iThought

Sometimes it's the premise that matters.

2011-06-14T13:41:00.009-04:00

Lets start off today with a question, shall we? Oooo, that was fun! But that wasn't really a question, was it? I mean at it's core. It was more of a statement the required a mutual understanding before progressing to the main topic, right? There's another one. I could do this all day. But then I might start sounding like those A** Holes in DC, and we don't want that, do we? So let's stop focusing on the grammer of the past, or those little "speed bumps" in the nuances of the English language, and move onto a hopeity hope hope of changeity change, shall we?

I have a topic today that is a real hot spot of contension between the two major parties. And I want to make a point on it that will either completely alienate me from all of my friends, well at least the 8 poor souls who think my drivel is even worth reading, or... well yeah. Let's see what happens.

Gay Marraige. ( I can just imagine 16 eyeballs going wide, then to a squint and a turn of the head to look away but not quite, as they anticipate the train wreck this is about to become)

The argument on the left is mostly (as I see it) along the lines of, and I know this is a huge generalization, "who are we to say that what goes on between two conscenting adults is anyones business and gays should be able to get married if they want to".

The argument on the right, again, as I see it and this is an oversimplification, "Marriage is between a man and a woman. Who are you to force a policy on me that I reject".

Now for an exercise. Try your very best to remove any hint of bias in this and please for the love of all you hold sacred a dear, try to remove yourself from either side of this topic. Forget all feeling one way or another. Pretend you have never even heard of this issue before.

Okay. There is a question I want you to answer. Remember, no pre-conceived notions what-so-ever.... Should the government tell me what is or is not a permitted relationship? You see, I think that we have been devided as a people. I've heard arguments from the left and the right that somwhere, they all say something to the effect of "it's none of my business but..."

Well fine, if it's none of our business, then why is it the government's business? Seriously!?! If I can't tell you whom you can marry, then where does the government get that power? But Jon, it's for the greater good of the society. Piss off with your socialism. The greater good argument is only good for individual decisions. Advancing it further to a societal level only leads to power stuggles and slavery.

Long story short, (too late) we shouldn't even be arguing about gay rights vs. strait rights. We should be united in agreeing thast the government shouldn't be involved in the first place.

Well, at least in my opinion. And will someone please help me point that fan over there in another direction. The crap smell is really stong.

Awakening

2011-03-16T14:05:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm back. A lot has transpired since my last post and I've learned a few new things about myself. I've grown emotionally, spiritually and (un)fortunately I've grown physically.

In January of 2010 my Father passed away. I has taken a huge toll on me. I miss him greatly and I feel like I have lost in some ways, a part of me. I'm not ready to openly share how much his passing has meant. Just know that that it has and maybe sometime in the future we can open that door. But not yet.

2010 was a blur after that. I feel that in some ways I was sleep waking. Just going through the motions. But as the haze lifted I began a period of introspection, a self analysis of sorts. Prioritizing what is important in my life and where I want to go in the future.

I'm still a little cynical. Still very sarcastic towards foolishness and obvious hypocrisy. And I have a deep and abiding love of my faith and my country. I am reconnecting with God. I will continue to make mistakes and I hope to be able to correct them if I can. That's where you come in. I need your help to keep this "Project" going. So... Sound off, leave comments, post your own stories as we broach subjects that are near and dear to your hearts and maybe even suggest a topic ot two.
C'mon! It'll be fun!

Cheers!

I just got paid and I gotta little money to burn...

2009-05-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

Ummmmm….. what’s wrong with this picture?

“President Barack Obama, calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries.”

But…..

“Earlier this week, the Obama administration revised its own budget estimates and raised the projected deficit for this year to a record $1.84 trillion, up 5 percent from the February estimate. The revision for the 2010 fiscal year estimated the deficit at $1.26 trillion, up 7.4 percent from the February figure. The White House Office of Management and Budget also projected next year’s budget will end up at $3.59 trillion, compared with the $3.55 trillion it estimated previously.”

So the question becomes what was last year’s budget?

$2.9 trillion

And estimated receipts for fiscal year 2008 were $2.66 trillion, for a deficit of $ 240 billion (which by the way the controlling party in Washington said was a death spiral of debt and a result of “out of control spending” by the republicans)

Question… If that’s true, then what is $1.84 trillion?
Answer… A quadruple by-pass on a dead and bloated body that’s washed ashore. Performed without surgical tools. By a high school dropout.

