Thought I was going to post about the swine flu, didn't you? Quite frankly, swine flu doesn't scare me, and it is primarily a health problem and not a political one, or so it shouldn't be. This is just a little blurb to let you all know that Obama has officially acknowledged that the tea parties exist. So, what does he do? He mocks them, of course! Why wouldn't he, as from the sounds of it in this clip, he has no real idea of the reasons behind the protestors.
These tea parties aren't about health care and social security, and if you really want to know how the government could fix these, it could do so by just stepping aside. Anyway, the protestors are more concerned about Obama's stimulus plans, devaluing the dollar, the invasion of our privacy, the stripping away of our inalienable rights, and just Big Government, or Big Brother, in general.
I actually didn't expect him to acknowledge the tea parties, really. I thought standing around and waving signs and tea bags was just a gimmick to make you feel good about being so rebellious and patriotic while not requiring any real work. Tea parties can be easily ignored.
Example, if I'm upstairs writing, or maybe even drawing, and someone is outside waving a sign that reads, "Drop your pencil now!" there's a good chance that I won't. After all, that person won't stop me, they wouldn't dare. They just don't have it in them to run into my house, yank the pencil from my fingers, and set my ambitious *cough* works ablaze. Americans, we've lost our spirit.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Ron Paul on Secession
I'm posting this just because he's recieved so much negativity for practicing free speech. Ron Paul claims that secession discussions should be kept alive for obvious reasons:
a.) The Federal Government may not be so eager to step on State's governments if it were afraid that the State would seceed from the Union.
b.) We did seceed from England, though not in a very peaceful way. The principal is still there.
So, what's everyone doing now, namely CNN (Communist Networking News)? Shouts of, "Treason!" are flowing out of their mouths. What's treasonous about talking about secession? Ron Paul doesn't actually think the Texas governor was serious when he mentioned it in passing, but I agree that it's a good discussion.
My definition of treason: any organization, government, or individual that violates the rule of law as defined by the Constitution and is in blatant contrast to the ideals of America, which is independent of any government or president.
As such, Bush committed treason, Obama committed treason, Clinton committed treason, etc. and we have a right to stand against that treason. Seceeded from a corrupted government is not treason. Here's the video:
a.) The Federal Government may not be so eager to step on State's governments if it were afraid that the State would seceed from the Union.
b.) We did seceed from England, though not in a very peaceful way. The principal is still there.
So, what's everyone doing now, namely CNN (Communist Networking News)? Shouts of, "Treason!" are flowing out of their mouths. What's treasonous about talking about secession? Ron Paul doesn't actually think the Texas governor was serious when he mentioned it in passing, but I agree that it's a good discussion.
My definition of treason: any organization, government, or individual that violates the rule of law as defined by the Constitution and is in blatant contrast to the ideals of America, which is independent of any government or president.
As such, Bush committed treason, Obama committed treason, Clinton committed treason, etc. and we have a right to stand against that treason. Seceeded from a corrupted government is not treason. Here's the video:
Monday, April 20, 2009
CNN + Tea Parties = Awesome Behind-the-Scenes Footage!
Believe it or not, I'm not a huge fan of these tea parties going on, but more on that in a later article. However, I believe that a number of the people who attend them are passionate, and probably more open to conservative and Libertarian philosophy than a lot of people. They aren't there yet, and there's too much space for neocons to step in and overtake these little parties. Not to mention, some of them lack any kind of spirit at all (I feel another article coming along).
Anyway, here's a CNN reporter who attempted to "report", or biasly bash the tea parties and paint them as being a movement created by right-wing extremists who are angry that Repubicans lost this year's election. This clip includes the segment that CNN actually aired, followed by some awesome bloggers who got there right afterwards and managed to catch the reporter being told off by a very angry woman!
Anyway, here's a CNN reporter who attempted to "report", or biasly bash the tea parties and paint them as being a movement created by right-wing extremists who are angry that Repubicans lost this year's election. This clip includes the segment that CNN actually aired, followed by some awesome bloggers who got there right afterwards and managed to catch the reporter being told off by a very angry woman!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Good, the Bad, and Downright Stupid
There's been a lot going on politically, and I fear that I've neglected this blog during it all. So, it's time to start by updating the MIAC report, followed by discussion of HR 1388, and China's newest move. I might also mention Obama's reaction to Fargo flooding, since it goes into the downright stupid bit.
