I just read about the lawsuit against New York by some "artists" who claim that anti-graffiti laws infringe their right to free speech.
This is not an issue about freedom of speech. That's just a tool to give them some validity. If you tell Americans their rights are in jeopardy, they'll jump all over themselves to defend anything, from tagging buildings to writing messages in yellow snow. Call this what really it is... vandalism. Defacement of private and public property. It's destructive and costs us money. If they have a need to express themselves, there are plenty of legal ways to do it.
Huffington Post
Yahoo News
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Eliminate the Lobby
In light of the recent lobbying scandals, I posted the following comments on Huffington Post. It's a response to Ms. Huffingtons article on lobbyists who have family ties to politicians.
Don't start with just family ties. Lobbying should be outlawed, period! Congress isn't there to serve special interest. They're supposed to serve the people. Their capacity to do that is destroyed by the constant "wine and dine, scratch each other's back" mentality in Washington.
Gone are the old days when representatives met at great personal sacrifice, in a locked room with no ventilation, and drafted the Constitution. Where are the men and women of honor who devoted their lives to making this country a better place? Instead we have prople who make a career of wallowing in perks, padding each other's wallets, feeding their bloated egos and acting irresponsibly without consequence.
Start with eliminating the lobby. Then move on to term limits and all the other reforms we need on the hill.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/lobbying-reform-lets-cu_b_17990.html
Don't start with just family ties. Lobbying should be outlawed, period! Congress isn't there to serve special interest. They're supposed to serve the people. Their capacity to do that is destroyed by the constant "wine and dine, scratch each other's back" mentality in Washington.
Gone are the old days when representatives met at great personal sacrifice, in a locked room with no ventilation, and drafted the Constitution. Where are the men and women of honor who devoted their lives to making this country a better place? Instead we have prople who make a career of wallowing in perks, padding each other's wallets, feeding their bloated egos and acting irresponsibly without consequence.
Start with eliminating the lobby. Then move on to term limits and all the other reforms we need on the hill.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/lobbying-reform-lets-cu_b_17990.html
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Another Weather Disaster
This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota after the recent snow storm. I wish I could meet him and shake his hand.
WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from an Historic event ---
may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.
FYI:
* George Bush did not come....
* FEMA did nothing....
* No one howled for the government...
* No one blamed the government
* No one even uttered an expletive on TV...
* Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit
* Our Mayor's did not blame Bush or anyone else
* Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either
* CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm
* Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
* No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....
* No one looted....
* Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something
* Nobody expected the government to do anything either
* No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera
* No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found
And
* Nope, we just melted the snow for water
* Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars
* The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny
* Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families
* Families took in the stranded people - total strangers
* We Fired up wood stoves
* Broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns
* We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die"
* We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program th at trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
* Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.
resourcefully!!!!!!!!!
WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from an Historic event ---
may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.
FYI:
* George Bush did not come....
* FEMA did nothing....
* No one howled for the government...
* No one blamed the government
* No one even uttered an expletive on TV...
* Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit
* Our Mayor's did not blame Bush or anyone else
* Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either
* CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm
* Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
* No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....
* No one looted....
* Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something
* Nobody expected the government to do anything either
* No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera
* No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found
And
* Nope, we just melted the snow for water
* Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars
* The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny
* Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families
* Families took in the stranded people - total strangers
* We Fired up wood stoves
* Broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns
* We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die"
* We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program th at trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
* Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.
resourcefully!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Original Sin?
We are judged on our own actions, not for those of others. A just God wouldn't condemn me for something you did.
When Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were innocent. They didn't know right from wrong, obeyed everything God said and would have remained that way. If they had, we would never have been born.
They needed to learn free agency, and God wanted them to make the choices that would allow us to be. To do that, he gave them two conflicting commandments. Don't eat the fruit of knowledge, and multiply and replenish the earth. They chose the greater of the two. For breaking the first, they were kicked out of the garden and would eventually die. But for obeying the second, they learned, grew, had a family. They understood joy because they felt sorrow. Knew pleasure and pain. Developed faith because they were no longer in God's presence. And they made it possible for all of us to be born.
That's the original sin. Their choice. And that's the way it actually impacts us. No one is born with Adam's sin on their heads. We're not cursed because of him. Baptism need not be done to babies who are perfect. It should be done when you're old enough to be accountable on your own.
God is a loving father. We still need redemption through Jesus for our sins. And that is another gift of love.
Filed under: [Religion]
When Adam and Eve were in the garden, they were innocent. They didn't know right from wrong, obeyed everything God said and would have remained that way. If they had, we would never have been born.
They needed to learn free agency, and God wanted them to make the choices that would allow us to be. To do that, he gave them two conflicting commandments. Don't eat the fruit of knowledge, and multiply and replenish the earth. They chose the greater of the two. For breaking the first, they were kicked out of the garden and would eventually die. But for obeying the second, they learned, grew, had a family. They understood joy because they felt sorrow. Knew pleasure and pain. Developed faith because they were no longer in God's presence. And they made it possible for all of us to be born.
That's the original sin. Their choice. And that's the way it actually impacts us. No one is born with Adam's sin on their heads. We're not cursed because of him. Baptism need not be done to babies who are perfect. It should be done when you're old enough to be accountable on your own.
God is a loving father. We still need redemption through Jesus for our sins. And that is another gift of love.
