Why should we vote? ( Or, does it really matter?)

Why should we vote? I have heard this a lot recently.  Here are some thoughts I have on the matter.

Americans, by and large have gotten complacent about politics in recent years. Overwhelmingly - we were busy with our lives, our jobs, our children....we have trusted those that wanted to go to Washington and rub elbows with lobbyists because we thought it was in our best interests to do so - after-all that was what the career politicians told us.

But, we have been misled. We have been hoodwinked. In short, we were lied to and now the consequences are quite rudely, clear to all. The American Dream has been usurped right out from under our children.

Now that we have awakened ordinary Americans (thank you Obama - at least there is ONE positive from your Administration) we cannot - indeed we MUST not fall back into complacency. We CAN begin to change DC on Tuesday - but make no mistake. It will take a minimum of 3 election cycles - 6 years - to clear the corruption from D.C. and let the career politicians know that their days are numbered.

Our Founding Fathers had a vision of government.  That vision included citizens putting down the plow and the tools of their trades and taking up the yoke of public office to serve their fellow citizens.  Then, after serving their country in Washington D.C., they would return to their lives and contribute to society as private citizens again.  That vision has become corrupted; twisted by the very people we trusted to represent our needs and ideas.  Now, a supported candidate can go to D.C. with very little  net worth - and in a few short terms of office, become millionaires.  How that happens on a public servant's salary is beyond comprehension.  Doubt me?  Look into Mr. Reid's own history.

Regardless of your party affiliation or your political ideology, Americans overwhelmingly believe you can work hard and achieve your dreams.  Yet, more and more today we hear that "greedy, rich people" are ruining it for everyone.  I say No.  I believe greedy, lazy people are ruining the country with their entitlement mentality.

If I have an idea and work hard to bring it to market and succeed wildly - beyond even my dreams; that doesn't mean that any and all poor people are entitled to the fruits of my sweat and labor.  If I become a millionaire it doesn't make me "greedy" or "evil"; it means I reached the dream.  Don't like that you haven't?  Here's a tip; work harder.  Don't expect a handout.

Don't get me wrong; charity is critical to our communities.  But, it begins at home - not in a government bureaucracy.   I believe that setting a goal to give 10% of my gross income in charity each year has made me work harder so that I can give more and help more people.  I don't need the government to tell me what to give and who to benefit.  I think the government has backed losing propositions.  Welfare is an initiative killer.  Picking programs that teach people to work or educate them in a trade is an empowering option.  So, that is where I concentrate my charity, be it time or money.

We MUST reestablish the merit based success in our culture.  You don't punish the rich or those who have worked hard for what they have.  You don't punish anyone.  Likewise, you don't reward sloth or waste by giving handouts.  Failure can be the best teacher of all.  If you fail hard, you can learn what you did wrong and succeed far more.  Not letting people fail is stunting their growth. Stop propping up mediocrity and we improve America for all.

Voting is our responsibility so that we can make the choices we want for our children.  By not voting, you say that you don't care what becomes of the future your kids will inherit.  If that is true, why would you spend the time and effort to raise them?  Their future depends on the laws and policies that are formed NOW not 20 years from now.

Stay vigilant. Do you civic duty - get informed and vote.

Katrina - New Orleans, put on your big girl panties - time to stand up...

5 years ago Katrina made history in the Gulf Coast.  As the days lead up to the hurricane, people were told to get out of the area.  People were told to evacuate, that this was a killer storm, a Category 4 as it crossed the Gulf, it was strengthening and was forecast to hit Category 5 before it came ashore.  Unimagined power in the form of wind and water.

People didn't leave.  They didn't want to leave their homes.  They had stayed before during storms.  They had no place to go.  They had no way to leave.  Whatever the excuses, reasons, or thinking about the storm, the bottom line is that people didn't leave.

God spared the city a direct hit.  Mississippi got that honor and it was bad there.  But New Orleans seemed spared.  Then, the water breached the levees and all bets were off.  As people died and more were stranded on rooftops and in precarious places, a strong sense of victimization arose.

We began to hear cries or complaints that President Bush was not helping enough that the government wasn't there fast enough.  Funny thing was, we only heard that from New Orleans.  We didn't hear that from Mississippi.  Throughout the rest of President Bush's term, the left and his detractors couldn't say enough that Katrina was his failure.  

I have to ask, really?  was it REALLY President Bush's failure?

• Is it President Bush's fault that the people stayed instead of heeding warnings?
• Is it President Bush's fault for not using the buses as was the plan.
• Is it President  Bush's fault that these people were hungry and were stealing TV's. 
• Is it President  Bush's fault that the cops turned into looters of clothes cameras, TV's etc, etc as the citizens they swore to protect and serve were hungry?
• Is it President  Bush's fault that the Mayor and Governor were phenomenal  incompetents?

The direct and blunt answer is NO.  It was not President Bush's fault.  President Bush urged Governor Blanco to declare an emergency and order a mandatory evacuation.  He offered help and at first, she refused.  She refused the Red Cross access to the cities.  Mayor Nagin got himself and his family out of New Orleans, but neglected to get the school buses moving to pick up people without cars, as was planned in the evacuation strategy. They were criminally negligent and yet, Nagin was actually re-elected after the disaster.

