I'm kind of a nostalgia buff if you haven't gathered that from my posts. I like the old stuff. Technology is my thing day in and day out, and I have to admit that although I absolutely love my job (specifically now that I am out from under the corporate umbrella), I yearn for the simplest most free life I can create for my family.
Most summer nights I get a little of that freedom. Actually, let's call it what it is, Liberty. After the dinner hour is over and the kids are in bed, I go out walking in my little corner of the earth just to look at the trees to see if they have changed from the day before. We don't have a huge spread, but it's in the country, and it's ours.
I am pretty lucky to have this bit of liberty in today's world, and I thank God for that every day. I am even luckier to be able to take these little jaunts in a historical way. Most evenings I journey out with either a single action wheel gun hanging on my hip, or a lever action balanced on my left shoulder. It's fun to imagine that only a hundred and fifty years ago, my evening stroll may well have been taken by a person before me looking to take a little food for their family. Me, I just like to shoot at any rocks that look mean, and on occasion I even hit one.
The joy that I get out of this harmless activity is immense. To think there are folks that would take this opportunity away is hard to believe. This is an activity that I choose freely. Hmm. Freedom of choice? This pursuit makes me happy. Again, Hmmm... To keep the cliche festival going, my fist isn't touching anyone's nose, but that doesn't matter to the folks that would take my beloved treasures. I understand and believe in the real meaning of the right to keep and bear arms. That's not what this is about. This is about something more basic.
The left will talk about the cost that guns bring to society. My question to them is what is the price of liberty? This argument can be made about nearly any activity. Is the loss of individual Liberty, the very thing that America was founded upon, worth it to save what is really a small amount of damage in the big scheme of the world?
This line of thinking can and should be brought to nearly all issues. Health care. The government says you must weigh between X and Y and eat ABC or you will be a burden on society. No tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc., etc. I know I am sliding down a slippery slope theory that is unlikely to come true, but....
Another fantastic example of this principal is motorcycle helmet laws. I don't ride a bike. Probably never will just because I think I would kill myself. I would never advocate a helmet law in our state. Folks that ride do it to feel free, and part of that experience is the wind. Why on earth would I vote to take their personal liberty? Really, what's the whole price of having or not having this type of law?
It is important to get involved and stay involved in the decisions of your government. Individual liberties cannot be allowed to be taken for the "greater good". Never, ever, should your right be eliminated because somebody else didn't stop where my nose began, regardless of whether I participate in your personal expression of freedom.
Until next time, keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
Showing posts with label TEOTWAWKI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TEOTWAWKI. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Czars. How Dare you profit!!!
Ok, we have Czars for everything in the Obomunism plan. As of today, we have a PAY Czar. How dare you make as much money as the market will bear. You are not worth it. I know, the folks in my audience to the left of me believe that nobody is worth more than XXX dollars. This post is most definitely not for you.
Our lawmakers are almost all worth millions of dollars. Are you as worthwhile as them? Good old Barney is estimated to be worth up to 1.8 MILLION. He has never had a private sector job. You, the American Citizen are paying for him with your hard earned dollars. Is his PUBLIC position worth more than a CEO or CFO of a business that employs thousands? Really, think about it....This guy employs NOBODY.
There are money makers and money spenders in this world. That is it! Really makers and spenders are the "bottom line" in our economy. Who is worth more? I say let the money makers have a reward for keeping your sorry ass employed.
Until next time.... Keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
Our lawmakers are almost all worth millions of dollars. Are you as worthwhile as them? Good old Barney is estimated to be worth up to 1.8 MILLION. He has never had a private sector job. You, the American Citizen are paying for him with your hard earned dollars. Is his PUBLIC position worth more than a CEO or CFO of a business that employs thousands? Really, think about it....This guy employs NOBODY.
There are money makers and money spenders in this world. That is it! Really makers and spenders are the "bottom line" in our economy. Who is worth more? I say let the money makers have a reward for keeping your sorry ass employed.
Until next time.... Keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
Friday, June 5, 2009
What have we done??