Mr. President…. DUH!!!

Oh, and what happens when we take on universal health care? Oh I know we’ll fund that by raising taxes on soda!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5009316.shtml

Read it for yourself.
Obama Says U.S. Long-Term Debt Load “Unsustainable”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_en&sid=aRTneEeQrcK0

Turn your head and cough, America. Dr. Uncle Sam will see you now.

2009-02-09T14:54:00.007-05:00

America is sick, and our doctor is the Federal Government. (Universal Health Care. YEAH!!!) Since George Washington all the way up until last October, the US Federal Deficit was $10,000,000,000,000.00, combined. That's right, it took us 219 years to rack up 10 Trillion dollars worth of debt.

"Okay my wise and learned colleagues," do you know how much the Federal Government has spent since October 2008? Drum roll Please...........................

$9,700,000,000,000.00 That's 9.7 Trillion for those of us educated in the public school system.

Is it too late to get a second opinion? According to Newsweek, yes. Yes, it is too late. This weeks cover for the "runner-up to Time Magazine for the number times Obama was spotlighted" says "We are all socialists now"

So my next question is... Do I have to buy my own boots... or does big brother, er, I mean the Government issue them to me?

Back to my opening statement of America being sick, look at it this way. If you consider America to be one giant corporation, then the the Federal government is "Big Labour". Last week in Washington D.C., Union thugs lined up to protest in support of card check. What is this you ask? No, it's not about a last look at your hand before you go all in (although...), no, it's the ability of Unions to do away with secret ballots and to be able to unionize a company with a simple majority of 50% + 1. No secret ballot means that union thugs, er, I mean reps, can come to your home and ask you if you are going to support unionization of the company you work for. President Obama is for this. Oh yeah, the only way a company owner can get out of their business being unionized, is to go out of business. And not just go out of business and re-open somewhere else, your doors are closed for good. Everywhere. So I ask you folks in the auto industry, and the aviation industry, and the sea ports, and education... how are those union deals working out for ya?

One more little tid-bit of information, did you know that the only place a union cannot be organized is the Federal Government? Turns out Congress thinks that a union of the pages and staff would slow down their work too much.

O_O Really? Huh.

A Renewal of Standards

2009-02-06T15:05:00.006-05:00

This next post comes from a report that radio personality and Foxnews host Glenn Beck made this week. He came up with a list of Nine principles as a way of finding out what unites us as Americans. I want to expand this to say that these ideas are more that just principles. They are a rallying point. For decades, we have been devided by political parties while they keep us fighting amongst ourselves they put policies in place that limit our ability to keep them in check. It's time for us to help those in Washington to remember that it's "We the People", not they the politicians. So if you can agree with at least 7 of these 9, then send a picture of yourself to the email address at the bottom of the post and then catch Glenn on Fox News at 5:00pm EST for the next few weeks and he will show us that we are not alone. That you are not the only one that feels frutrated. I started this blog as a way to both vent and to hopefully start a dialog to get us talking about what really matters. Mostly I've been venting so here is something I think that we can discuss and use as a springboard for ideas to bring about the greatest success this country has ever seen. So here it is, Glenn's request.

There is a lot of bad news out there. Our economy is tanking and does not show signs of improving. People are losing their jobs 500 million a month according to Nancy Pelosi and there are more cuts on the way.

People around the world are taking to the streets. Our government responds to the problem with "bailouts." When you reach out to them you get no response while Ponzi scheme crooks get away with Billions and tax cheats get promotions.

Terrorists are on the run, and you just want to keep your family safe.

It is enough to make you want to just give up!

But I am here to tell you something important: You are not alone, and if you believe in a majority of these nine principles then keep watching because I am going to prove it to you to.

1. America is a good place, not perfect, but good.

2. I believe in God and He is the center of my life.

3. I must try to be a better, more honest person than I was yesterday.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority of it under God.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness but that is not a guarantee of equal results.

7. I work hard for what I have. I will share it with who I want to, When I want to, If I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree or share my personal opinion.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them. They answer to me.

If you believe in these things, then I have a project for you. Believe me, this will be worth your while. I want you to take a picture of yourself — keep your clothes on, please — and e-mail it to wesurroundthem@gmail.com. I am going to ask you every day for the next two or three weeks.

Please, if you agree with these principles then help fight for them.

ee eh yesuu do'h mi ney...

2009-02-03T15:58:00.012-05:00

No really... It feels like this sometimes.