Why then do people from NOLA continue to demand help and live in FEMA trailers?  After-all, Mississippi had it bad too and no one is crying about Biloxi on the evening news.  In my opinion, it is because those who are still considering themselves victims 5 years later ARE victims.  They are victims of the bloated Federal Welfare state.  They are victims of multi-generational governmental dependence.  They are victims of their own lassitude and lack of gumption.  

I was listening to the news last week and there was a City Councilman from NOLA being interviewed.  He was complaining about how the government needed to send help to the city because there are people who want to come back to the community and the community is so tight-knit.....blah blah.  But, they need help because some lots are still empty and they need someone to send help to cut the grass..."just to cut the grass".  I got so disgusted, I turned off the news.  

Here is a flash of thought for this City Councilman in his district that is such a close-knit community - YOU cut the grass, or organize a group from the neighborhood to take care of the vacant lots.  Help yourselves.  Stand up and make an effort to do more than cash that government assistance check.  The community did it in Mississippi.  Communities all over Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and all of the mid-west do it every year after tornadoes and floods.  They help themselves and their neighbors because THAT is the American way.

If New Orleans wants to return to be a great American city, she will have to find her guts and self-determination rather than continuing to whine and moan about being a victim.  To those citizens who are going nowhere, get up, turn off the T.V. or the radio and DO SOMETHING to improve your situation.  That might mean living elsewhere to earn a living.  Whatever it takes.  That is American courage.

Best Friends Come in All Shapes and Sizes.....

For the past 13 years, I have enjoyed an important friendship of epic wonder.  One that has borne all manner of changes; location, ended relationships, marriage, birth, death, job loss...and grown deeper.  We have trust, love, compassion and caring that some married couples never develop.

That friendship is with my horse, Whiskey.

Whiskey is 25 years old and we met by chance - if you believe in coincidence.  My friend April and her husband David knew I was looking for a horse.  They called me one June Saturday from a livestock auction; "Kim, there's a horse here that David and I think you should come look at".  I said I would be there.

When I got there, April took me into the barns to where David was standing with a horse-trader we knew.  Behind them was a deep red coated Quarter Horse.  You could tell he was in the "Foundation" style - short and stout of leg, powerful rear-end and then he turned around.  His face was a disaster of scars and his chest was criss-crossed with slashes that were clearly from a cruelly applied whip.  I was astounded because despite the obvious abuse, he didn't pin his ears or slant his eye. His beautiful deep liquid brown eye held mine and it was filled with a consciousness - one that was interested in me and he stuck his head over the bars to be stroked on the velvet nose; ears swiveled to catch my words.

"I'm in a skirt, can David ride him for me?"  So, David trotted him out and put him through his paces.  Not that it mattered, my heart had already claimed him.  April asked what I thought.  "Let's go bid on him, I like him".  No one else was bidding on the horse with the wrecked face - except the meat buyer because he was a stout horse~ about 1200 pounds and that would bring top dollar at the slaughter house. When he finally backed down, I was at my last $50 bucks.....down came the gavel "$800....sold to the red-head in the front".... 

"His name is Charlie Brown" said the trader. "No, his name is Irish Whiskey", I said, "and he is mine"...."let's go boy, you have a family now".

It was a bad back story.  His previous owner was a roper who beat the snot out of him with a 2x4 whenever they had bad times in calf roping.  He was not fond of men.  I spent time with him whenever I could.  Even if it was just to run a brush over him or give him a bath.  I think that first 6 months, he was the cleanest horse in Houston....and it worked magic.  

He knew me and my red car, coming across fields of green grass to greet me and my son.  He watched over 2 year old Marcos like a nurse-maid.  He would keep Marcos right beside him if I had to go to the tack barn or the rest room...never letting the toddler out of his sight or reach of his head.  Marcos would steady his toddler steps by holding the red tail hairs and Whiskey never minded one getting pulled...he was part of the family and we loved him.

People said "he's just a horse, Kim".  But, I know better.  He has saved my life three times in payback for me saving his.  The first time, I wasn't careful - I missed that there was a new gelding in the pasture and I was in my own world walking across 10 acres to where Whiskey was grazing...tremors underfoot made me spin around to see a mammoth black draft horse bearing down on me in full gallop neck snaked, ears pinned.  

I was in big trouble and people were running from the house yelling to get out of there....from the corner of my eye I saw a red streak cut me off from the attacking horse.  It was Whiskey.  He planted himself in front of me and reared up striking out with his powerful front legs hitting the black square in the chest.  The fight was incredible.  Two forces of nature, red and black battled 10 feet from my shaky knees.  Whiskey drove the horse off and walked me to the gates where April was standing apologizing for not quarantining the horse.  

The second time was scarier as it involved an ex-boyfriend with stalking tendencies.  I was riding out one night in the arena, just me and Whiskey.  We were working on side-passes and just spending some time together as Marcos was visiting Grammy in Boston and I had a rare night to myself.  I was loping away from the house toward the back of the arena and got hit hard in the head by a rock.  Then, Whiskey got hit on the rump.  He turned and we saw the ex standing there with a handful of rocks and a drunk's belligerence.  "I'm gonna knock you off that f'ing horse and kick your ass".  Fear bloomed in my stomach.  I knew April and David were out at a rodeo and I was alone on 50 acres with only my horse between me and a serious problem.  My cell phone was locked in my car....

