directly criticizes the current administrations attempt to address 1/2 a TRILLION in cuts along these lines.

Additionally stating that any "Waste" in military spending he can find, will simply be redirected back into expanded military programs.

Standard fear tactics (pertaining to an idea that we will soon only be able to dominate by fighting just ONE war at a time! Wow!) maintained through extensive lobbied government spending from our favorite contractors, Raytheon, Halliburton, Lockheed, etc., of the world.

Part 4 - GOP "Conservative" -vs- Fiscal Conservative

State of The Union Will Never Explain The State of Wingnuts

Spent some time off-and-on playing last nights recorded broadcast.  Was interesting and encouraging, as any State-of-the-Union address should be I suppose.  Of course, each time any positive statement or call to action was stated, it made me think in the back of my mind of all those folks in our midst who are trained at the moment to think our country's leader as a blatant, habitual lier, and a man somehow genuinely bent on establishing an agenda and goals contrary to the well being of the U.S..

As a result of such selfishly enacted brainwashing from the conservative media and it's unscrupulous methods at establishing loyal viewership; there is simply no way, anyone enticed or entrenched in such persuasions could have considered listening to or taken away anything constructive from last nights broadcast; nor for that matter would have had any interest in listening to anything the President of our United States has to say.  I think such audience members would probably be called a "lost cause."

Has been an odd time to watch what has happened to many of our more entrenched Right Wing (nut) Americans and their deteriorating ability to view, review, reason and/or relate to reason.  It seem frustration and confusion (and as I often admit, bruised pride,) have only yielded anger and resentment.

Ironically while on my way to a late lunch this afternoon, I tuned in to the Sean Hannity show on the local AM station.  One of the typical resources of Right Wing (nut) anger and belligerent opinions presented as facts and legitimate information.  It always helps me to listen to these types of broadcast in order to better understand why so many conservative and/or Christian friends and family have chosen such polarized paths of fear, hatred and extreme prejudice against any and all reason, conversations or dialogs which do not involve passionate insults of new or different ideas and facts.

As you listen to any single show's effort to scare folks, from any ideas and reasons beyond those which these shows consistently contort and disseminate, the thought does cross your mind, when did hatred become so appealing?  Why does fear create such loyal followers?  Most of these listeners are brutally (perhaps brilliantly) trained after only a few shows, through a keen version of reverse psychology if you will, to then avoid future, productive, discussions or learning outside of the shows own programing, by being sold an age old concept of "indoctrination".

The ironic teaching of a concept of "indoctrination" helps provide a fear of any one outside these veins of viewership, and teaches very directly that anyone not receiving the shows "legitimate" viewpoints are the people whom are have been "indoctrinated" by a socialistic, liberal, "left wing" agenda.  You realize real quick, why regular audiences become, sub-cultures of folks burden with unimaginable negativity, fear and insults.  And if you have ever tried to reason which such audience member or introduce additional facts outside of what they were taught to these loyal viewers of such "programing" it is met with noting sort of fear, contempt and conviction they would simply swear are not only their own, but feeling they have always felt about anything other than the political vein or party they are now aligned with.

You end up not possessing a mutual fear for them, but rather a concern for what motivated them to find identity and loyalty in such extreme prejudice and contempt.  It makes you wonder, if they could be so easily influenced by some journalism majors and writing staffs on one or two sources of editorialized news, what else will they most likely fall prey to once this trend has subsided?  In other words, what or who will be in their crosshairs, once any current victims are no longer relevant.

I am of course assuming for many, this is their first bout with despising their countries chances and adopting hatred for leadership under a particular administration primarily due to influence they have little to no affiliation with.  Or I should say for many of my own Christians friends, I think it is the first time they have also chosen to abandon any teaching related to a stewardship of support for those whom are chosen to lead our nation.  Instead there is no longer any discernment to the destructive nature of their new found, rash, negative loyalties based on disdain and hatred and concocted claims of "indoctrination" for not only the current leadership but also anyone choosing a course of support or optimism about the U.S.'s current goals for recovery and repair.