CROWD: A Global Warming Denier! A Global Warming Denier! We've got a Global Warming Denier
VILLAGER #1: We have found a Global Warming Denier, might we burn her?
CROWD: Burn her! Burn!
U.N. SCIENTIST: How do you know she is a Global Warming Denier?
VILLAGER #2: She looks like one.
U.N. SCIENTIST: Bring her forward.
GLOBAL WARMING DENIER: I'm not a Global Warming Denier. I just don't think "Man" is responsible for all of it.
U.N. SCIENTIST: But you look like one.
GLOBAL WARMING DENIER: They dressed me up like this.
CROWD: No, we didn't... no.
GLOBAL WARMING DENIER: And this isn't my nose, it's a false one.
U.N. SCIENTIST: Well?
VILLAGER #1: Well, we did do the nose.
U.N. SCIENTIST: The nose?
VILLAGER #1: And the hat -- but she is a Global Warming Denier!
CROWD: Burn her! Global Warming Denier! Global Warming Denier! Burn her!
U.N. SCIENTIST: Did you dress her up like this?
CROWD: No, no... no ... yes. Yes, yes, a bit, a bit.
VILLAGER #1: She has got an SUV.
U.N. SCIENTIST: What makes you think she is a Global Warming Denier?
VILLAGER #3: Well, she showed me a picture of the Sun and said that it was the reason the Earth get's hot.
U.N. SCIENTIST: The Sun?
VILLAGER #3: I did get a tan at the beach last week.
VILLAGER #2: Burn her anyway!
CROWD: Burn! Burn her!
U.N. SCIENTIST: Quiet, quiet. Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a Global Warming Denier.
CROWD: Are there? What are they?
U.N. SCIENTIST: Tell me, what do you do with Global Warming Deniers?
VILLAGER #2: Burn!
CROWD: Burn, burn them up!
U.N. SCIENTIST: And what do you burn apart from Global Warming Deniers?
VILLAGER #1: More Global Warming Deniers!
VILLAGER #2: Wood!
U.N. SCIENTIST: So, why do Global Warming Deniers burn?
[pause]
VILLAGER #3: B--... 'cause they're made of wood...?
U.N. SCIENTIST: Good!
CROWD: Oh yeah, yeah...
U.N. SCIENTIST: So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
VILLAGER #1: Build a bridge out of her.
U.N. SCIENTIST: Aah, but can you not also build bridges out of stone?
VILLAGER #2: Oh, yeah.
U.N. SCIENTIST: Does wood sink in water?
VILLAGER #1: No, no.
VILLAGER #2: It floats! It floats!
VILLAGER #1: Throw her into the pond!
CROWD: The pond!
U.N. SCIENTIST: What also floats in water?
VILLAGER #1: Bread!
VILLAGER #2: Apples!
VILLAGER #3: Very small rocks!
VILLAGER #1: Cider!
VILLAGER #2: Gre... gravy!
VILLAGER #1: Cherries!
VILLAGER #2: Mud!
VILLAGER #3: Churches -- churches!
VILLAGER #2: Lead -- lead!
AL GORE: A duck.
CROWD: Ooooooh.
U.N. SCIENTIST: Exactly! Sooo, logically...,
VILLAGER #1: If... she... weighs the same as a duck..., she's made of wood.
U.N. SCIENTIST: And therefore---?
VILLAGER #1: A Global Warming Denier!
CROWD: A Global Warming Denier!
U.N. SCIENTIST: We shall use my largest scales!
[yelling]
U.N. SCIENTIST: Right, remove the supports!
[whop]
[creak]
[scales teeter but remain equal]
CROWD: A Global Warming Denier! A Global Warming Denier!
GLOBAL WARMING DENIER: Sigh, well, that was a fair trial.
CROWD: Burn her! Burn her!
[yelling]
U.N. SCIENTIST: Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?
AL GORE: I am Al Gore, Former Vice President and inventor of the Internet.
U.N. SCIENTIST: My liege!
AL GORE: Good Scientist, will you come with me to Kyoto, and join us at the Round Table of Scientific Consensus?
U.N. SCIENTIST: My liege! I would be honored.
AL GORE: And you are...?
U.N. SCIENTIST: I am a U.N. Scientist, my Liege.
AL GORE: Then I dub you Sir U.N. Scientist, Knight of the Round Table of Scientific Consensus.

So let me get this strait...