This person is one of the select few individuals that is responsible for our nations budget. Is there any wonder things are happening the way they are? Really, really, REALLY, think about this when you go to the polls next year. I'm sure there are republican versions of the same.
It really can't be a "lesser of two evils" thing anymore. We have no choice but to throw them ALL out. With this to compete against, how can a third party or independent not win?
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/22186/rep._brown_gradulates_gator_on_bs_title
That's all for now.
It really can't be a "lesser of two evils" thing anymore. We have no choice but to throw them ALL out. With this to compete against, how can a third party or independent not win?
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/22186/rep._brown_gradulates_gator_on_bs_title
That's all for now.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Feral Cats II There is Hope!
I posted a note up here a few weeks back about a Cat that we have here at the ranch. The thing used to be as mean as Pelosi giving a private speech about Rush Limbaugh and the CIA to a group of fellow socialists. We took her in, and she turned out to be a mellow house cat devoid of any spirit at all. With all of her needs cared for by my family, she has no drive or desire. She had kittens and I ended the post by writing about my concerns of an entitlement generation... I copied it and placed it below for your review.
Fast forward seven weeks. The kittens are ALL OVER the garage, the pasture behind the house, the kids swings, EVERYWHERE.
And, We have the one I hoped for! Yes, that is a mouse in her mouth, and yes, she chased all of the others away from her catch if they got close. The world needs more of this and fewer hands outstretched because they somehow "deserve" the fruits of someone else's labor. Go make your own, and make America proud and strong again. It may not be easy or pleasant, but it's the right thing to do. I can relate to this little beast!
Until next time, you know the drill.
Fast forward seven weeks. The kittens are ALL OVER the garage, the pasture behind the house, the kids swings, EVERYWHERE.
And, We have the one I hoped for! Yes, that is a mouse in her mouth, and yes, she chased all of the others away from her catch if they got close. The world needs more of this and fewer hands outstretched because they somehow "deserve" the fruits of someone else's labor. Go make your own, and make America proud and strong again. It may not be easy or pleasant, but it's the right thing to do. I can relate to this little beast!
Until next time, you know the drill.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What Are They Thinking?
Yesterday the citizens of Postville, Iowa marched in memory of the largest immigration raid in American history. There were some forty of these vigils held nationwide yesterday.
On the 12 of May, 2008, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the Agriprocessors plant in Postville and arrested 389 illegal workers. Most of these people were using stolen social security numbers and false documentation. It has come to light recently (although it was always obvious) that Agriprocessors knew these documents were false, but looked the other way in order to maintain a low paid high profit workforce.
Although this raid brought some of America's dirty laundry out into the public eye exposing the ugly side of the free market, and the general greed of the American populous, it was a very positive thing. It could be argued that illegal immigration corrupts the entire market.
We have all heard there are some jobs that Americans won't do. I say that is false. If it pays enough, Americans will do it. If it is cost prohibitive for American businesses to pay the wage required by the worker, you can rest assured business will develop a machine to get it done.
Additionally, we have heard that immigrant workers are vital to keeping costs to the consumer down in the industries which employ the immigrants. False. The costs far outweigh the benefit. Your food might be cheaper, but if you took half a million folks off public health care and public housing, and kept the wages in America, and out of public schools, and and and ... you get the picture.
In this one instance, and this one instance only, I say hats off to the Bush administration. Upholding our laws and maintaining our Sovereignty is paramount to maintaining our national identity and well being. I feel for the families that were torn apart. There were probably some good folks that got hurt here. We HAVE to remember that the situation was self created for these individuals. They made their beds, illegally. The law that landed them under arrest was not unjust.
I find it hard to believe there are folks out there protesting the invasion of our nation. Many of the protesters, I am sure are also mad about the current unemployment rate.
Until next time........Keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
On the 12 of May, 2008, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the Agriprocessors plant in Postville and arrested 389 illegal workers. Most of these people were using stolen social security numbers and false documentation. It has come to light recently (although it was always obvious) that Agriprocessors knew these documents were false, but looked the other way in order to maintain a low paid high profit workforce.