Such easily influenced populous must start understanding, they are either part of a solution or part of a problem.  And quite frankly they have yet to solve anything while spreading negativity and unfounded or educated prejudice. Buying into a school of thought simply because syndicated and network broadcasters are selling it to you, is truly reckless.

And worse, finding ones identity within a sub-culture, through a practice of taking issue with a HUGE percentages of your fellow Americans, while failing to understand any schools of thought or actual facts on any one issue, through direct research or dialogs with opposing groups is a radically mislead notion of progress and assistance.  In other words, it is a lynching negativity which only parallels movements fostering failure and damage to vast societies if not millions of people's well being.  Such negativity and those who follow it serve to accomplish nothing and simply represent an irresponsible and lazy way of thinking, way of avoiding complex conversation, way of gaining a voice with no reason.  More simply put, simply complaining and hating has no bearing on creating stability and progress.

As a result of spreading these damaging psychosis throughout naive or hate inspired sub-cultures, such confounded broadcast and resulting loyalties seems to be creating a much more profound, emotional divide between those who; seek information from actual sources, and reason through this information in attempts to approach potential solutions or in order to form position based on their own individual beliefs and convictions; versus those who are fast becoming or are already entrenched audiences who simply trust editorialized commentary as fact; and find inspirations in the daily negative rhetoric which follows.

The "loyalty" which hate based broadcast create in the form of return viewership is unfortunately, incredibly, effective!  Of course, scarring folks away from evil and towards a salvation centered on fear, self-proclaimed truths, arrogance or piety is nothing new!  It just surprises me that AM radio and cable news networks are able to depend on age old revival methods to sell pizzas and razors and unfortunately mold a very vulnerable set of American opinions and beliefs.

History and facts are certainly not on the side of proving, schools of thought fostered by sub-cultures whom choose to align with hatred, will hold any bearing on solving a countries recession.  Nor will you find examples of such extreme prejudice and hate centered objections to apposing policies, ever willing or able to offer sound rationales or adequate, proven alternatives in an effort to justify such extreme and negative bias.

State of The Union Will Never Explain The State of Wingnuts

3 fighter programs like this = $1 Trillion Dollars!

I'm glad they have been able to work out some of the most recent hiccups in the F-35 program. ( http://goo.gl/ya5tv )

My granddad still loves sharing with us, each time we vist, tales of all his aviation stories from his days as a young man in the Army Air Corp (prior to the inception of the Air Force) so it is easy to take pride in these program when you are in a country steeped with such history and presence.

Of course his stories were also fostered at a time of World War!  How is it exactly that we still find it thrilling to spend money this way?

None the less, not only is the technology surrounding this program amazing, it comes with the most amazing statistics by already being the most expensive defense acquisition program in U.S. history!

Each plane is now estimated to cost tax payers between $80 and $95 million dollars EACH, just to build!  This does not include, pilot training, fuel, weaponry, nor maintenance and upkeep.  When you start combining those figures you get closer to $154,000,000 (million) per plane.

The GAO estimates U.S. taxpayers will invest a total of $385 billion (1/3 of a TRILLION) to develop and maintain 2,457 planes through 2035.

While the joint fighter program features some of the most secret and state-of-the-art tech we can muster; surprisingly enough 730 of the aircraft are also committed to Eight US allies.

Refer to the following articles for more amazing recent details on the programs expenses and schedule:

• F-35 Fighter: Price Goes Up $771 Million on Most Expensive Defense Program
• http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/lockheed-martin-35-fighters-cost-771/story?id=14071402#.Tx-CLmNSRC4
• Another $450 Million For Fighter Engine The Military Doesn't Want?
• http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/federal-boondoggle-450-million-unwanted-joint-strike-fighter/story?id=11259491#.Tx-CU2NSRC4
• F-35 Fighters Now Double the Cost
• http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/03/f35-fighters-now-double-the-cost-/

3 fighter programs like this = $1 Trillion Dollars!