He launched another rock.  Whiskey side-passed away.  Another....Whiskey stepped the other way.  Then, bravado borne of Miller Lite made a miscalculated error.  The gate opened and the drunk stepped into the arena closing the gate behind him.  As he wound up to throw another rock, Whiskey pawed the ground like a stallion about to charge.  I felt the powerful hind-quarters bunch under me and Whiskey lifted his front feet off the ground, crashed down and broke into a lope, snorting and trumpeting a challenge to the night, he ran at the man he knew was a threat to us both.  1200 pounds of muscle bearing down and gathering momentum.  He wouldn't stop no matter my pulling on the reins, but he also never went faster than he knew I could ride.  No full gallop ~ of which he is so capable ~ as he knew (and still knows to this day) that I am not comfortable at his full speed.

Inexorably, Whiskey closed the space and I started to see the bully crumble as all such bullies will when challenged.  Closer, closer...suddenly the man broke and ran for the gate, climbed the fence and kept running for his truck, cursing at us the whole while.  Then, headlights turned onto the lane as the diesel rumble of a dually broke the night.  April and David were home, the fight was over.  After relating the story to April, she said lightly, "that's a good horse".

The last time he saved my life was much more peaceful.  I had, for many reasons, decided to move to Dallas and take a new job in a new area and make new friends.  One such friend was a nice guy, my age who worked with me.  I wasn't sure if I was interested in trying again at relationships.  Marcos seemed to be fine, but he is one who has always made friends easily as he has an open and loving heart.  

David had generously offered to drive his pickup to Houston with a horse-trailer borrowed from a neighbor to bring Whiskey home.  It had been a LONG month without my horse and I wanted to have him in the backyard finally.  I knew Whiskey would load for me, even though the trailer was a little small for his size.  He will go anywhere I lead him.  When we got there, I told David that Whiskey really doesn't take too easily to men because of his history.  But, Whiskey, the rascal,  made a liar of me.  My horse, that I had missed for weeks, walked right up to this man and let him rub all over his head and chest.  He looked at me as if to say "THIS is a good choice".  I laughed.  My son and my horse had both seen what I was afraid to see....we had a new family member.

Thirteen years have come and gone.  A lot of tears have been shed into the red mane.  A new little boy has learned to stand and steady himself on those red tail hairs. I still have my friend and confidant and he has his forever family....April was right, he is a good horse, and a better friend...

Thank God we found each other...

Fear and (Self) Loathing

Many of my friends have days that may classify as "bad hair days" or days when they just don't feel they look their best - though we on the outside think they look just beautiful.  It is one of those things that can be hard for others to see - that lack of confidence or when your inner voice is your toughest critic.  Sometimes your "self-talk" is very negative.  

I know, you see, because for most of my life I have felt what can hardly be described as anything other than self-loathing.

How does that happen?  How does a girl grow up to hate the very image of herself in a piece of glass?  To hate the thought that someone ~ anyone, somewhere has an (unflattering) picture of her.  In my mind, they are all unflattering - all capturing some large or minute imperfection.

It comes slowly, built on day by day as one listens to those who purport to love her.  They tell her things that they say are "trying to help"...."we only want the best for you"....

"You shouldn't eat that.....don't wear those pants, they make you look fat....no one will love you if you are bigger than a size 10.....you won't keep a man.....your hair looks awful that way...those thighs have got to go.....I think you should just have salad tonight......your stomach is sticking out.....turn around - do you see that bulge....I wouldn't wear shorts if I was you....thank God you are at least smart....don't go sleeveless....you have panty lines.......don't wear knit - it clings to your fat.....you'll never look like  ____ (enter best friend's name)......why would you think to order that......maybe you shouldn't eat tonight...."


I could go on for pages....chapters even and all with the same message - you don't measure up (no pun intended) and so, you are not lovable, not cute, not good enough.  Not even your family loves you....


I'm not sure when it started really.  It seems like Dad was always telling me I needed to diet or Mom was always cooking something "low-fat" for me.  I guess it probably started at puberty when I started to develop curves.  Now, I will be the first to tell you that kids can be mean ~ but they aren't your family and you can go home and get away from them.  I couldn't get away. Ever.


I developed full-fledged bulimia in senior year of High School.  I never did throw up though - I abused laxatives - seemed easier to hide.  Throughout that year, I did anything I could to be a "single-digit" size.  It didn't work.  So, I started eating every other day.  Still no luck.  I would go down to the basement for HOURS each evening to exercise.  I would do 100 leg lifts, 200, 500.....I measured my waist, hips, legs, arms EVERY day....I was so afraid that I would never get a date if I couldn't get thinner.....

What no one ever told me was that I have a body type that tends toward athleticism and an hour-glass figure.  The classic beauty of Marilyn Monroe or Doris Day with feminine curves was in my future, not the androgynous, flat-chested look of a cover model.