Although this raid brought some of America's dirty laundry out into the public eye exposing the ugly side of the free market, and the general greed of the American populous, it was a very positive thing. It could be argued that illegal immigration corrupts the entire market.
We have all heard there are some jobs that Americans won't do. I say that is false. If it pays enough, Americans will do it. If it is cost prohibitive for American businesses to pay the wage required by the worker, you can rest assured business will develop a machine to get it done.
Additionally, we have heard that immigrant workers are vital to keeping costs to the consumer down in the industries which employ the immigrants. False. The costs far outweigh the benefit. Your food might be cheaper, but if you took half a million folks off public health care and public housing, and kept the wages in America, and out of public schools, and and and ... you get the picture.
In this one instance, and this one instance only, I say hats off to the Bush administration. Upholding our laws and maintaining our Sovereignty is paramount to maintaining our national identity and well being. I feel for the families that were torn apart. There were probably some good folks that got hurt here. We HAVE to remember that the situation was self created for these individuals. They made their beds, illegally. The law that landed them under arrest was not unjust.
I find it hard to believe there are folks out there protesting the invasion of our nation. Many of the protesters, I am sure are also mad about the current unemployment rate.
Until next time........Keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Chipping Away
Listening to Dan Carlin's latest podcast, "Searching for Security", my mind kept wandering beyond what he was talking about. The point of the first half of the show was the erosion of the fourth amendment of our constitution. In case you haven't read it lately, here it is:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Dan was talking about the warrant less wire taps, illegal searching using "bots" to find people that look at certain types of websites, even seizing of library records and searching of Internet service providers e-mail records for suspicious words and phrases.
The question ended up being whether the fourth may or may not be outdated in today's society. He spoke about Louis Freeh, the FBI Director under president Clinton. He used a quote from Freeh that loosely said "if you ask someone if it is acceptable to tap their phone, they will absolutely say NO. If you ask them if they want a device to help find where their children are, they are all for it."
All the while, I was thinking, "Wow, think about the rest of the constitution and where that has gone too?" The first amendment. Freedom of press, religion, assembly, speech and petition. These words too, have been slowly bastardized to the point of being nearly useless. It too often seems that all laws have to be completely anti religion today. The press is pressured to not be the watchdogs of government. Check out this link: http://www.iptv.org/iowajournal/story.cfm/31 . In order to assemble where we live, there are countless permits and costs. You can't just organize a good ole sit in and not be arrested. Hundreds of thousands of people did manage to make it through the red tape on April 15th only to be played off by the major media outlets as right wing extremists, and as one major unnamed news outlet (name looks like it could mean Communist News Network) said "tea bagging rednecks". Suppose they may have felt a little pressure from the administration or the "party"? Don't even talk about how well you shot at the sporting clays range yesterday while you are in the airport today.
The second amendment. Probably THE most attacked part of the constitution, other than the tenth amendment. I happened across Huckabee's show on Fox News today. He had Charles Grodin on to talk about his new book. Grodin hadn't even been completely introduced yet when he went into a tirade about gun violence. Was the Clinton gun ban an erosion? Is the following proposed bill http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/text an erosion of the constitution? I find it ironic the guy proposing it , long time Clinton family friend and Chicago's own Bobby Rush, is a co-founder of the Illinois Black Panthers and went to jail for felony possession of firearms.
The list goes on. There are examples of infringement on every piece of the Contract that our nation was founded upon. At times, the document is used against itself. In today's age of mass transportation and instant information, the necessary and proper clause and the interstate commerce clause are used consistently to destroy the tenth amendment. Read the text of the gun ban proposal at the link above for a classic example. Interstate commerce of firearms is used as the excuse for national licensing. The Second and Tenth are taken away, as they are written, in favor of a part of the body of the text.
This document is the foundation of our nation. Although it is written in far more proper English than we are used to reading in today's lowest common denominator (the bottom number in a fraction for you lefties) age, it is still pretty straight forward and forthright. Why it needs to be "interpreted" has always bothered me. If it outdated, let's not just chip away at it. It's illegal to do so. Let's man up and change it according to the law.
