Thursday, December 22, 2011

Running Off At The Mouth!

I was writing posts every once in a while under the heading of running off at the keyboard, but from now on when I want to touch on a few items, quickly I will title it running off at the mouth. This title is more fitting and anyone that knows me personally understands and will acknowledge, this is a more appropriate title.

Jim Sensenbrenner, Republican Representative from Wisconsin, made comments about the first lady's posterior. He said this in response to her agenda of healthier lifestyles and eating. Mr. Sensenbrenner apparently has not looked in a mirror anytime in the last decade. He, like myself is old, sagging and overweight. This is typical destructive and unnecessary politics. Yeah, lets attack a very fine lady and a very good role model for all citizens. So to Jim Sensenbrenner I give the moron of the week award.

Yesterday I wrote about the attack on the homeless man in New Jersey. I received a comment from an anonymous person, that actually made my point. He or she wants to shoot the two teens and something about their grandma, that was not finished. I want responses and will not edit or remove them unless they are totally offensive, but I invite this person to write more and this time try and present an intelligent, thoughtful argument about my post. Also I will continue the practice of allowing people to post comments without names, however I would prefer them to identify themselves. It is always easier to hide behind anonymity, then to speak in the open. That is what I do.

John Boehner just talked about the idea of putting this payroll tax problem behind us and get back to the important issue of jobs. Really Mr. Speaker, you have been there for a year and a half and the Republicans have yet to introduce one good jobs bill. That is more political rhetoric.

Now it is Ron Paul. Who will be the next person to lead in the Republican primary? God, how I miss Sarah Palin.

In Florida politics, our felon Governor, Rick Scott is pushing for an increase in lottery ticket sales. His goal. Increase revenue for education that he has been cutting since getting in office. I have an idea. Lets place a fee on sports betting and drug dealers. That should really increase revenue for our children to be educated.  I guess you could say, "He is really betting on our future." Scott wins the second moron of the week award.

I will be taking the next couple of days off to enjoy the holidays with my family. To all of my loyal readers I wish you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Holidays.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Teens Beat Homeless Man, What Is Our Society Becoming?

Have your seen the video of two teens beating a homeless man in New Jersey?

It is very disturbing and not something that people want to see, but I believe that we should view people at their worse, so we can address how to make them better. My first response is that I would like an opportunity to place these two jerks in a hopeless situation and beat the hell out of them. Of course what would the end result be? The cycle would be completed and the lesson is whoever has the advantage wins. It would not make them understand the concept of fairness and caring for people that are less fortunate then they are.

So what is the solution? I read some of the comments and they were very reflective of my initial response. One of my ideas would be to start taking young people off the streets and giving them direction. Start with firm discipline and temper it with firm love. Give them goals. One of the ways would be to take these people and place them in service to others. Let them share in the hopeless frame of minds that so many people in our world face day to day. We could use our military and bring back programs, such as Peace Corps, to work here in America and countries around the world. Give them a view of the world from the opposite direction. To serve others instead of destroying.

Americans have always been a compassionate and caring society. When disasters occur around the world we open our hearts and checkbooks to help. We need to get back to the idea that service to others is the greatest reward we can have on earth. We have become greedy, cold, and callous in many ways and only by starting to care more about the people around you, can you return to caring and helping. We have political leaders, corporate leaders, religious leaders, social leaders and the elite wealthy, for the most part that have placed the good of themselves over the good of all people. They have taught us that lining your own pockets is better then serving the needs of others. I want the return of compassion for my fellow man. I am not advocating giving, I am promoting helping. Teaching. Learning. Mostly I am leading the cause of caring. Hate breeds hate. Love breeds love. I select the latter.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Hey Republicans, Kiss This!

Just in, the House rejected a Senate bill that would have extended the payroll tax cut for workers. This cut is only for workers. It does not effect money that the elite wealthy get from investments or hurt them in any way. Thus the fact the Republicans and Tea Party members have been fighting the left. Where in the hell is Grover Nordquist? When the Bush tax cuts were set to expire Grover was on every network and news show to proclaim that an expiring tax cut is the same as a tax increase. Oh, wait the working people do not pay lobbyist fees to good old Grover and his company, so why would they support us? I watched as the Republicans filed in behind "Crybaby" Boehner. They were all smiles and shaking hands. They are very proud that they just told the average American to go screw themselves. I was waiting for one of them to bend over and kiss Boehner's and house majority leader, Eric Cantor's rings. Well, to all of the people in Congress that failed to pass this bill, I have a suggestion for you all to kiss something and it is not our collective rings.

Simplifing Life Has To Become Part Of Our Politics!

If you follow my other blog, Father Thinks He Knows Best, you have already seen my call for the New Year, Simplicity. I am evaluating every aspect of my life and am asking others to follow suit. We have become inundated with clutter. Whether it is in our homes, work, daily commute and within our own hearts, we have allowed complexity to overshadow this pure, simple thing called life. It stresses us. It makes us physically and mentally ill. It draws our attention from the people and events that we should all be focused on. LIFE.

The leap from our own, individual lives is not that far removed from our political lives and yet I do not see anyone, except myself now, make the connection. Politics is about electing people to make laws, enforce laws, interpret laws and governing. Laws have become complicated and the enforcement of them is even more difficult. We need to simplify. Our tax code is an albatross around the necks of citizens and corporations alike and yet we cannot get people in office to eliminate and simplify. One of the first items Congress, the courts and the White House should attack is the tax code. Eliminate the write offs and deductions completely. Leave the rate where it is until we eliminate our national debt and have a balanced budget. Cut waste, not the human safety net from government spending. This would be a starting point and would move us toward simplistic governing. There would be so many other items to correct after that, but we have to start somewhere.

Come on and join me in the year, we start to take back control of our lives. Just like in your personal life, I want ideas to be shared and find ways to implement them. Silence can no longer be the center of our lives. Simplify and become a better person and together we can simplify America on it's way to becoming a better country for all of us.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Democrats and Republicans are Taking Away Rights!!

Every year, by law, Congress has to pass the spending bill for the defense department, called the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill then goes to the President to be signed and then we continue to fund aggressions and wars around the globe. A name like National Defense sounds like it is for the good of America. The same can be said when they made the change from the, War Department to the Department of Defense. It is about making and fighting wars. Now this year they have added a little extra, like they always do, garbage into the spending bill. They have given the Executive Branch (the President) additional power when dealing with terrorists, including American citizens. Amazing how politicians from both parties can agree, when they are looking at ways to subvert the Constitution and limit rights of people. Simply put, and no surprise here that the politicians are telling us to trust them, the President will be able to retain suspected terrorists, indefinitely, without charges or a trial. This, again, includes American citizens. It also allows for suspected terrorists to be placed in military trials instead of civil courts, where the proof of guilt has a much lower bar. The Republicans and Democrats are telling everyone that there is nothing to worry about that the power involved here would not be abused. Yeah, right. Sorry but I am becoming more cynical with each passing year.
We have certain rights in our Constitution that should not be subject to the political whims of people. When they tell us it is for our own protection and good, we need to be concerned. Abuses will happen and Congress along with President Obama and President Bush, have allowed it to occur. The courts need to quit looking at health care issues and abortions and start concentrating on the actual rights of living and breathing citizens. The politicians have used 9-11 as a tool to strip away our rights. Every American should be outraged and voice this to their political leaders. Do not let them destroy our Constitution. Speak out now, before they take away your voice.