Well, the congress did it! They went ahead and passed what is certainly one of the largest, if not THE largest, spending bill in the history of our country. The $787 billion economic stimulus plan was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 246-183, without receiving a single Republican vote. In the Senate, however, three Republican senators (Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe from Maine and Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania) decided to vote with the Democratic majority of the Senate, thus giving the Senate the 60 votes needed to pass this emergency legislation.
I, and many others, have grave misgivings about the actions of the Congress this past week. My first complaint is that nobody seems to know what, exactly, is contained within the 1100 or so pages that make up this legislation. The final approved version of the bill was not completed by the joint House-Senate committee until Tuesday and was rushed into both houses of Congress for voting before most members of Congress really had a chance to even read the bill, let alone evaluate its possible problems. This was, by the way, in direct contrast to the way that President Obama promised the American people that business would be conducted during HIS presidency. "Complete transparency" was the term I believe he promised to use. The way this bill was brought about and voted on was hardly what any fair minded person could call "completely transparent."
My second problem has to do with the likely outcome of this action. Bear in mind that "our representatives in Congress" have elected to gamble what will surely wind up being over $1 trillion of OUR money on a plan which Vice-President Biden says has a 30% chance of failure. Think about that for a moment! Despite the fact that almost two-thirds of citizens who were polled said they were not in favor of this plan, our elected representatives, the very people who our supposed to represent our will and our interests, chose to vote for this plan anyway. They have take $1,000,000,000,000 and gambled with approximately a 1-in-3 chance that it will fail to do what needs to be done for this country and its citizens. THIS IS BEYOND IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNING, IT IS ABSOLUTE IDIOCY!!
The third and possibly most disturbing problem is how much "pork" has been passed through with this spending bill. The Democrats have rammed through many pet projects that have nothing to do with stimulating our economy and improving the economic lot of most of the tax paying citizens of this nation. Any citizen who chooses to do so can read through the 1100+ pages to see all the individual "pork spending" in this bill. Some items, such as $58 billion for childrens' health care, may be worthy projects when our economic health is better, but it is a large expense that will do nothing to stimulate our economy. Other projects, like re-decorating government offices and changing our government fleet to a "greener" fleet are simply items that SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTPONED during this current crisis. Tax breaks for small business and for individual taxpayers would do far more to stimulate our economy than increased government spending on pet projects.
At this point there is little that any of us can do about this legislation. If it actually does work and turns our economy around, I will be the first to congratulate President Obama on his inspired leadership in a time of crisis. If, however, this turns out to only make a bad situation worse, than I truly hope and pray that, in the 2010 elections, the voters will demonstrate their displeasure at the polls and vote out ALL the morons in Congress, including the three renegade Republican senators, and replace them with men and women, of whatever party, who will do their duty and represent the wishes and the interests of their constituents instead of their respective political parties.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Pig Is Still A Pig!
You can put all the lipstick you want on a pig and it is still going to be a pig. We heard then- Democratic candidate Barack Obama make that pronoucement last summer. He is right!
Currently, with the first TARP bailout, the U.S. government is has spent almost one trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000.00) of taxpayer money, with approximately eighty billion dollars ($80,000,000,000.00) being wasted and/or unaccounted for.
Now, with the proposed "Economc Stimulus Program", which will probably become law very shortly, the U.S. government is passing a number of programs, under the guise of emergency legislation, which are not expected to provide much stimulus to our economy. But some of these measures will exercise much more control of areas of your life where you probably don't want the government in control. For example, with $58,000,000,000 going to government health care for children, we are taking the first major step to a government run healthcare system. Once we have gotten used to providing health care for every child, is it such a big step to institute paid health care for everyone?!?! Not really!!
There is language inserted in this bill which will greatly regulate free speech in the area of religion and will prohibit federal money from renovating any college facilities that are used by any religious groups, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Christian Fellowship ministries, to name a few.
Pet projects, ranging from sodding the National Mall, to building Frisbee golf courses, to redesigning and refurbishing federal offices (and many other projects like this) have been added into a bill which is supposed to produce new, and lasting, jobs for our ailing economy. But, in fact, most of the added projects are little more than political support payoffs to loyal Democratic party members. One Democratic spokesman did concede that there was some waste in the bill, but reckoned the waste was only about 2% or 3% of the bill. Now let's see here, 2% to 3% of an estimated $850 billion would equal the paltry sum of between 17 and 25.5 billion dollars.