Through my twenties and into my thirties, I would obsessively measure body parts and feel sick fear with what the tape measure said.  Pregnancy was pure Hell on earth as I had no control over what was happening to my body.  Though I did stop using laxatives so the baby would be healthy.  I did 30 - 40 minutes of sit ups during my pregnancy with Marcos until the doctor ordered me to stop in the 7th month.

After he was born, both motherhood and the  onset of my auto-immune disease, Progressive Hashimoto's Thyroiditis caused me to step back and take a look at my life.  I started to see things differently and understood that I had some serious baggage in my life.  Part of my journey back was realizing that if I stayed where I was and listened to my "family" tell me how unlovable I was, I would never be the Mom that Marcos deserved.  

That inner resolve to do better for him is part of what drove me to move to Texas.  I was afraid my family would give him his own baggage to carry through life and I wouldn't allow that to happen.  I took the "bull by the horns" and moved to Houston and then to Dallas and made a life for Marcos.


Through the grace of God, I met David and we fell in love and built a family.  I still have fear ~ that I may pass on poor self-esteem to my kids, that others will see through the veneer of self-confidence to what is hiding inside - a scared, shy woman who is afraid no one will like her because she is bigger than a size 10.....

It's been 10 years since I married David.  I still have those feelings of low self-worth - though some days I think my face looks pretty okay for a 43 year old woman.....some days I like my hair...I'm working out again ~ for me.  Not to be a certain size, but to be stronger and more flexible.  


My goal for this anniversary is to go out to dinner with my husband and for me to feel good when we have our picture taken.


I'm gonna reach that goal.

 

The Valley of Haters. NOT! ~~ Reprint from Darrell Ankarlo 5/5/10

“We’ll bring you to your knees!”

“Bigots…haters!”

“We’ll put a million people in the streets.”

“When we’re through with you, Arizona will be bankrupt!”

Just a few of the threats and vicious words I’ve heard from the innocent and loving protesters upset that our state dared to act on an issue that has made one of our cities (Phoenix) the number one kidnap capitol in the country and number two in the world!

We have militia from a foreign country engaged in shootouts with police a few miles from my home and close to a million “undocumented people” shutting down hospitals and nearly collapsing our welfare system. In fact as I write this, five illegal aliens just ambushed a police officer an hour from my home. They used AK47s. Imagine this on your cul du sak…it may be coming.

Arizona is all over the news because finally our state says “enough is enough” and has stopped waiting for the federal government to do something we all know it won’t do. I mean, come on, those supposed “representatives of the people” knew about and allowed Wall Street to come within inches of bankrupting America.

Can we really expect them to address their open door policy to modern day slavery?

In Arizona, for example, a brick layer used to make close to $20 an hour. Now he’s lucky to make $9 or $10 an hour because illegal aliens—usually working in groups—offer to beat any price. Many contractors have been paying illegal laborers $4 or $5 an hour under-the-table which pushes U.S. employees out of their jobs at an alarming rate. And, more often than not, if you’re illegal and complain or get hurt on the job, the boss threatens to call the police so the employer has full control. All of this has been happening in cities across the country as corporate America and Washington say nothing! Keep stock holders and voters happy at any cost.; This is modern day slavery.

Our Legislature decided they would take matters into its own hands. It’s called “state’s rights” kids. We fought a civil war over this very issue. But, instead of being celebrated our state is a pariah as people are calling for boycotts of everything that is Arizona (including Arizona Tea— which is and always has been made in NY!).

Our new state law is similar to a federal law, one that is rarely enforced. It says you CANNOT break into and steal from our resources—or export your criminals to a state already struggling. So why all the marches, cancellations and outcry now? Because our state is the first finally willing to stand and fight.

“But no person is illegal!”

Those are the words I hear whenever immigration comes up. Though I agree that we are all created equal in God’s eyes, I also know many of our military’s servicemen and women, including one of my sons, serve in part to preserve a thing called sovereignty. That’s a big concept – which I don’t have space to go into here. However, you can read more about it in last year’s book Another Man’s Sombrero which describes my trip into Mexico and how I sneaked back into America—without papers. It took me six whole seconds to get back!

So, Ankarlo, what would you do? Obviously, we have an immigration system that needs some major work so let’s demand that Congress put it on the burner along with their health care and Wall Street games. Next, we put 10,000 border patrol and national guardsmen at the key entrances—fully trained and armed. Then, to avoid the “show me your papers” argument we use a passport system.

Everywhere that I have traveled internationally I have not only carried a passport but have been asked to show it multiple times. I guess I should have pulled out a protest sign and yelled “Hater and Bigot!” Carry your passport. If you don’t have it on you, you have 24 hours to produce it. If law enforcement believes that you are here illegally you can be detained until someone can provide it for you. People caught making illegal passports, drivers licenses etc would be treated as terrorists or traitors, depending on citizenship.

“What does an illegal alien look like?” Here in the U.S. there are illegal aliens from at least 51 nations so it can be difficult to tell. However, when a group of people stand at the local Home Depot and none can speak English, you have a bit of a clue that it’s Colonel Mustard with the candlestick in the study. Thus, our new law says the police can investigate. Oh, and they can also cite/arrest the guy in the pickup who slows down to ferry his new slaves off for a day’s labor.