First of all, MIAC has officially decided to change their report! *shouts of cheer emanate from Missouri* Governor Nixon, naturally, avoids all responsiblity for the report. For some reason, he kind of reminds of a certain President whose last name was also Nixon...
Now, I know I didn't cover this bill at all, and I definately regret it now, but HR 1388 has passed. So, what is this bill? It's called the Give Act, and it's mandatory voluntary service, and, yes, I know that those two words don't go together. So, why is this bill scary? Here's a few excerpts from it:
All of tht basically means that while the service is voluntary now, it could easily develop into something that's mandatory. I know, there are people out there, some of whom might be reading this, and saying, "What's wrong with serving your community?" Nothing. What's wrong, is when government tries to step in and make you serve your community. Trust me, community service is so much better when you're doing it for the sake of doing it, not because you're being pressured into it. It's really nothing short of enslavement of young people.
Moreover, this is in clear violation of the 13th Amendment:
Here's where things get a bit sticky. While you're committed to serving your, or Obama's, community, you will be prohibited from a variety of functions, further stripping you of your rights and offering nothing but slavery in return.
Can you say, "All your kids are belong to us"? If you read all that, you should be scared out of your wits, and this stupid thing passed! What all that basically means, is that while you are pledged to servitude, all your loyalties lie with the State. You cannot be devoted to church, political activism, or even a business; you are a complete drone for the State. Regardless of whether or not this is voluntary or mandatory, this is completely unacceptable in a free society!
So, please, refuse to cooperate with this bill. Civil disobedience is an amazing form of rebellion, and we should definately not allow ourselves or our children to be owned by Big Brother. Voluntary or not, this is another Big Government program that wishes to run our lives.
Okay, time to keep going. China is not calling for a new World Currency. Do you know what's scary? Some articles, as the one I just linked to, state that they're being taken seriously. However, Obama has also claimed that he doesn't see that happening, but how much do we trust Obama? According to him, he doesn't see much happening at all!
Now, there's way too many people in the world who ask, "What's wrong with that?" I'll tell you what's wrong with it right now.
First of all, think about how easy it is to change policies in your home town or local school. If your childrens' school is doing something you dislike, you get a bunch of parents to join together and run up to the school board, begging for change. There's a pretty decent chance that you'll get what you want.
Now, think of the work it takes to change state legislation if your unhappy. It requires a lot more people to ask the governor to change such-and-such law and get the job done, doesn't it? It's not impossible, but it sure as heck is tougher.
Finally, how hard is it to change things at the Federal level? Can it be done? Yeah, but it's downright hard! It is very difficult to get things done right at the Federal level when they screw up, so how hard do you think it will be to change things once they've gone global?
If the IMF regulates money with the same restraint that the current Federal Reserve does, then the whole world is screwed, and it will take the whole world to bring it down. Even if things start out artificially prosperous, they can and will go bad.
Moreover, how easy it would be to slowly usher in a real NWO, although I understand that this is tin hat stuff to most people. But think about it for just a second. The banks ultimately control the world, not the various kings, presidents, etc. That kind of power in the hand of a single, global "bank" is scary stuff! Money makes the world go round.
Some good news, though, is Michele Buchmann, a Congresswoman, has put forth a bill that would ban the US from taking part in a global currency. Please, call your legislators and have them support HJ.RES.41. Buchmann's bill is important, and you can check the cosponsors and see Ron Paul's name on there if you want.
And now, for the downright stupid. We all know that Fargo floods to a certain extent every year. Crazy people built a city on top of a lake, has a river that runs backwards, and gets a big pile of snow almost every year. All of this is the perfect setup for a flood, and they always get one. This one happens to be a big one, but we've had a lot of snow in these parts recently, so that probably has something to do with it.
However, Barrack Obama begs to differ. He believes it is due to that pesky little inconvenience known as global warming. Yep, he thinks that this is a wakeup call to take action! Granted, I'm not entirely sure if Obama knows where Fargo is, nor do I think he was aware that Fargo was having a blizzard at the same time they were flooding (when the north-running river hits a blockade of snow and ice, well...). That's not going to stop him from shoveling more money into the various programs he wants in order to stop an all-natural climate change. He also plans to pay for 75% of the flood damages in this Federal Disaster Area.