I Ignore Facts, Therefore I Vote? ...huh?

I love signs like these!! You have to love seeing raw emotion having the potential to convince folks to bring an entire nation to it's knees! All the while throwing fact, history and logic to the wayside as if they hold no weight in fixing our country.

Such illustrations are best featured as examples of how an ignorant a rather sad minority (I hope) of the voting population, would rather find solace and identity and comfort in the name of party loyalty, rather than attempt to understand why our country has suffered it's most recent bumps and bruises.

Let's first use this brilliant sign to remind us all when unemployment peeked, on Oct. '09.  Moreover, we should then ask ourselves; (if we are "fiscally conservative" and logically minded folks;) did 18 months of a new administration effect the momentum of 360,000,000 (million) hard working folks; causing a fast-track, peek in unemployment?  Or are the previous 12+ years trend setting Federal spending deficits and enormous, high risk, housing bubble lending the actual culprits?
Hmmm...

Folks are so desperately trying to get their minds around higher or lower taxes and government spending trends, and which party we can trust for either issue?  Well, I take that assumption back; they are actually just trying to redirect anger and broken pride.  And they tend to do it very VERY carelessly and without real pragmatic thought.

For instance, from 2000 to 2008, under President Bush, Federal spending rose by $1.3 trillion, from $1.9 trillion a year to $3.2 trillion a year. President Bush, you will recall, inherited a budget surplus (the first in decades). Then, hit with a recession, he took the budget into deficit. Then he cut taxes, growing the deficit to $400 billion a year.

From 2009 to 2011, meanwhile, under President Obama, federal spending has risen by $600 billion, from $3.2 trillion a year to $3.8 trillion a year.  It has also now begun to decline.

In other words, federal government spending under President Bush increased 2X as much as it has under President Obama.
(data from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)

However, lets also keep in mind, "The Backfire Effect", which teaches us:
-> The Misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.
-> The Truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger.

Take into consideration the fact that 79,000,000 (million) Americans are "pre-diabetic", but this won't stop the majority of us from eating garbage, day-after-day. We are stubborn to the point of early deaths! As they say, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

Regardless of this phenomenon, why would "fiscally conservative" folks, allow "party loyalty" to cause them to overlook cause and effect?  We simply can't afford such absent-minded antics at the polls any longer.  To keep enabling mindless, "loyalty based" voting, versus fiscally sound solutions are the exact mob mentalities and comfort foods which we owe generations of blunders to.  We can't allow these trends to be our own countries early death.

You are simply either part of the problem or part of the solution.  I would argue, if blind party loyalty and misplaced anger is all the reason you need to cast a vote, then you are more likely to be part of the problem.

Unemployment, is one of the most basic results of a completely battered, recessed, scared economy.  One which required 100's of billions of dollars in "infused", stimulus cash to even keep it afloat.

While that cash should have been used much more efficiently and was carelessly and hastily thrown at the problem in many cases, during the biggest, deepest, panicked, recession the U.S. has seen in over half a century.

President Bush cut taxes in 2001 and 2003. These tax cuts hit federal revenue, while federal spending growth continued apace. This combination ballooned the deficit in the early years of the Bush presidency.

By the middle years of the Bush presidency, however, on the strength of the housing boom and strong economic growth (much of which now looks like a debt-fueled mirage), federal revenues began to grow rapidly. By 2007, in fact, the gap had almost closed.

But then the bottom fell out. The housing bubble burst, the financial crisis hit, and the economy plunged into recession. And then President Bush handed President Obama the worst recession in more than 70 years and left Obama to clean up the mess.

Ignoring such facts shouldn't / can't allow us to remain ignorant to the originating causes of our lingering problems.  Rewriting history to serve our pride would simply be foolish! ...and would be a sad and costly way to prove a Democracy our size and age is simply incapable of learning and applying new and innovative enough solutions to overcome such unfortunate historic mistakes.