2009-02-03T09:59:00.004-05:00

all I have to do is make a bunch of promises, not pay my taxes and point the finger of blame at everyone else and I can get a Presidential Cabinet Position? Where do I sign up?

I am referring of course to the latest of our DC Politicians to get caught with their financial pants down. Tom Daschle is the most recent in what is becoming a not so exclusive group of "they are the only one that can do the job" dirt bags in Washington that thinks the law does not apply them. Perhaps you remember the last guy. Tim Geithner? He's the one who was billed as the only one who can figure out the economic crisis and steer us through to safe waters. The trouble is, is that for four years he didn't pay his taxes on income he earned from a company he worked for that cut him a check, that he signed for, once a quarter so he wouldn't have to pay his taxes out of pocket. Now, he's the treasury secretary (That's the head of the IRS for us lay people who just can't seem to figure out that debt is bad).

So, Tom Daschle, who owed over 120 thousand dollars in back taxes, forgot to pay the medicare taxes for his personal driver. Any guess as to which post he was just nominated for? Health and Human Services. That's right, Medicare. Hey!!! I had a friend that got their truck repossessed, can I be the "Car Czar"? Both of these SOB's didn't have to pay a nickle in interest or penalties. So I challenge you to ask yourself, who does this happen to? I can answer that. Not Me. I am currently paying off back taxes that I am responsible for while I was a private appraiser working as a sub-contractor. I will freely admit I had no idea what I was doing and now I have to pay for it. And I am paying for it, but I'm getting slammed in interest and penalties to the tune of 150% of what was originally due. I have no problem with people making mistakes, but don't insult me and say that your mistakes are somehow not relevant to who you are. I know that I made a mistake and I changed jobs so that I wouldn't make that mistake again.

I am sick and tired of these self righteous pricks telling me that paying you taxes is patriotic and then turning around and not paying theirs while simultaneously raising mine. And as far as these moron's being the "only people for the job", there are over 300 million of us in this country, I don't buy it for one second that if Tim Geithner can't make it to work that this country will fail.

In fact I put the challenge out to America. One and done. I give you one chance to get it right and if you can't you move on. Oh, and if buy some miracle you do get it right you get one re-election and then your out. Because I don't want career politicians making "sweetheart deals" with lobbyists for gifts like, oh lets say a personal car and driver. Thanks Tom! No Mas.

Sometimes, I even surprise myself.

2009-01-28T16:14:00.011-05:00

One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Mosiah. Chapter 2 verse 17. All of you master scriptorians out there should know what this passage says. Those who don't, pay attention:

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

It's a very simple passage that if followed would do more to solve the world problems than anything, and I do mean anything, any government could do. And the funny thing is, as an American under a government "...of the people", why would I ever look to the government to do anything for me in the first place. But I digress.

This past week I had an amazing experience that had a very profound effect on me. It both inspired me to be better and humbled me to the simple joys that come from service. I saw a two year old child's face light up with excitement, at something I take for granted everyday. I saw a mother break down in tears because a few "basics" were provided for her family. And I saw a father do one of the hardest things that a man can ever do, and that is to sacrifice his pride, and accept help that would provide for his family what he could not at that time.

Now, I ask you, Who can do more to stimulate this Great Nation of ours? The President? Congress? Exxon? GE? Al Gore? Labor Unions? the NRA? No.

None of them can. They're not supposed to. Our Government has very little, in all actuality, to do. Protect us from foreign control, protect our God given rights, and to make sure that no one, not even the Government, get in the way of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It was a funny thing that happened this week. The only thing that limited my experience was that I didn't have any more to give. If I had any credit, I would've used it too, but I didn't. My wife and I make a pretty good living. We have been blessed. I sometimes think that we've been blessed more that we deserve. But It paled in comparison to the inner peace I found in serving my friends. I wonder if congress felt any peace in spending over a trillion dollars the past 8 months. Somehow I doubt it. I think that the difference is, is that this nation was set up to protect our freedom to succeed, no matter how we may define it. It definitely wasn't set up to provide for us everything we need. Health care is not a God given right. Owning a home is not a God given right. Those things are the result of a pursuit of a happiness.

I guess the bottom line is If we really want to stimulate this county and we really want change, then we need to start where it counts. At home. It's a "two-for" Not only do you help someone out but you help yourself too.

Who is this guy?