People on forums tend to post things known as facepalm pictures during these kinds of revelations. I don't have one at the moment, so use your imagination. Cheers.
First of all, MIAC has officially decided to change their report! *shouts of cheer emanate from Missouri* Governor Nixon, naturally, avoids all responsiblity for the report. For some reason, he kind of reminds of a certain President whose last name was also Nixon...
Now, I know I didn't cover this bill at all, and I definately regret it now, but HR 1388 has passed. So, what is this bill? It's called the Give Act, and it's mandatory voluntary service, and, yes, I know that those two words don't go together. So, why is this bill scary? Here's a few excerpts from it:
From the Misc. section, #6104: (6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable
mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.SEC.
6107. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Sessions- The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying
out this title, hold public hearings, sit and act at times and places, take
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents- Any member or agent of the Commission
may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is
authorized to take by this section.
(c) Obtaining Official Data- Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of
any department or agency shall furnish information to the Commission that the
Commission deems necessary to enable it to carry out this title.
(d) Physical Facilities and Equipment- The Architect of the Capitol, in
consultation with the appropriate entities in the legislative branch, shall
locate and provide suitable facilities and equipment for the operation of the
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis.
(e) Administrative Support Services- Upon the request of the Commission,
the Architect of the Capitol and the Administrator of General Services shall
provide to the Commission on a nonreimbursable basis such administrative support
services as the Commission may request in order for the Commission to carry out
its responsibilities under this title.
All of tht basically means that while the service is voluntary now, it could easily develop into something that's mandatory. I know, there are people out there, some of whom might be reading this, and saying, "What's wrong with serving your community?" Nothing. What's wrong, is when government tries to step in and make you serve your community. Trust me, community service is so much better when you're doing it for the sake of doing it, not because you're being pressured into it. It's really nothing short of enslavement of young people.
Moreover, this is in clear violation of the 13th Amendment:
Amendment XIII
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall
exist within the United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Here's where things get a bit sticky. While you're committed to serving your, or Obama's, community, you will be prohibited from a variety of functions, further stripping you of your rights and offering nothing but slavery in return.
SEC. 1304. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
Section
125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) is amended to read as follows: `SEC. 125. PROHIBITED
ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
`(a) Prohibited Activities- A
participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not
engage in the following activities:
`(1) Attempting to influence legislation.
`(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or
strikes.
`(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.
`(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining
agreements.
`(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.
`(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.
`(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.
`(8) Providing a direct benefit to–
`(A) a business organized for profit;
`(B) a labor organization;
`(C) a partisan political organization;
`(D) a nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
`(E) an organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (7), unless Corporation assistance is not used to support those religious activities.
`(9) Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation funds to conduct a voter registration drive.
`(10) Such other activities as the Corporation may prohibit.`(b) Ineligible Organizations- No assistance provided under this subtitle may be provided to the following types of organizations (including the participation of a participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle in activities
conducted by such organizations) or to organizations that are co-located on the
same premises as the following organizations:
`(1) Organizations that provide or promote abortion services, including referral for such services.
`(2) For-profit organizations, political parties, labor organizations, or
organizations engaged in political or legislative advocacy.
`(3) Organizations that have been indicted for voter fraud.
`(c) Nondisplacement of Employed Workers or Other Volunteers- A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not perform any services or duties or engage in activities which–
`(1) would otherwise be performed by an employed worker as part of his or her assigned duties as an employee or by another volunteer who is not a participant in an approved national service position; or
`(2) will supplant the hiring of employed workers or work of such other
volunteers.’.
Can you say, "All your kids are belong to us"? If you read all that, you should be scared out of your wits, and this stupid thing passed! What all that basically means, is that while you are pledged to servitude, all your loyalties lie with the State. You cannot be devoted to church, political activism, or even a business; you are a complete drone for the State. Regardless of whether or not this is voluntary or mandatory, this is completely unacceptable in a free society!
So, please, refuse to cooperate with this bill. Civil disobedience is an amazing form of rebellion, and we should definately not allow ourselves or our children to be owned by Big Brother. Voluntary or not, this is another Big Government program that wishes to run our lives.