Charts like the following help folks see how catastrophic this separation in Spending versus receipts became think to the resulting recession: http://static8.businessinsider.com/image/4e1b069c49e2ae172a000000/us-federal-receipts-and-expenditures-2000-2011.png

Other great GDP data sources can be found at: http://www.bea.gov/itable/index.cfm

I Ignore Facts, Therefore I Vote? ...huh?

The GOP Truly Has The Best Pitching Arm!

This video is an opening question posed by CNN's John King to Newt Gingrich during the most recent (as of 1/20/2012), GOP 2012 Presidential candidate debates, which can be seen at the following link:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/27933986

(No embedding allowed fromt he original Yahoo news source, so here is a poor quality YouTube posting.)

This was certainly an entertaining way to open a political debate!!! :-D

And it is a real neat notion, that a debate candidate can just say "screw you and your question" to any topic he wishes to deem inappropriate or irrelevant. However, I'm not sure it is easy to agree with Newt's frustration at this point. I mean this is a debate for the GOP candidate after all, not a Democratic candidate. And these very types of personal inquiries are rather the norm for the GOP. I feel there is more irony in Newt's advisors wishing to sell us on avoiding the questions, than there is in John King asking it in the first place.
I'll explain:
Personal character and habits in the bedroom seems an almost fitting topic during a GOP debate; given the fact the GOP creatively markets itself so heavily to Evangelical Christians; since it desperately depends on 1/3 of its votes from this realm of conservative sub-cultures.

The main reason this was so well played by Newt's advisors, is the fact Christians, no more or less than anyone else, typically wish to avoid the experience of having someone rooting around in the gardens of one's own personal history as it were! So everyone can related and empathize with Newt's final denial and points. After all, Christians are indeed taught no man is without sin, and no man should cast judgement on another's opportunity for grace and salvation.

However, back to my original point; such questions of character and marital habits, sexual or otherwise, do seem a rather likely matter of discussion for a party which so blatantly weighs in on sexual orientation and lifestyles. Meaning, given the fact the GOP itself often probes such matters and makes crucial decisions based on what goes on in the bedroom; why wouldn't simular moral decisions, controversial or not, be asked directly of a GOP Presidential Candidate?

Given the crowds generous reaction towards Newt, how should such overall judgments of a man be reexamined by the GOP? If indeed this audience is synonymous with the opinions of the majority of registered Republicans; which would indicate they feel Newt is correct about the imoral, appalling natures of such interest and therefor his rights to privacy and/or enforcing relevancy to issues of leadership?

It seems each Republican whom appreciates Newt's response to John King must question how such extreme prejudice on topics related the personal lifestyles, personal morales and related personal choices each of us make in life. There is no way to "have it both ways" given the type of extreme prejudice the GOP markets. And such questions are certainly no more "inappropriate", complicated or personal to me than the GOP also campaigning on and/or being asked about positions involving Pro-Choice / Abortion matters during Federal campaigns.

Not because the two topics are related, nor compare, but just given the fact, final decisions and laws on such matters are regulated through each individual State's constitutions. Therefor it seems Newt's proposed barometer for relevancy and intimacy should also apply. After all, the only time any relevance to opinions on pro-choice or pro-life might become a potential factor for Federal influences would be indirectly through an Administration's opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court Justice. And even then the vetting process may causes final chosen candidates to fall on the apposing sides of the administration's public positions on such matters.

I see it all as just clever maketing and manipulation of the facts. But voters don't normally spot it, or care! So more power to Newt's team of advisors and their brilliant slight-of-hand! But is their strategy in tune with it's parties landscape of required voters?

The current division of voters within the Republican party continues to desperately depend on convincing Evangelicals the GOP is the more "moral" choice. How then will the GOP avoid extremely personal questions; questions of private persuasion and lifestyles; or those based on a highly sensitive levels of intimacy and marital behaviors, if they flip/flop towards an opinion they are not relevant to leadership?