I believe, as Dan said, that the American people would never go for this and the politicians know it. What he left unsaid however, is the fact that politicians are smart. They have figured out that the American public is largely full of people who feel they are too busy to pay close attention. Law is boring and complex so it's extremely easy for them to get around that little stumbling block that holds our Nation together. My fear is now that folks appear to be waking up, it may be too late. The difference between left and right seems to be more like the difference between Valencia and naval oranges rather than apples and oranges.
We have to remember the body of the document had zero chance of passing until a Bill of Rights was included. These ten items secured a small national government free of tyranny in favor of strong local governments of the people. This security is only possible if we the people ensure OUR EMPLOYEES (the Congress and President) live up to the law.
Please check out Dan Carlin's Common Sense and Hardcore History podcasts. He truly is half Ann Coulter and half James Carville. You can find him at http://www.dancarlin.com/ . He never fails to make me think; a lot.
A couple pertinent quotes from Ben Franklin:
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
There's power in them there words!
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Dan was talking about the warrant less wire taps, illegal searching using "bots" to find people that look at certain types of websites, even seizing of library records and searching of Internet service providers e-mail records for suspicious words and phrases.
The question ended up being whether the fourth may or may not be outdated in today's society. He spoke about Louis Freeh, the FBI Director under president Clinton. He used a quote from Freeh that loosely said "if you ask someone if it is acceptable to tap their phone, they will absolutely say NO. If you ask them if they want a device to help find where their children are, they are all for it."
All the while, I was thinking, "Wow, think about the rest of the constitution and where that has gone too?" The first amendment. Freedom of press, religion, assembly, speech and petition. These words too, have been slowly bastardized to the point of being nearly useless. It too often seems that all laws have to be completely anti religion today. The press is pressured to not be the watchdogs of government. Check out this link: http://www.iptv.org/iowajournal/story.cfm/31 . In order to assemble where we live, there are countless permits and costs. You can't just organize a good ole sit in and not be arrested. Hundreds of thousands of people did manage to make it through the red tape on April 15th only to be played off by the major media outlets as right wing extremists, and as one major unnamed news outlet (name looks like it could mean Communist News Network) said "tea bagging rednecks". Suppose they may have felt a little pressure from the administration or the "party"? Don't even talk about how well you shot at the sporting clays range yesterday while you are in the airport today.
The second amendment. Probably THE most attacked part of the constitution, other than the tenth amendment. I happened across Huckabee's show on Fox News today. He had Charles Grodin on to talk about his new book. Grodin hadn't even been completely introduced yet when he went into a tirade about gun violence. Was the Clinton gun ban an erosion? Is the following proposed bill http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/text an erosion of the constitution? I find it ironic the guy proposing it , long time Clinton family friend and Chicago's own Bobby Rush, is a co-founder of the Illinois Black Panthers and went to jail for felony possession of firearms.
The list goes on. There are examples of infringement on every piece of the Contract that our nation was founded upon. At times, the document is used against itself. In today's age of mass transportation and instant information, the necessary and proper clause and the interstate commerce clause are used consistently to destroy the tenth amendment. Read the text of the gun ban proposal at the link above for a classic example. Interstate commerce of firearms is used as the excuse for national licensing. The Second and Tenth are taken away, as they are written, in favor of a part of the body of the text.
This document is the foundation of our nation. Although it is written in far more proper English than we are used to reading in today's lowest common denominator (the bottom number in a fraction for you lefties) age, it is still pretty straight forward and forthright. Why it needs to be "interpreted" has always bothered me. If it outdated, let's not just chip away at it. It's illegal to do so. Let's man up and change it according to the law.
I believe, as Dan said, that the American people would never go for this and the politicians know it. What he left unsaid however, is the fact that politicians are smart. They have figured out that the American public is largely full of people who feel they are too busy to pay close attention. Law is boring and complex so it's extremely easy for them to get around that little stumbling block that holds our Nation together. My fear is now that folks appear to be waking up, it may be too late. The difference between left and right seems to be more like the difference between Valencia and naval oranges rather than apples and oranges.