Filed under: [Religion]
Friday, October 28, 2005
Science vs. Religion
It's funny to listen to both sides accuse the other of being closed-minded when they are both equally as guilty of BEING closed-minded. It's like the battle between doctors and those who practice natural medicine. Both sides have something to learn from the other. There's room in this world to co-exist.
To think that science understands and explains everything is ludicrous. Every year the "facts" change. Scientists are the first ones to "cry heresy" over new ideas that don't fit the mold. And what they don't understand, they discount or ridicule.
Not long ago, we were supposedly headed for an ice age. Now it's global warming. Ok, people of "rational thinking," how can the "facts" be so opposed.
You accused religion of mind control and ruling by fear. Yet scientists take their latest pet theory and tell the world we're all doomed unless we follow their instructions. So-called rational minds have forced our country to abandon alternative energy production for the sake of safety and environment. Now that we're dependant on foreign oil, they blame us for putting life in jeopardy and say we should be finding alternative energy sources.
On the other side of the arguement, if Catholics are right, then the Protestants are all apostates and they lose. If the Protestants are right, then the Catholics either never had the truth or they changed and lost it. If that's the case, Protestants came from apostasy and they still lose. So who's right?
All people have much to learn. There's plenty of room in the world for learning and co-existing, but very little room for bias and bigotry.
If there is a God, and I believe whole heartedly that there is, He would have a greater understanding of science than what our puny, finite minds can comprehend.
Filed under: Religion News
To think that science understands and explains everything is ludicrous. Every year the "facts" change. Scientists are the first ones to "cry heresy" over new ideas that don't fit the mold. And what they don't understand, they discount or ridicule.
Not long ago, we were supposedly headed for an ice age. Now it's global warming. Ok, people of "rational thinking," how can the "facts" be so opposed.
You accused religion of mind control and ruling by fear. Yet scientists take their latest pet theory and tell the world we're all doomed unless we follow their instructions. So-called rational minds have forced our country to abandon alternative energy production for the sake of safety and environment. Now that we're dependant on foreign oil, they blame us for putting life in jeopardy and say we should be finding alternative energy sources.
On the other side of the arguement, if Catholics are right, then the Protestants are all apostates and they lose. If the Protestants are right, then the Catholics either never had the truth or they changed and lost it. If that's the case, Protestants came from apostasy and they still lose. So who's right?
All people have much to learn. There's plenty of room in the world for learning and co-existing, but very little room for bias and bigotry.
If there is a God, and I believe whole heartedly that there is, He would have a greater understanding of science than what our puny, finite minds can comprehend.
Filed under: Religion News
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Corruption in Congress
With the Democrat witch hunt going on right now, it's easy to lose sight of the whole picture. All parties and government bodies are infested with corruption. Our system breeds it. We send these people to represent us. In the process they get power and money. They have lobbyists clammoring to schmooze and woo them. They get perks up the wazoo. And... we usually look the other way as they break the laws and trust they were elected to protect.
In the interest of fairness, here are a few links to articles about some Dem's involved in the "game:"
Democratic Senators Who Live In Glass Houses... Kevin Aylward
The most corrupt member of Congress?
Doug Thompson
Extremely Corrupt Democrats mole333
Leftists Corrupt the Pulpit Michael Reagan
Lawmakers For Hire
We need to make some changes. Accountability, term limits, ban on lobbies, to name a few. If we don't, congress is guaranteed to grow bigger, richer and far more corrupt (if that's possible!)
In the interest of fairness, here are a few links to articles about some Dem's involved in the "game:"
Democratic Senators Who Live In Glass Houses... Kevin Aylward
The most corrupt member of Congress?
Doug Thompson
Extremely Corrupt Democrats mole333
Leftists Corrupt the Pulpit Michael Reagan
Lawmakers For Hire
We need to make some changes. Accountability, term limits, ban on lobbies, to name a few. If we don't, congress is guaranteed to grow bigger, richer and far more corrupt (if that's possible!)
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Immigration Reform
It's good to see the discussion coming back about immigration reform. I'm all for the tired, poor and huddled masses. That's how my ancestors came here. In fact, except for Native Americans, we all came from somewhere else. Lately, though, with all the trouble with terrorism, job security, market and welfare woes, it seems the gates to our borders are being overrun with very little control. The republican promise to do something about it is long overdue, and a welcome sight.
Drew McKissick has an excellent commentary with links you should check out.
Link
While we're on the subject of immigration, is it too much to expect people who come here to live and work to learn the language? If you or I moved to Brazil, would we expect their government to cater to our every need? Of course not. Yet we spend countless millions every year printing everything in many languages. We hire translators in all kinds of places, even in schools! We make it so easy that many feel they don't have to learn english. That, to me, is a crock. There are too many other things we need worse right now. Medicine and health care for the needy. Social security. The list is a mile long. If we have to cut back on something, besides pork projects and government bloat, the list should also include making english the standard language in America.
Drew McKissick has an excellent commentary with links you should check out.
While we're on the subject of immigration, is it too much to expect people who come here to live and work to learn the language? If you or I moved to Brazil, would we expect their government to cater to our every need? Of course not. Yet we spend countless millions every year printing everything in many languages. We hire translators in all kinds of places, even in schools! We make it so easy that many feel they don't have to learn english. That, to me, is a crock. There are too many other things we need worse right now. Medicine and health care for the needy. Social security. The list is a mile long. If we have to cut back on something, besides pork projects and government bloat, the list should also include making english the standard language in America.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)