How many mortgages could be brought up-to-date with $25,500,000,000.00??? How many poor and/or homeless people could be helped with just the waste in this bill as estimated by the Democratic Party spokesman. And don't forget, this assumes that the waste factor in this bill is only 2 or 3 percent. If it is higher, that amount rises by 8.5 billion dollars for each single percentage point.
It is probably right that something needs to be done for this crisis, but there is a great deal of disagreement on what and how much needs to be done. We all remember the great market crash of 1929. The U.S.A., and the world, were plunged into a global depression that lasted almost a decade. Presidents Hoover, and then Roosevelt, tried all kinds of government programs and threw millions and billions of dollars with little result for almost a decade. Finally, the mobilization of our industries for WWII brought us out of the Great Depression. However, a lesser known but severe economic slump occurred in 1921 and ended in 1923. Our president at that time, Warren G. Harding, opted to cut taxes immediately and reduce spending and this resulted in the economy righting itself in something uner 2 years. Maybe we should allow history to teach us what to do now.
We keep hearing from our government leaders that we can't wait and do nothing, that we must do something now. O.K., assuming that is right, it would seem to me that doing the wrong thing would be worse than doing nothing. Our representatives in the Congress need to take the time to really examine this bill in detail and remove all the pet projects that should not be rammed down our country's collective throat in the name of an emergency!
To our President, Barack Obama, and to all our U.S. Representatives and Senators, I say this to you:
YOU CAN PUT ALL THE LIPSTICK YOU WANT ON THIS PIG THAT THEY CALL THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL AND IT IS STILL GOING TO BE JUST A LOT OF PORK ON THE HOOF!
Currently, with the first TARP bailout, the U.S. government is has spent almost one trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000.00) of taxpayer money, with approximately eighty billion dollars ($80,000,000,000.00) being wasted and/or unaccounted for.
Now, with the proposed "Economc Stimulus Program", which will probably become law very shortly, the U.S. government is passing a number of programs, under the guise of emergency legislation, which are not expected to provide much stimulus to our economy. But some of these measures will exercise much more control of areas of your life where you probably don't want the government in control. For example, with $58,000,000,000 going to government health care for children, we are taking the first major step to a government run healthcare system. Once we have gotten used to providing health care for every child, is it such a big step to institute paid health care for everyone?!?! Not really!!
There is language inserted in this bill which will greatly regulate free speech in the area of religion and will prohibit federal money from renovating any college facilities that are used by any religious groups, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Christian Fellowship ministries, to name a few.
Pet projects, ranging from sodding the National Mall, to building Frisbee golf courses, to redesigning and refurbishing federal offices (and many other projects like this) have been added into a bill which is supposed to produce new, and lasting, jobs for our ailing economy. But, in fact, most of the added projects are little more than political support payoffs to loyal Democratic party members. One Democratic spokesman did concede that there was some waste in the bill, but reckoned the waste was only about 2% or 3% of the bill. Now let's see here, 2% to 3% of an estimated $850 billion would equal the paltry sum of between 17 and 25.5 billion dollars.
How many mortgages could be brought up-to-date with $25,500,000,000.00??? How many poor and/or homeless people could be helped with just the waste in this bill as estimated by the Democratic Party spokesman. And don't forget, this assumes that the waste factor in this bill is only 2 or 3 percent. If it is higher, that amount rises by 8.5 billion dollars for each single percentage point.
It is probably right that something needs to be done for this crisis, but there is a great deal of disagreement on what and how much needs to be done. We all remember the great market crash of 1929. The U.S.A., and the world, were plunged into a global depression that lasted almost a decade. Presidents Hoover, and then Roosevelt, tried all kinds of government programs and threw millions and billions of dollars with little result for almost a decade. Finally, the mobilization of our industries for WWII brought us out of the Great Depression. However, a lesser known but severe economic slump occurred in 1921 and ended in 1923. Our president at that time, Warren G. Harding, opted to cut taxes immediately and reduce spending and this resulted in the economy righting itself in something uner 2 years. Maybe we should allow history to teach us what to do now.
We keep hearing from our government leaders that we can't wait and do nothing, that we must do something now. O.K., assuming that is right, it would seem to me that doing the wrong thing would be worse than doing nothing. Our representatives in the Congress need to take the time to really examine this bill in detail and remove all the pet projects that should not be rammed down our country's collective throat in the name of an emergency!