Almost one seventh of our state’s population is here illegally and since our state is nearing $2 billion in debt one has to assume the cheap labor and unpaid hospital visits just might be having an impact but Arizona is backwards for daring to do something about it! Bullcrap!

Until a federal government finally realizes what an impact its flaccid response is having on our independent state (and California, New Mexico, the great Republic of Texas and at least 23 other states) we’re going to abide by a system our forefathers built into a national Constitution—we are going to use our State’s Rights to save ourselves!

By the way, just this week three houses were raided in two days here in Phoenix; one had 69 people in it. Two crack downs were done at the same time with almost 100 people arrested, detained or cited—over 90 percent of them were here illegally. You’re smart so do the math and then you’ll understand our anger and confusion. Anger because we’re feeling this open door policy first hand and confusion because so many still don’t get it.

---------

Darrell Ankarlo is a 32 year broadcast veteran and author of two books:  What Went Wrong with America and How to Fix it and Another Man’s Sombrero.  Find out more at www.ankarlo.net.

My son has been racially profiled!

You know, it is somewhat funny, the story behind this issue.  When my 1st husband and I found out we were having a baby, we wanted to raise him as both a New England-er and a Southwestern-er so that he would know the heritage of the parts of the country that his parents came from.  He was of Mexican and American Indian descent and was born in Arizona and I am Scotch-Irish, Italian and American Indian and was born in the Boston area.

After he was killed and my son was born, the hospital, the Navy, Social Security office and a variety of other bureaucracies were insistent that I racially identify my son. Was he "white"; "Hispanic"; "Indian"....  Well, that got my red-head in an uproar.  I checked "Other" and filled in "Human".  No amount of phone calls would change my mind.  That was it.  He was of the "human" race.  (I can be a little stubborn)

When I moved to Texas, his last name was more common than in New England.  His beautiful skin tone became even more 'coffee-and-cream' colored and his hair, unlike mine, didn't bleach out lighter in the hot Texas sun.  As he has grown up, his features have come to resemble my husband's so much that it takes the breath away from those who knew his father.

When he went to Middle-School, he came home one day with paper-work for me - and he was quite angry.  I asked what was wrong and he slapped the papers down onto the table.  The principal (who has since been replaced) had sent home papers that needed to be filled out in order to exempt my son from ESL classes.  They had (erroneously) assumed due to his name, that he would need to be in ESL classes in order to help him along.  Not only that, I had to explain myself if I wanted him out of those classes!  They also sent home information on getting immigration assistance!! Upon calling the school and identifying myself as "My Son's Mom", I was asked if I needed a bi-lingual speaker on the phone.  ~ You can bet I adjusted their thinking.  :-)

 My oldest son, child of an MIA/KIA US Sailor, had been pigeon-holed and racially profiled as "Hispanic" and potentially illegal or having illegal parents who needed consular aid.  He constantly rails against this assumption and he gets quite irritated that people assume he supports illegals and "Mexican causes".  My son is very conservative - more so than I am when it comes to the illegal issue.  There is no 'gray' for him.  It is black and white - if you are illegal, you need to leave. He has no issue showing his school ID, license or military ID.  He would rather do that than have illegals run rampant in the streets.

Like his father, he is vehemently against illegal immigration as he feels it lowers people's perception of Hispanics, especially those of Mexican descent.  It also causes suffering in the form of human trafficking that is abusive and exploitative of people who, in many cases, can't protect themselves.  Many Hispanics he has crossed paths with have dissed him for his stand, but he does not waver.  He feels being American is a privilege ~ and he is proud of the sacrifice his father made.

Immigration is great.  Immigrants built this great country.  We need immigrants who come here legally to help us grow into the next century and beyond.  We don't need illegal aliens making a mockery of our system and the ethnicity of our people. We don't need liberals who support open borders and 'sanctuary cities' profiling our children. 

My son deserves better than being profiled by the left as 'sympathetic' to their cause.  My husband damned well deserves better than a legacy that requires his son to be harassed by liberals as 'not Hispanic enough'.

Whose Country is This Anyway?

With the support of 70 percent of its citizens, Arizona has ordered sheriffs and police to secure the border and remove illegal aliens, half a million of whom now reside there. 

Arizona acted because the U.S. government has abdicated its constitutional duty to protect the states from invasion and refuses to enforce America's immigration laws. 

"We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act," said Gov. Jan Brewer. "But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created an unacceptable situation." 

We have a crisis in Arizona because we have a failed state in Washington.

What is the response of Barack Obama, who took an oath to see to it that federal laws are faithfully executed? 

He is siding with the law-breakers. He is pandering to the ethnic lobbies. He is not berating a Mexican regime that aids and abets this invasion of the country of which he is commander in chief. Instead, he attacks the government of Arizona for trying to fill a gaping hole in law enforcement left by his own dereliction of duty. 

He has denounced Arizona as "misguided." He has called on the Justice Department to ensure that Arizona's sheriffs and police do not violate anyone's civil rights. But he has said nothing about the rights of the people of Arizona who must deal with the costs of having hundreds of thousands of lawbreakers in their midst. 