We have to remember the body of the document had zero chance of passing until a Bill of Rights was included. These ten items secured a small national government free of tyranny in favor of strong local governments of the people. This security is only possible if we the people ensure OUR EMPLOYEES (the Congress and President) live up to the law.
Please check out Dan Carlin's Common Sense and Hardcore History podcasts. He truly is half Ann Coulter and half James Carville. You can find him at http://www.dancarlin.com/ . He never fails to make me think; a lot.
A couple pertinent quotes from Ben Franklin:
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
There's power in them there words!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Work
Tonight's post really boils down to the following link:
http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/
This, my brothers and sisters, is a very important set of documents. This site is a fantastic reference for the understanding of our country. If you have never given them a read, please, please do so. The three folks responsible for these writings were very much in the heart of the struggle at the beginning of our Nation. Please, put in the work. It's worth it.
http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/
This, my brothers and sisters, is a very important set of documents. This site is a fantastic reference for the understanding of our country. If you have never given them a read, please, please do so. The three folks responsible for these writings were very much in the heart of the struggle at the beginning of our Nation. Please, put in the work. It's worth it.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Feral Cats
We have a cat here at our place. We live in what the rest of the world may call the "boonies". Our nearest town is only four miles away, but it's a couple miles of gravel to get out, and that town only has the main streets paved. Our grocery store would fit many times into a regular city grocery store. Before you begin to think I am a bumpkin never having left the country, please know, I have lived in and visited some very large cities both in this country and others. Oh yeah, back to the cat.....
This cat, here on the farm, was as feral (wild for the lefties here) as you can imagine. She was always dragging dead things up on the front porch to eat. Anyone that would come near would get a horrific hiss followed by the waving flag of her tail as she ran away. If you attempted to touch her and she was cornered, you were most definitely going to bleed. That was a guarantee!
You see, she was a pilgrim on our place. This cat was a free spirit. Living on her own and surviving just fine.
She made a mistake, however. She let my wife and I (with good intentions) tempt her by leaving food out every night. You see, we thought it would be good to have a "mouser" around our new country place. And it was great that she was independent. We could go away for the weekend and not worry about our "stray" cat.
Well, this cat, two years later is nothing but the regular old house cat that you are used to seeing. It is completely dependent upon us. We feed it every meal now. It rubs against us and gets under foot constantly hoping for a little bonus morsel or scratch on the head. I can't remember the last time I saw her hunting mice in the pasture. She just had kittens, and they are living comfortably in the garage without a care in the world. A new dependent generation has been born. They will never learn their food comes from the animals outside the house.
Its an amazing parallel isn't it? Theirs happened quicker, but it happened just the same. I just really, really, hope there is a wild one in that bunch of kittens that I can relate to.
Until next time, keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
This cat, here on the farm, was as feral (wild for the lefties here) as you can imagine. She was always dragging dead things up on the front porch to eat. Anyone that would come near would get a horrific hiss followed by the waving flag of her tail as she ran away. If you attempted to touch her and she was cornered, you were most definitely going to bleed. That was a guarantee!
You see, she was a pilgrim on our place. This cat was a free spirit. Living on her own and surviving just fine.
She made a mistake, however. She let my wife and I (with good intentions) tempt her by leaving food out every night. You see, we thought it would be good to have a "mouser" around our new country place. And it was great that she was independent. We could go away for the weekend and not worry about our "stray" cat.
Well, this cat, two years later is nothing but the regular old house cat that you are used to seeing. It is completely dependent upon us. We feed it every meal now. It rubs against us and gets under foot constantly hoping for a little bonus morsel or scratch on the head. I can't remember the last time I saw her hunting mice in the pasture. She just had kittens, and they are living comfortably in the garage without a care in the world. A new dependent generation has been born. They will never learn their food comes from the animals outside the house.
Its an amazing parallel isn't it? Theirs happened quicker, but it happened just the same. I just really, really, hope there is a wild one in that bunch of kittens that I can relate to.
Until next time, keep your powder dry and your eyes open.
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