To our President, Barack Obama, and to all our U.S. Representatives and Senators, I say this to you:
YOU CAN PUT ALL THE LIPSTICK YOU WANT ON THIS PIG THAT THEY CALL THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL AND IT IS STILL GOING TO BE JUST A LOT OF PORK ON THE HOOF!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Man For All The People?
As most of America did last Tuesday, I watched the inauguration of our nation's first black president, Barack H. Obama. I watched a little of the pre-swearing in activities, the swearing in and inaugural speech and then some of the parade activities. I did not bother to watch live broadcasts from the inaugural balls, which really did not interest me all that much. What did interest and disturb me a little was an article that was posted at http://www.clevelandleader.com/print/8627. I have posted the article below.
The gist of the article is that our new president opted not to appear at what should have been one of the most important Balls on his agenda that evening - The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball.
The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration. The event recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief's failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event - until now.
It was the party without all of the celebrities that Obama skipped. The very people who he sought to have support him during his candidacy and campaign, who have fought to protect this country, were snubbed in favor of publicity and the opportunity to rub shoulders - yet again - with the out-of-touch Hollywood elite.
If President Obama is truly planning to be a president for ALL the people, perhaps he should consider, in the future, those people who have sacrificed more than most of us to preserve the freedom in this country which allows us to elect our leaders freely.
The gist of the article is that our new president opted not to appear at what should have been one of the most important Balls on his agenda that evening - The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball.
The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball was begun in 1953 for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration. The event recognized recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. There were 48 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, who were undoubtedly disappointed by the Commander-in-Chief's failure to show. Over the past 56 years and 14 inaugurations, no President has skipped this event - until now.
It was the party without all of the celebrities that Obama skipped. The very people who he sought to have support him during his candidacy and campaign, who have fought to protect this country, were snubbed in favor of publicity and the opportunity to rub shoulders - yet again - with the out-of-touch Hollywood elite.
If President Obama is truly planning to be a president for ALL the people, perhaps he should consider, in the future, those people who have sacrificed more than most of us to preserve the freedom in this country which allows us to elect our leaders freely.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Welcome, President Obama
Like probably the majority of Americans yesterday, I watched as President Barack Obama delivered his much anticipated inaugural address. Although, in this blogger's opinion, the speech was not "one for the ages" as had been predicted by one newscaster, it was a very good speech which offered much hope and promise for America's future under an Obama presidency.
Now, today, the inaugural celebration is concluded, the inaugural balls are all over and the work of our new president begins. It is now time for all the rhetoric and all the promises and plans to begin to come to fruition. President Obama has inherited a plethora of serious problems to address and, as a citizen of this country, I pray that God will give him the wisdom and Divine Guidance to deal with all the problems which confront this great nation in such a way as to bring all the people of this country together again.
I hope that each citizen of the USA will join me in this prayer.
Now, today, the inaugural celebration is concluded, the inaugural balls are all over and the work of our new president begins. It is now time for all the rhetoric and all the promises and plans to begin to come to fruition. President Obama has inherited a plethora of serious problems to address and, as a citizen of this country, I pray that God will give him the wisdom and Divine Guidance to deal with all the problems which confront this great nation in such a way as to bring all the people of this country together again.
I hope that each citizen of the USA will join me in this prayer.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Do I need to say anything else?? I am sorry that I am not a better cartoonist because I have other ideas I would like to express in satirical cartoon format, but am unable to.
By the way, if it is too small to make out, that is Barack Obama standing just to the right of the Capitol Dome with bags of taxpayer money at his feet. You can figure out the rest!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Farewell, President Bush
Last night, we watched President George W. Bush give his farewell address to the nation. President Bush gave a simple, straightforward and heartfelt speech to bid the nation farewell now at the conclusion of his eight-year presidency.
For many people, especially those suffering from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome), I imagine that the emotions ran from jubilation to relief that the Bush years were finally ending. I feel sorry for those people who have become so obsessed with the mistakes of the Bush years that they failed to see, and appreciate, the goodness and decency of a man who has spent the last eight years making some of the hardest decisions that ANY president has ever been faced with.
I, for one (and not the only one, by the way), am grateful that, at a time when we needed decisive leadership, this country was blessed to have a man like George W. Bush. In the long view, I believe that history will be kind to President Bush. He has faced and conquered challenges that were as tough as ANY president has faced in the history of our country.