How's that for Andrew Jackson-style leadership?

Obama has done everything but his duty to enforce the law.

Undeniably, making it a state as well as a federal crime to be in this country illegally, and requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone they have a "reasonable suspicion" is here illegally, is tough and burdensome. But what choice did Arizona have? 

The state has a fiscal crisis caused in part by the burden of providing schooling and social welfare for illegals and their families, who consume far more in services than they pay in taxes and who continue to pour in. Even John McCain is now calling for 3,000 troops on the border.

Police officers and a prominent rancher have been murdered. There have been kidnappings believed to be tied to the Mexican drug cartels. There are nightly high-speed chases through the barrios where innocent people are constantly at risk. 

If Arizona does not get control of the border and stop the invasion, U.S. citizens will stop coming to Arizona and will begin to depart, as they are already fleeing California.

What we are talking about here is the Balkanization and breakup of a nation into ethnic enclaves. A country that cannot control its borders isn't really a country anymore, Ronald Reagan reminded us. 

The tasks that Arizonans are themselves undertaking are ones that belong by right, the Constitution and federal law to the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security. 

Arizona has been compelled to assume the feds' role because the feds won't do their job. And for that dereliction of duty the buck stops on the desk of the president of the United States. 

Why is Obama paralyzed? Why does he not enforce the law, even if he dislikes it, by punishing the businessmen who hire illegals and by sending the 12 million to 20 million illegals back home? President Eisenhower did it. Why won't he? 

Because he is politically correct. Because he owes a big debt to the Hispanic lobby that helped deliver two-thirds of that vote in 2008. Though most citizens of Hispanic descent in Arizona want the border protected and the laws enforced, the Hispanic lobby demands that the law be changed.

Fair enough. But the nation rose up as one to reject the "path-to-citizenship" – i.e., amnesty – that the 2007 plan of George W. Bush, McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama envisioned. 

Al Sharpton threatens to go to Phoenix and march in the streets against the new Arizona law. Let him go. 

Let us see how many African-Americans, who are today frozen out of the 8 million jobs held by illegal aliens that might otherwise go to them or their children, will march to defend an invasion for which they are themselves paying the heaviest price. 

Last year, while Americans were losing a net of 5 million jobs, the U.S. government – Bush and Obama both – issued 1,131,000 green cards to legal immigrants to come and take the jobs that did open up, a flood of immigrants equaled in only four other years in our history. 

What are we doing to our own people? 

Whose country is this, anyway? 

America today has an establishment that, because it does not like the immigration laws, countenances and condones wholesale violation of those laws. 

Nevertheless, under those laws, the U.S. government is obligated to deport illegal aliens and punish businesses that knowingly hire them.

This is not an option. It is an obligation. 

Can anyone say Barack Obama is meeting that obligation?

Reprinted from WND - Patrick J. Buchanan - 4/27/10

Happy Earth Day

I know - raised eyebrows.  After-all, I make no bones about the fact that I am conservative and so that must make me a dirty capitalist who wants to burn Mother Earth, right?  Wrong.

I believe that we should drill early and often to develop new oil fields for domestic production. At the same time, I believe that we should do whatever we can, in the private sector, to develop new energy sources that are renewable and have less impact on the environment.  Why then, should we drill?  Because destroying our economy in order to punish energy use will not build the new technologies we need.  Because it will take 30 - 50 years to develop the right combination of new energy and delivery systems to make those new sources (Not corn ethanol) viable and available.


I believe that we should all try to be more mindful of our own impacts on the planet.  For me, that means recycling and compost gardening.  I am learning more all the time about compost and organic gardening.  I think growing a garden and sharing the surplus with others as you can is a great way to feel closer to the Earth.  I think getting your hands dirty is great stress relief.

I believe we, as consumers, can impact companies and whether or not they use renewable methods for packaging, manufacturing and materials with our purchasing power.  We don't need the government to tell us what kind of products we can buy - like light-bulbs or toilet paper.  Less government means more variety of responses to helping the planet.

I believe that the enviro-nuts who keep extolling us to live in caves and "save the planet" are way too impressed with their minute impact on Mother Earth.  The earth is magnificent.  It has been here for billions of years without us and will continue to be here for billions of years until the sun burns out.  Earth needs our respect and care; it doesn't need our meager efforts to "save" her.  We try all this "regulation" at the federal level and UN level to cut carbon dioxide (want to cut CO2? Stop exhaling) and the volcano in Iceland spewed more CO2 out in one week than mankind has in decades.  Earth doesn't care about our efforts - she is more powerful than we ever thought to be.

So, Happy Earth Day; be kind to the Earth; learn more about our wonderful planet; plant a tree.  Be smart.

Are you a HENRY?

What, you may ask is a HENRY.  HENRY stands for "high earner, not rich yet".  I will not lie, I am a HENRY. I aspire to be rich.  It is a goal of mine.  You may ask why.  Why would I want to be one of the "evil rich". 

Well, first of all, I don't see that rich people can all be categorized as "evil".  If you work hard and choose to save and scrape and have money, who has the right to tell you that you are evil?  When does the fruit of a man's labor become "evil profits"?

