Saturday, March 3, 2012

Response to Marines, about Sacrifice!

Thank you for your comments. One thing I should have done is a better job at explaining who should make the largest amount of sacrifice. The wealthy elite and corporations. I read back over my post and wanted to add some more to it and you helped by voicing your opinion. My point is, if the corporations sacrifice some of their profits, then the elite, sacrifice some of their return on their investments, the average person would then be able to make a fair and living wage. As wages go up for the average worker, then they could pass along the sacrifice for others. Again the auto workers were a good example of everyone winning. Profits went up and then the corporations rewarded the workers, for their sacrifices. I also believe that we all need to sacrifice for the education of our citizens. Either with time when money is an issue, or with money when we can. The example of my interest deduction for our mortgage, is an example of middle class people that are doing a little better then others giving up something also. My biggest point would be the elite and corporations would have to start the movement. Average workers have given enough and it is really way overdue for the top 1% to give. Thanks again for your comments, I always appreciate when you send in your thoughts.

Republican Politicians are Cowards!

I am placing this initial stance on the political leaders first, however any man that does not take up this stand for their wives, daughters, mothers, granddaughters or any female friend is also a coward.

Mitt Romney said Limbaugh's words are not the words he would have used.

Rick Santorum was the closest to standing up but all he said was the words were despicable, but Limbaugh is just an entertainer.

Ron Paul, said something similar to Romney, about that would not have been his choice of words.

John Boehner and Eric Cantor, basically said the same. Not words they would use and then distanced themselves from additional responses.

Really, this is the best you guys can do. What if Limbaugh had called your wife a slut, or your daughter or mother or sister. Would you be willing to be so passive. If the answer is yes, then I wonder about your manhood. Yesterday on face book I stated that I want to punch him right in the mouth and would be more then willing to do so, even though I do not know the young lady. You are all cowards and yet you want to lead our country!

The other part of all of this is none of the above men or Rush himself have even listened to her testimony before Congress. She was not talking about sex, but the problems that some women, and in particular her friend, face, prohibited costs for contraception that are for medical purposes and have absolutely nothing to do with sex. They are not only cowards but they are fools.

Let's contrast these people, to our President. He called Ms. Fluke and even expressed the fact that her parents must be very proud of her. The right, in their infinite wisdom, have attacked the President, saying how can he or her parents be proud of her, because they still think this is about sex. I am very proud that Sandra Fluke is a product of our country. I am proud when a young person stands up for the rights and the betterment of others. My pride quickly diminishes, when I listen to jerks like Limbaugh and then see no guts on the Republican side to stand up and demand that Rush be thrown off the airways.

You know the recent fight by the right to take away health care for the women in our country is both sad and deplorable. We need to fight for all women to have access to high quality health care. My last thought is this. Women can take the pill to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, however the men that are attacking the women of America have no pill to cure their ailments. Stupidity and Cowardliness.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sacrifice Should Be Our Mantra!

When a political leader comes out and uses the sacrifice word, they are castigated and ridiculed. Remember, those of you that are old enough, when Jimmie Carter sat in front of the cameras, with his sweater on and asked the American people to turn their thermostats down, to save energy? This was used by the opposition to paint him as a President that cannot solve problems and expects the people to actually help with solutions. He went on to be defeated and the idea that he asked for sacrifices helped him lose.

Each day we lose more members of what Tom Brokaw, termed the, "Greatest Generation". This is the Americans that entered and helped win World War II. There are stories of men, that were rated 4-F and could not serve in the military, who committed suicide. They wanted to sacrifice for their country. During the war, people had bond drives and Americans saved pennies, so they could buy war bonds and contribute. They had rationing to preserve food, rubber, fuel and other materials for the war effort. American children went out with wagons to collect scrap metal to help our men and women at the front.  Corporations, overnight went from making automobiles and refrigerators to tanks and munitions. Everyone sacrificed and then we succeeded.

Where is that same mentality today? We ask billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes and we are labeled as Un-American. We are asking for Universal Health Care and we are now, Socialists. We ask for corporations to pay a fair and living wage and we are told we are destroying America. We ask for the poor to work and produce and then we give them no jobs, while we complain about having to pay to support them.

Look at the auto industry. A short while back, they were faced with the spectre of bankruptcy and yet a few weeks ago General Motors posted their largest profit ever. What happened? People sacrificed. The workers, that are being demonized by the right, gave concessions. They gave back pay. They gave back benefits. They reduced hours. Management then worked hard to organize better, They pushed for better products and then when the profits hit they gave large bonuses to the workers. They companies are paying back the American people. Everyone sacrificed and we succeeded.

I have an idea! If sacrifice leads to success, why don't we all sacrifice? The wealthy elite can stop paying 12% or less in taxes and start paying the same as the working folks do. Home owners could give up their tax deduction on mortgage interest, while corporations stop having special tax breaks that lead to them paying little to nothing in taxes. We could see that people are able to get fair and honest wages in return for helping companies make better products and profits. Then companies could reward workers with bonuses. Parents could sacrifice some leisure time to help teachers and schools to educate our children. The list can only grow from here. Everyone has to give to lead us back to prominence.