Okay, time to keep going. China is not calling for a new World Currency. Do you know what's scary? Some articles, as the one I just linked to, state that they're being taken seriously. However, Obama has also claimed that he doesn't see that happening, but how much do we trust Obama? According to him, he doesn't see much happening at all!
Now, there's way too many people in the world who ask, "What's wrong with that?" I'll tell you what's wrong with it right now.
First of all, think about how easy it is to change policies in your home town or local school. If your childrens' school is doing something you dislike, you get a bunch of parents to join together and run up to the school board, begging for change. There's a pretty decent chance that you'll get what you want.
Now, think of the work it takes to change state legislation if your unhappy. It requires a lot more people to ask the governor to change such-and-such law and get the job done, doesn't it? It's not impossible, but it sure as heck is tougher.
Finally, how hard is it to change things at the Federal level? Can it be done? Yeah, but it's downright hard! It is very difficult to get things done right at the Federal level when they screw up, so how hard do you think it will be to change things once they've gone global?
If the IMF regulates money with the same restraint that the current Federal Reserve does, then the whole world is screwed, and it will take the whole world to bring it down. Even if things start out artificially prosperous, they can and will go bad.
Moreover, how easy it would be to slowly usher in a real NWO, although I understand that this is tin hat stuff to most people. But think about it for just a second. The banks ultimately control the world, not the various kings, presidents, etc. That kind of power in the hand of a single, global "bank" is scary stuff! Money makes the world go round.
Some good news, though, is Michele Buchmann, a Congresswoman, has put forth a bill that would ban the US from taking part in a global currency. Please, call your legislators and have them support HJ.RES.41. Buchmann's bill is important, and you can check the cosponsors and see Ron Paul's name on there if you want.
And now, for the downright stupid. We all know that Fargo floods to a certain extent every year. Crazy people built a city on top of a lake, has a river that runs backwards, and gets a big pile of snow almost every year. All of this is the perfect setup for a flood, and they always get one. This one happens to be a big one, but we've had a lot of snow in these parts recently, so that probably has something to do with it.
However, Barrack Obama begs to differ. He believes it is due to that pesky little inconvenience known as global warming. Yep, he thinks that this is a wakeup call to take action! Granted, I'm not entirely sure if Obama knows where Fargo is, nor do I think he was aware that Fargo was having a blizzard at the same time they were flooding (when the north-running river hits a blockade of snow and ice, well...). That's not going to stop him from shoveling more money into the various programs he wants in order to stop an all-natural climate change. He also plans to pay for 75% of the flood damages in this Federal Disaster Area.
People on forums tend to post things known as facepalm pictures during these kinds of revelations. I don't have one at the moment, so use your imagination. Cheers.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Finally! An Update! AKA Ron Paul on Glenn Beck
I've got to catch up, because there are huge things happening in the political world, and it's going to bite us all in the butt. I'm working on some articles to cover all of this, but for now, here's Ron Paul's interview with Glenn Beck this morning. This is a follow-up to the MIAC report I posted earlier.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
So Now We're Terrorists
At the Liberty Forest Forums it has finally been confirmed that this is real. A memo was just released to Missouri police stating that, in addition to the usual extremists that one might consider part of a militia, supporters of former Presidential candidates Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, and Bob Barr could be terrorists. Oh, and all Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and members of the Campaign for Liberty. Granted, any idea can be taken to such extremes as to promote violence, but this is getting ridiculus, particularly since they mentioned these men by name! And how can you generalize all political parties like that?
Basically, said memo (the jpegs in the article) states that anyone who believes in a North American Union, New World Order, or the economic downfall of the United States is at risk for being an extremist. That's overgeneralizing, especially the bit regarding the economy, as lots of people are thinking that another Great Depression could very well be rushing towards us.
Hopefully, more news sites will start to talk about this so I can link to a source that's not so conspiracy centered, but regardless, I ask you to pass this out to everyone you know, especially if you live in the state of Missouri. I believe that Campaign for Liberty has been alerted about this (I'll have to doublecheck), and we'll wait and see what happens.
Basically, said memo (the jpegs in the article) states that anyone who believes in a North American Union, New World Order, or the economic downfall of the United States is at risk for being an extremist. That's overgeneralizing, especially the bit regarding the economy, as lots of people are thinking that another Great Depression could very well be rushing towards us.