What categories of piety, bais and judgements will the GOP be left with in their facade of moral high-ground? They simply MUST continue to market towards and attract Evangelicals? Do they feel being Pro-Guns will attract them? Perhaps Pro-War? Perhaps being for lower taxes in a time of extreme past debt, when lower taxes is simply "spending" by another name? Pro-Death penalty? Reduction of government support of the poor and the indigent? Anti-Government sponsored Health care for those who can't afford it? They simply must continue to act as if issue of sexuality and abortion are relevant to leadership and Federal campaigns, or they would completely loose ground in maintaining an evangelical facade.

I guess this is also why it helps when fewer than half of the candidates present at any one GOP debate have to resort to such extreme versions of "I'm rubber your glue". It is possibly all rather cumulatively measured and received by the more naive Evangelical party loyalist viewing such debates.

Again, this all just seems to offer additional reasons at least some (1/3) of the GOP's followers should re-examine the irony within the GOP's stone throwing in the first place? At least where related to marketing to the Christian far right. Since ironically, such assessments are neither very "Christ Like", nor relevant to running the country.

Regardless of how Newt's campaign may have failed to prevent further divisions amongst Republican voters; Newt's campaign advisors did a great job getting him prepared for that inevitable questioning of his character and choices made in marriage, divorce and the bedroom. About time someone within the GOP at least act out and soulfully deliver a vivid message that such probing measures and extreme basis based on the judgement of others is shameful and wrong!
...but again, the more ironic aspect of this, is not that CNN thew the stone, but rather that the GOP has the best pitching arm of the two!"

Update:
I've more recently viewed the second video on the Yahoo news site?  The one with his wife's live interview, which John King's original question is based on? http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/27928796

I can understand Newt's point about relevancy, but I still have a hard time dealing with yet another lie.  Didn't the GOP recently spearhead the impeachment of a President for such levels of "honesty"?

As a matter of fact: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, was one of the people leading the impeachment proceedings against Clinton.  WOW!  Fact is truly stranger than fiction!

The GOP Truly Has The Best Pitching Arm!

Trusting Your Health to the Non-elected

It is one of this countries biggest shames that folks who might have something MUCH greater than just the opportunity to simply work at Wal-Mart or McDonanlds to contribute, often feel quickly driven or continually trapped to such legacies simply to find away to pay one of the six (6) insurance company's which control our health care opportunities in this country the exorbitant premiums they demand.

"Managed Health Care" has indeed transformed the way we all view our health when we are sick; and unfortunately for many the denial of such provision of health care to others when we are healthy.  I often ask folks who do not feel caring for our populations health as a "human right", if they do feel organizations like FEMA should respond when a community is devastated by a tornado, forest fire or flood? Or if they feel the coast guards should set out to rescues those capsized in a storm?  Most, even conservative folks do indeed feel such "Acts of God" yielding such unsuspecting, large scale tragedies should be approached as a collaborative, community wide response to those individuals and whole communities in need during such tragedies.

The irony comes when you ask them why they differentiate between the "Act of God" that decimates a community through that of an unsuspecting tornado, and the "Act of God" that devastates 1000's dying of breast cancer each year.  We are either a country capable of caring for our own or we are not.  We are either a country that prioritizes humanitarianism issues over that of endless nonstrategic exit strategy wars or we are not.  We can simply NOT have it both ways and claim to have a sensible moral compass in any of these matter.

In so far as simply maintaining a sensitivity for the "human experiences", I find it also ironic that most "conservatives" at this point would also claim to have a protestant Christian background, and yet I am simply not sure where being "Pro-war", "Anti-health care reform", "Pro Gun", "anti-human right for all Americans", etc...  Equals the grace-filled teaching of Jesus Christ.  Again, such duality of so called morality and principals will not be a legacy any of our children will see fit to respect, nor will have the luxury to follow.  Irony's such as these are signs of much deeper and greater problems than that of simply caring for the sick.