Second, I like to help others and the more disposable income I have, the more people and animals I can help.  I can sponsor more children around the world like we do through Catholic Charities.  I can donate more of my time like I do to my church.  I will be able to own land so I can help more horses and animals that need rescue.  I can choose where more of my dollars go to help more of those in need.

Third, I want to be able to leave a good life to my children and grandchildren.  If I am willing to bust my butt working hard to build a business and a chunk of savings, I can give more opportunities to my family.  Most Americans aspire to give their children a better life - whether that is through an education, a family business or the freedom to chase a dream, that is the choice of the person who is building that empire.

We have heard for some time that "profit is evil" and that "rich people are greedy".  Well, baloney.  There are plenty of people, poor, middle class and rich that are not nice, that are greedy and that don't care a hoot about others.  On the opposite side, there are plenty of rich people who do care a lot.  Bill Gates is one.  John Hunstman is another.  Being rich doesn't make one evil.  Neither does being poor make one virtuous.

When does a company become "evil"?  There is a point that profit becomes questionable by reasonable standards.  When a company pays its CEO so much money and then turns around and cuts benefits for the workers to the bone or lays off innumerable workers just so they can pay that CEO more; that raises a red flag.  But, you know what?  Those public companies that do act in that manner answer to their shareholders, investors and consumers.  Just as the companies in the 1980's that divested of their investments in South Africa to protest apartheid, so too can YOU the consumer protest this type of behavior.  It may not  solve the problem overnight, but eventually, the company will get the message.

So, what is wrong with being rich and having to pay more in taxes because "you can afford it"?  That goes against the grain of everything America offers through our meritocracy.  Punishing the rich for being successful is a double edged sword.  As a business owner, I love rich customers.  They buy more products.  When they buy more, I make more money that I can then use downstream in the economy.  When you cripple the rich with vengeful taxation policies, you actually hurt the workers in the economy.  When the rich cut back on expenditures, the companies that make the products that are no longer purchased suffer.  They lay off workers, and the whole spiral continues downward.

Ultimately, rich people and profits are not evil.  They are what drive our economy and what grow jobs.  I hope there are more rich people in America and someday, I hope to be one.  For now, I remain a hard working HENRY who still pays way too much in taxes.

Conservative vs Liberal

This has been circulating for a while but it deserves reprinting:

Conservative vs Liberal

If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn`t buy one.

If a liberal doesn’t like guns, he feels that no one should have one.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.

If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants to ban all meat products for everyone.

If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.

A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a liberal is homosexual, he loudly demands legislated respect.

If a black man or Hispanic is conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.

Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.

A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God or religion silenced.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.

A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

Some generalizations but pretty close to the truth from what I see these days…

Drill Baby Drill? Not so much.

Amazing subterfuge today once again from the "most transparent administration ever". [Cough]  Met this morning with somewhat surprising news, perhaps you felt hopeful?

The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling, much of it for the first time, officials said Tuesday.
The proposal — a compromise that will please oil companies and domestic drilling advocates but anger some residents of affected states and many environmental organizations — would end a longstanding moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from the northern tip of Delaware to the central coast of Florida, covering 167 million acres of ocean.

If this was the actual truth from Obama's mouth, the right and all Americans would have much to celebrate.  Sadly, as usual, with the Obama administration, nothing is as it seems.  Here's the  catch, via the American Energy Alliance:

“One major flashpoint in the negotiations has been whether to share drilling revenue with states and to allow states to opt in or out of drilling along their coastlines. It was unclear late Tuesday whether Obama endorses revenue-sharing for states. “It appears the Northern Atlantic and entire Pacific Coast will now be under a de facto ban” for drilling, said Patrick Creighton, a spokesman for the Institute for Energy Research. Even if drilling is ultimately allowed in part of the Atlantic, Creighton said, revenue sharing is an essential incentive for states. The administration’s plans could meet resistance from at least 10 Senate Democrats representing coastal and Great Lakes states who last week raised concerns about “unfettered access to oil and gas drilling” that could jeopardize fishing, tourism and military exercises. The Interior Department retooled the current schedule of offshore leases governing 2007 through 2012 after a federal appeals court last April ruled that the second Bush administration had not done a sufficient environmental review of expanded drilling off the Alaskan coast.

GOP Rep. Mike Pence adds:

“As usual the devil is in the details. Only in Washington, D.C., can you ban more areas to oil and gas exploration than you open up, delay the date of your new leases and claim you’re going to increase production.
“The President’s announcement today is a smokescreen. It will almost certainly delay any new offshore exploration until at least 2012 and include only a fraction of the offshore resources that the previous Administration included in its plan.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another feeble attempt to gain votes for the President’s national energy tax bill that is languishing in the Senate. At the end of the day this Administration’s energy plan is simple: increase the cost of energy on every family in America and trade American jobs oversees at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.”

So, as it stands we remain tied to the Middle East and the oil whims of OPEC.  How completely disappointing - and yet how typical of Obama.

Here's your ice cream

From a teacher in the Nashville area

"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year...
 
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.  I decided we would have an election for a class president.
 
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.  To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
 
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
 
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.  The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.