Did President Bush always make the right decision? No, not in this writer's opinion. However, what I admire most about this president was his willingness to do what he thought was RIGHT, even if it was not POPULAR. That quality of leadership is what will, in time, render a favorable view of the Bush presidency.
In closing, I want to personally say thank you to President Bush for eight years of hard work and dedicated leadership of the U.S.A. and the Free World. God bless you, George Bush.
For many people, especially those suffering from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome), I imagine that the emotions ran from jubilation to relief that the Bush years were finally ending. I feel sorry for those people who have become so obsessed with the mistakes of the Bush years that they failed to see, and appreciate, the goodness and decency of a man who has spent the last eight years making some of the hardest decisions that ANY president has ever been faced with.
I, for one (and not the only one, by the way), am grateful that, at a time when we needed decisive leadership, this country was blessed to have a man like George W. Bush. In the long view, I believe that history will be kind to President Bush. He has faced and conquered challenges that were as tough as ANY president has faced in the history of our country.
Did President Bush always make the right decision? No, not in this writer's opinion. However, what I admire most about this president was his willingness to do what he thought was RIGHT, even if it was not POPULAR. That quality of leadership is what will, in time, render a favorable view of the Bush presidency.
In closing, I want to personally say thank you to President Bush for eight years of hard work and dedicated leadership of the U.S.A. and the Free World. God bless you, George Bush.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
President, King, or God?
As we approach Inauguration Day for Barack Obama, I find myself wondering what we have elected. I know the election was for the office of President of the United States of America. However, since the conclusion of that historic election, based on various statements from inside the Obama circle, I have wondered whether we elected Barack Obama as our president, our king, or God.
As early as Sunday, November 9, 2008, a guest on the television show, MEET THE PRESS, was talking about the upcoming Obama presidency. I do not recall the woman's name but her position with the Obama organization put her in charge of the transition team, if my poor old 55-year-old memory serves me correctly. She spoke, with great anticipation, of being "ready to rule" on the first day of the Obama presidency. It was the term "rule" that kind of perked up my ears. Our elected national leader PRESIDES over the operation of our democracy...hence the name PRESIDENT. Since that Sunday morning, I have heard several references on television and radio to the upcoming "rule" of Barack Obama.
Even prior to Obama's election, we had quotes likening Barack Obama to the Savior, the Anointed One, the One We Have Been Waiting For. Speaking only for myself, I believe I will have to wait until Barack Obama walks across the Reflecting Pool on the Mall before I am ready to announce his presidency as the Next Coming.
The unfortunate aspect of all this falls on President-elect Obama himself. In this blog, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, I stated that we must all now offer our support and best wishes for success for our new incoming president. However, I fear that the bar is being set so high for President Obama, that he is doomed to failure, in the eyes of many of his more liberal supporters, before he even starts his administration.
Barack Obama is a bright, well-spoken and accomplished politician. This fact is undeniable. Whether he will be a competent president for this great country remains to be seen. However, I am sure we are not going to crown him King for Life and even more certain that he falls more than a few steps short of being God.
Besides, that position is already occupied.
AMEN
As early as Sunday, November 9, 2008, a guest on the television show, MEET THE PRESS, was talking about the upcoming Obama presidency. I do not recall the woman's name but her position with the Obama organization put her in charge of the transition team, if my poor old 55-year-old memory serves me correctly. She spoke, with great anticipation, of being "ready to rule" on the first day of the Obama presidency. It was the term "rule" that kind of perked up my ears. Our elected national leader PRESIDES over the operation of our democracy...hence the name PRESIDENT. Since that Sunday morning, I have heard several references on television and radio to the upcoming "rule" of Barack Obama.
Even prior to Obama's election, we had quotes likening Barack Obama to the Savior, the Anointed One, the One We Have Been Waiting For. Speaking only for myself, I believe I will have to wait until Barack Obama walks across the Reflecting Pool on the Mall before I am ready to announce his presidency as the Next Coming.
The unfortunate aspect of all this falls on President-elect Obama himself. In this blog, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, I stated that we must all now offer our support and best wishes for success for our new incoming president. However, I fear that the bar is being set so high for President Obama, that he is doomed to failure, in the eyes of many of his more liberal supporters, before he even starts his administration.
Barack Obama is a bright, well-spoken and accomplished politician. This fact is undeniable. Whether he will be a competent president for this great country remains to be seen. However, I am sure we are not going to crown him King for Life and even more certain that he falls more than a few steps short of being God.
Besides, that position is already occupied.
AMEN
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