Many claim to feel adamant about avoiding trusting health care reform to our elected officials, and would instead continue to trust this insane, corrupt system to the six (6) company's which have a strangled hold on this industry.  I'm not sure why folks see fit to imagine that any groups of  share holder's opportunistic, financial  interest within a mere six (6) gargantuan firms are better suited to sway the nature of caring for all of our health, versus expecting the elected officials we have the power to remove and replace, in the matter of reforming such a VERY corrupt industry.  It seems we have truly lost sight of the power of a democracy.

I keep imagining this loss of vision and purpose must have simply died along with all other qualities of education within our country.  Perhaps less time should be spent following our favorite sports teams and more time understanding the purposes of our votes and the power of the people for the people.

The question of allowing our government to actively pursue "health care reform" might best be elevated to something the average public could make more since of, by simply asking the following:  Trusting your health to a board you neither elect nor own stock in; does this demonstrate wisdom or stupidity?  Even if so many "conservatives" continue to ignore the strangle hold this insurance industry has now placed on our country through it's insanely disproportionate financial burden, one might simply take some time to consider the stupidity involved in selling our HEALTH out to the share holders of six (6) unaccountable companies.  This isn't just the quality or value of an iPod or iPhone we're talking about! It is our lives! And our livelihood, and thanks to a burden 2nd only to our mortgages, it is a structure and a system of being taken advantage of the American public can no longer maintain.

It is amusing to think of all those folks who like to believe we are doomed financially in this country due to the diabolical, ingenious nature of "poor folks"; all those "lazy", "welfare mongols" who refuse to work, yet are so smart they have learned so well how to "work over the system", that they are indeed to blame for the bulk of our corruption and burdens within this country.  But the same folks crying about this poor, lazy but brilliant wolf, don't for a moment think the real problem are those who are actually educated and paid to consider on a daily basis, first and foremost, the profits received by their shareholders over all other considerations of public interest. Really?

How do we remind the voters, the leadership within any U.S. corporation within the U.S. are bound and driven by our current laws to make higher profits paramount before all other considerations.  We are after all talking about "managed health care" which while it has "health care" in the name, it should not be confused with true medical decisions. This is simply the insurance industry, nothing more.  Driven strictly by profits, nothing more!  Their decisions are NEVER weighed by anything as lofty as the Hippocratic oath, nor are the value of services they deem fit to pay for ever about the amounts we as American can afford of most need.  Why would a person EVER defend this system as if it has any one's best interest in mind where related to our health?

Have we truly forgotten the purpose for this democracy?
One created by the people, for the people...
Not by the people for Wellpoint, Cigna, Aetna, Human, United, Bluecross / Blueshield

Trusting Your Health to the Non-elected

The Slight-of-Hand Which Blinds the Faithful

A friend of mine, (whom I agree with) recently voiced their shock and frustration with the fact that many in the audience during a recent GOP / Tea Party candidate debate, voiced their desire to avoid providing Health Care to those in need.

My friend's thoughts and their posted link:
"We could not believe our ears last night during the Tea Party debate when the crowd screamed, "let him die", really? Hardly the party for life

.Audience at tea party debate cheers leaving uninsured to die

If you're uninsured and on the brink of death, that's apparently a laughing matter to some audience members at last night's tea party Republican presidential debate. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a doctor, was asked a hypothetical question by CNN host Wolf Blitzer about how society should respond if a health..."

My responce:
Quite frankly, it is in keeping with the biggest applause garnered during the previous week's Republican contender debate; when it was mentioned Gov Perry had the lead in executions, with over 230! To say the GOP is "Pro Life" is just a typical, slight-of-hand, brain washing for the sake of swaying Protestant votes.