2009-01-27T10:41:00.003-05:00

I guess it's time for me to lay down a little bit of who I am. You are looking at a C average student with completely out of control ideals for himself. The result is an often self disappointing, hefty dough boy that is sooooo sweet, his blood could be used on pancakes. mmmmm pancakes.

I have a taste for the irreverent and a profound respect for the sacred. How that gets balanced, I have no idea. Maybe it doesn't. Depending on who you talk to, I can cross boundaries of decency easier than crossing the US/Mexico border or be the one to call others to order when chaos abounds. It may just be that I'm schizophrenic. Nah, I don't think we are.

The single greatest purpose for this blog is to create an forum where ideas can be developed, expressed, defended and blown apart. I welcome any and all criticism, support, smart remarks or general ramblings that can be conceived. I crave sarcasm and detest ignorance.

So the challenge goes out to all... bring it! I make no apologies for my thoughts. As I said before, I will defend them until I can't. And When I can't, I'll reflect and change them until I can defend them. This ain't your average blog, you'll probably hate it for a while but don't worry, that will grow into a soft dull depression until you are forever doomed to blissfully glossy-eyed stares often found on your average tree hugger after an Obama speech.

What line?

You never get a second chance...

2009-01-23T11:06:00.001-05:00

So the saying goes. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Mr. Obama, within 48 hours of being sworn in, signed two executive orders that do more for the rights of terrorists than to protect the very citizens that elected him to office.

"What's this" you say? "Hogwash! You must be exaggerating."

So how then do we explain delaying a trial for a known terrorist, or closing down a detention center currently housing terrorists caught on the field of battle. (By the way, are we still at war?)

Here's where I get to play the game "If it were me".

My solution, Rotate out the knuckleheads who cant tell the difference between humiliation and guard duty. Since I do not want even 1 of these scumbags that want my country to fail, stepping one foot on genuine American soil, I keep their asses locked up. And for all of the people that think that terrorists who use pregnant woman and the mentally handicapped as suicide bombers deserve civil liberties I have a sandal I'd like to introduce to your head. They're terrorists! there is nothing civil about them.

But I digress. I make no apologies for my distaste of people that want to force me to live a certain way or they'll kill me.

The real problem is that our newly elected President thinks that his first tasks, after hiring lobbyists to work in the division they lobbied for, is to be the personal savior of idiots that think God will grant them 72 virgins because they killed themselves and a bunch of other people in the process.

And just one other side note, to anyone who thinks that I'm just another "Right Wing Nut Job" that hates all things until I can shoot it with a gun, let me just say our last president was a dolt too. Really president Bush? Socialism is how we have to save Capitalism? Knucklehead. I'm glad to see that you got to take part in my solution, "rotate".

I often wonder...

2009-01-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

Are we as Americans so infected with our own self loathing that we can't see past the ever-present need to instantly gratify our personal desires without the thought of what may happen as a result?

The way society seems to be going, I think that I have to answer yes. It's like we're children who don't want to listen to our elders when they tell us that the stove is hot, but we think that we are being smothered buy rules we didn't get to choose and must touch the burner on our own because then we'll know for sure that it was hot.

1. We were warned by those who have gone before.
2. We think that what we were told can't possibly relate to our current situation.
3. We get burned.

Take these "bailouts" (or as the PC Police might say "Potential Community Re-Investments") for example. These huge global companies, either through poor management, governmental oversight, and even forced negotiations with Big Labor, find that they are "too big to fail" businesses that are on the brink of doing just that, failing.

1. Fannie-Mae and Freddie-Mac made bad loans. People who have no business getting loans accepted them. Hundreds of millions and tens of billions of dollars were lost.
2. Government solution... Give them more money.

Really?!? How about we treat alcoholics with more alcohol. Or, oh I know, lets get convicted child molesters free kiddie porn.

We completely ignore sound financial principles because we don't think that our specific situation could ever be corrected by tried and true practices of the past. We won't use "red ink" in schools because we don't want to hurt someones feelings. We have trophies for everybody that competes because "there are no losers".

Well, America is losing. Companies that got bailed out are failing again and they stand poised to get even more. The bottom line is that this country is headed down a very dark and dangerous path and I am scared. But I do have faith. I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The solutions are not easy, and I don't claim to have them all. But I think that together we can uncover principles that when followed will prepare us for the storm that is coming. Stay tuned, please comment, we all know that there are problems. Lets work together to test the solutions and I'm willing to bet that we can come up with some good ones.