I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
 
I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches. Jamie went first.  He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.  Everyone applauded and he sat down.

Now it was Olivia's turn to speak.  Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."  She sat down.
 
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes!  We want ice cream."  She surely would say more... She did not have to.
 
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
 She wasn't sure.
 
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it.
She didn't know.
 
The class really didn't care.  All they were thinking about was ice cream..
 
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide…
 
 Moral of the Story:  Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.  They want ice cream.

The other 48 percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."

This is the ice cream Obama promised us!

 

Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken from someone else.

Health Care Bill Becomes Law

Wow.  Not sure I would have called this a year ago.  I really thought we would be able to make the will of the American people known and this boondoggle would go the way of the dodo.  It seems obvious to me that while there are some reforms that were clearly needed with regard to health insurance, this takeover was not a good approach.  Let me be clear, I am very much against the new law, and I want to explain why because I am NOT all about letting children die on the streets.

First, of course people in America should have access to good health care.  There are laws in place to assure citizens that those in need of care will be taken care of regardless of their insurance status or their ability to pay.  What does that mean?  No one in need can be turned away from an Emergency Room.  Hospitals that are public (County or State financed) cannot turn away patients on the basis of insurance status or ability to pay up front in cash.  

Does this happen?  I have friends and family members in multiple states who have had cancer or other life threatening illnesses who had no insurance and no savings who were cared for very well or whose lives were saved despite their finances.   So, yes, America takes care of her citizens.

Second, people in this argument have constantly confused health care with health insurance.  ALL Americans have access to health care.  Period.  Most Americans get health insurance through their workplace as a benefit.  Most have co-pays and premiums so this health insurance is not free.  Nor should it be.  

Medical care is given by highly educated and trained individuals who spend many years learning their craft and spend a lot of money on education.  To make this service free would be ludicrous to the time and money it takes to become a doctor or other medical provider.  Plus - what kind of care would you get from someone who worked for free?  I mean, McDonald's pays people and they can't even get your lunch order correct.  Would you want someone who wasn't paid at all removing your spleen?

Third, the Bill which became law today is an absolute disaster.  Are there some good things in this Bill?  Yes, there are.  Is the Bill a good piece of legislation?  No, not at all.  Why?

• Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure.

• Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

• Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you.

• PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

• Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued.

• Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer to pay premiums.

• Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for HC plan.

• PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

• pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt.

• Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees plan.

• Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

• Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with a payroll 400k & above that does not provide health insurance pays 8% tax on all payroll

• pg 150 Lines 9-13 Small business with a payroll between 251k & 400k that doesn't provide health care insurance  pays 2- 6% tax on payroll.

• Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HC according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

• Pg 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from indiv. taxes. (Americans will pay)

• Pg 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial /personal records and bank information.

• PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that.

• Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill-  Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.

• Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same.

• PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of doctor's time, professional  judgment, etc. Literally value of human life.

• PG 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.

• PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

• PG 272 SEC. 1145. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - rationing of care.

• Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmission.

• Pg 298 Lines 9-11 If doctors treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission -Govt will penalize the doctor.

• Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own and if they can invest in a practice or hospital.

• Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand as the hospital board deems fit.

• pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required from groups like ACORN.

• Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates estab. of outcome based measures. HC the way the government wants.

• Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan

• Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs citizens.

• Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Cmtte.  HC by phone.

• PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Senior Citizens end of life counseling

• Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory

• PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides apprvd list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

• PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program 4 orders 4 end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends

I could go on, but 2700 pages is a lot.

Not enough for you?  Here is an article from "Investors Business Daily" that lists 20 drawbacks of the new law:  http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/capitalhill.htm

The point is, this Bill which is now Law is a disaster of a train wreck moving slowly towards us.  Hopefully, Texas will successfully sue on the grounds that the Law is unconstitutional.  I hope your state is successful too.

 

2010: An Odyssey

Well, I am astounded at where we are.  2010 - we used to say that year when we were kids like it was a fantasy - and now we are here.  I want to share my New Year's Resolutions for 2010 - because I believe that if they are spoken - or posted - in public, they are more real.

2010 New Year’s Resolutions

1. I resolve to let me hair grow without cutting it myself in frustration - not even the bangs.
2. I resolve to buy, prepare, serve and eat more healthy foods this year - allowing even less processed food in the house than in 2009.
3. I resolve to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise 4 x's weekly for myself this year.
4. I resolve to focus on being the best Mom I can be for my boys.
5. I resolve to be a better wife (and friend) in 2010 - and attempt NOT to get cranky at DT's corny humor - or what passes for humor in his mind.
6. I resolve to NOT get my "political" hackles up when the current administration does something stupid (daily). I will simply breathe deeply and count down to 11/2/2010 and 11/6/2012 with happy anticipation.
7. I resolve to work actively and daily towards my personal business goals while continuing to be the best Project Manager I know how to be.
8. I resolve to be spiritually and mentally open to personal growth this year; appreciating those in my family and my life for what they bring to our relationship - not what I want them to bring.
9. I resolve to look for the joy in life's little miracles daily.
10. I resolve to keep my resolutions and when I falter to start over again with a glad heart for the opportunity to learn more about myself.

 Happy 2010!