** WARNING: A "how I really feel" moment, coming on...

Witnessing momentum from groups such as The Tea Party or the GOP within the South / South West / a.k.a. "Bible Belt" is a real shame to me.

A real shame to me when it seems so many of my fellow Christ followers, have just become "followers" of causes well outside of their faith; simply for the presumed sake of being loyal and following. So few seem to be questioning the facts and actual moralities of what they are seeing demonstrated within the very bodies they are choosing to support. That whole desire within a completely free Nation to imagine one is under persecution, can certainly be a bit contagious; and unfortunately, VERY misdirected towards so many of the wrong things! This apparent desire to "withstand persecution" is about the only thing I can assume is continuing to influencing the miss-directed loyalties of the Bible Belt / Christ Centered votes towards the GOP. It sure isn't the "facts" which are having an influence.

Such easy pray, has proven to be quite the easy voter conversions for decades within the GOP political machine. Brilliant marketing! And rather embarrassing for all of us Texan's; since no group has proven to be more susceptible than those within our apparent, peer pressured, peer susceptible, scared to think outside our box, "Bible Belt" followers. "Conservative thinking" is all most can relate to, perform or know. And unfortunately someone has convinced many that "conservative" (a.k.a. stalled, FROZEN, blindly loyal or paralyzed) thinking and being scared to call a spade a spade within their own previously aligned party factions, is the more "moral" way to be. It has become a religion in and of itself.
(One that has actually convinced many, that caring for the poor and sick is the cause of our debts! And that ignoring the TRILLIONS spent every decade on war is a normal or "moral" way to think! It has become an insanity! And my local, Christian, Brothers and Sisters can't seem to pull themselves free. They are actually joining movements to the contrary!)

However, such ignorance and naivety is as productive as denying scientific facts; so why not just throw in economics, biology, sociology, political science and humanities in the denial pool while your at it. We've already tossed physics, micro-biology, genetics and geology right out the window. This way the Christian community need not maintain any educated positions on ANYTHING significant. I've often said, "think goodness my more conservative Christian friends, don't believe Genesis addressed micro-processors or medicine."
- I Digress!

Life is lived well beyond the womb. To be Pro-War, Pro-Guns, Anti- Heath Care, Pro-Record Setting Death Penalties, etc... yet also claim you're "Pro Life" is just insane! It is like being Pro-Christ and Anti-Grace! Which is a another typical irony of the GOP! It is like being Christian and being Pro-GOP! Very ironic - isn't it??

I can't find any respect for these false divisions and false pretenses of morality any longer. Christ would have no part of such hypocrisy! Far to blatant to simply be ignored anymore. It is like trying to pretend "liberal thinking" isn't at the heart of this country's foundation and our most inspiring examples of progress!

Where would The Civil Right Movement,The Deceleration of Independence, Our Constitutional Amendments, Our Entrepreneurs, or any significant inventions, technological leaps or even our Faith be without Liberal Thinking?!?! The Tea Party will give birth to NOTHING! Nothing but animosity and a longer term rut!
(Try this: Name someone of significant influence to your Faith or our country's history, and research their own personal persuasion on such matters of thought. Edison, Thomas Jefferson, the Write Brothers, 99% of our Founding Fathers, Jesus Christ, you name it! ALL, THOUGHT AND PERSEVERED WELL OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONES. None, followed the pack, or were easily influenced by groups as lame as the GOP.)

If Christians continue to think their role is to fit into boxes and follow the masses or influence within their own tiny local communities, they will only serve to exacerbate this countries issues and the corruption of the political scene. Not impressive! A waste of one's faith and a waste of one's freedom to vote as individuals within a democracy; versus the brain dead reality of being so easily influenced by blind peers.

But I write all of this knowing full well the "backfire effect" will certainly play it's part in preventing anything mentioned here of having any influence on much of anything. :-)
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/06/10/the-backfire-effect/
** The Back Fire Effect:
"The Misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.

The Truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger."

The Slight-of-Hand Which Blinds the Faithful