I gave the example of the Greatest Generation, but look back at the history of not only our country, but the history of mankind and you will see examples of sacrifice. In our American history, look at the Pilgrims and what they endured. Our Revolutionary War and the founding father, did they not sacrifice much?  How about the settlers that spread across our great country, did they have hardships? The Civil War, the great depression, industrial revolution, two world wars, the list of sacrifices continues, and I have to ask, what have you sacrificed? What have you done? What have you committed to? These questions all have answers and that answer is sacrifice for the betterment of our country.

President Kennedy phrased it best in his inaugural address, "And so my fellow Americans,  ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what can you do for your country." Is it to much to ask that we all give to save America?

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Response to my readers.

I have several comments that my readers have posted and I want to respond to them here.

First to Anonymous. On Feb. 20th I wrote a post, entitled, "Santorum is attacking our first amendment rights." The response was from a Christian that I believe has the proper prospective. Religious views are personal, and we are taking them into the political arena. When we have people trying to force their views on religion, it become very dangerous. If you haven't read the comment, please do. It is very insightful and well written. I always enjoy these types of comments. Quick note to anonymous, if you want please sign as a follower and share your name. Your choice, but I do hope either way you will continue to read and give my readers more of your responses.

To Lawrence, thank you for your kind words on my Feb 10th post, titled, "Why do we vote against our own interests." You asked how to get my posting each time. Sign up as a follower and they will be sent to you e-mail. I promise you and all of my readers, I do not spam and do not use my blog for any other reason then to post my opinions. Also please take the opportunity to comment anytime. I always enjoy responses, even if they disagree with me. I like the debate.

To, three of my biggest supporters, Jon from SOC Oracle, Danny and Marines. I always enjoy and look forward to your insights and great comments. You three have followed me from the beginning and have always favored me with your responses.

Lastly to all of my readers. As a writer, all I do is place my views and information out, so all that care to see, can. My viewers grow every day and I invite all of you to respond. When I get comments back from readers, I am very gratified. It shows, what I am writing, is striking a note with readers. Again as a writer, my reward is people seeing and then responding. Thank you for your support and as always take advantage and put your own thoughts out and share with others. This is how we communicate today. Let your voice be heard. Every voice is important, not just the American Voice, but every voice around the world.

We Need To Start A New War! This Time With Iran!

Just to get this started right, understand that the title is pure sarcasm. I have listened to the Republican Presidential Candidates and the same old Republicans over the last few weeks and it is starting to sound very much like the lies and push to war we had over Iraq.

Dick Cheney, John McCain and Lindsay Graham are three of the old Republican guard that are rattling the sabers, to push us toward more military action in the Middle East. They are using the same words that confronted us during the lead up to invading Iraq. Weapons of mass destruction. Remember that one. We were lead to believe that we would fall into huge quantities of these terrible instruments of war. Over a decade later we are still looking for them. Saddam Husein is a mad man, bent on destroying Israel and delivering nuclear weapons into America. Today it is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, is the mad man, and he must be stopped.

The argument of invading Iraq, was they had developed a nuclear weapons program. They had not. The same words are used today to describe the program in Iraq and the intelligence is all over the board. They are close. They are months away. They are years away. They are doing nothing with weapons grade uranium. Where is the truth?

Lets say for discussion, they have a nuclear weapons program and is close to development of weapons. Why do we, the country that has used nuclear weapons against another country and has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, get to decide who does and does not get these weapons. Do we have a right to invade a country to stop them?

Currently, we are pursuing the diplomatic approach. We are using economic sanctions. We are trying to find peaceful means to stop countries from having nuclear bombs. Yet the Republicans are calling the President weak and screaming about how dangerous he his. Newt actually said he is the most dangerous President in his lifetime. Really Newt. George Bush got us into two wars, based upon faulty intelligence and lies. We have spend trillions of dollars and lost thousands of American lives. Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens have died. This was done in retaliation to 9-11? The people that attacked us were primarily from Saudi Arabia. The same Saudi Arabia, where President Bush can be seen kissing the Saudi prince on the cheek and dancing with them. So, Newt, just look back one Presidency and you will see someone that was so much more dangerous for our security and economic welfare.

This is not the time to run around, blowing the trumpets of war. What ever happened to the American ideal? What ever happened to us being the example for good? Why are we known around the world as the aggressors?  Now is the time for peaceful solutions. President Obama, has shown the ability to pursue the logical, not the emotional. So to McCain, Graham, Cheney(please retire your mouth), Romney, Santorum and Gingrich, the time has come to get behind our country. The time has come to change our thinking from war to peace. The time has come to follow the lead of our President. We DO NOT need another war. It is time for peace!