Hopefully, more news sites will start to talk about this so I can link to a source that's not so conspiracy centered, but regardless, I ask you to pass this out to everyone you know, especially if you live in the state of Missouri. I believe that Campaign for Liberty has been alerted about this (I'll have to doublecheck), and we'll wait and see what happens.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Despicable: Education Begins at Home Act
Does the title sound appealing? Of course it does! Families are supposed to be our children's (or your children's, since I don't have any) educational playground. It's where they're supposed to learn their most basic skills, develop good manners and behaviors, etc. However, this bill is nothing more but further infringement on our civil liberties and rights to raise our children as we wish.
This bill pushes preschool education, which is less like education and more like daycare, in my opinion. Only one of my brothers ever went to preschool, and he turned out no smarter than my other brother or myself. Those early years are important, but family can do just as good a job as any teacher.
It also pushes home visitation. Here's where things get sticky. These home visits double as parenting check-ups. In other words, they're supposed to make sure kids are being treated nicely at home, so make sure not to spank your kids in front of the nice beaurocrats.
Even more frightening is that during these home visits your kid will be screened for "mental illness". As far as I'm concerned, mental illness is a fraud and a form of control (see my other blog), but regardless of how I feel, you should be concerned about someone coming in and forcing pills on your kid.
Now, let's momentarily look at another act we need to oppose titled the Mother's Act. This is when doctors drug pregnant women in order to prevent post-partum depression, which is probably out of control hormones. So, the fetus is being drugged while in its mother's womb, then it's born and subjected to being drugged after a home visit.
This is scary! I urge you, write to your representatives and tell them that we raise our kids our own way. In other words, the State does not own our children! Parents have the right to homeschool their children and make medical decisions, not the government.
Please, do what you can to let Congress know that this is an unacceptable act, and we don't want our taxpayer money going towards this.
This bill pushes preschool education, which is less like education and more like daycare, in my opinion. Only one of my brothers ever went to preschool, and he turned out no smarter than my other brother or myself. Those early years are important, but family can do just as good a job as any teacher.
It also pushes home visitation. Here's where things get sticky. These home visits double as parenting check-ups. In other words, they're supposed to make sure kids are being treated nicely at home, so make sure not to spank your kids in front of the nice beaurocrats.
Even more frightening is that during these home visits your kid will be screened for "mental illness". As far as I'm concerned, mental illness is a fraud and a form of control (see my other blog), but regardless of how I feel, you should be concerned about someone coming in and forcing pills on your kid.
Now, let's momentarily look at another act we need to oppose titled the Mother's Act. This is when doctors drug pregnant women in order to prevent post-partum depression, which is probably out of control hormones. So, the fetus is being drugged while in its mother's womb, then it's born and subjected to being drugged after a home visit.
This is scary! I urge you, write to your representatives and tell them that we raise our kids our own way. In other words, the State does not own our children! Parents have the right to homeschool their children and make medical decisions, not the government.
Please, do what you can to let Congress know that this is an unacceptable act, and we don't want our taxpayer money going towards this.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
How Did You Discover Ron Paul?
For you readers (if there are any), who are fans of Representative Ron Paul, then I've got a video for you to answer. You may either comment on the blog, or head on over to the Youtube video and comment there, or, better yet, post a video response explaining why you like Ron Paul.
I'm just so sick of all the bad news lately that I'm trying to find new ways to interact with the blogging community, and also to cheer us all up in the face of this crisis.
I'm just so sick of all the bad news lately that I'm trying to find new ways to interact with the blogging community, and also to cheer us all up in the face of this crisis.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
State of the Union Address Part 3
Ha! I'm not giving up, yet! I'll get all the different parts done.
The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity -- it is a prerequisite.
Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.
Unfortunately, he seems to have hit the nail on the head. Now, I believe that most occupations that require more than a high school diploma simply don't need one! So much has been placed on obtaining a degree that simply proving that you know how to do a job isn't an option anymore. This is especially true in the field of computers, where you need a degree even if you can out-program the world!
This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education -- from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. (Applause.) That is a promise we have to make to the children of America. (Applause.)
Education doesn't necessarily equal brains. For example, the Japanese are smart. Most people won't argue the fact that their standards are higher, their tests much more difficult, and their suicide rate soaring because of it. However, let me present to you an example: English. Most Americans probably couldn't pass an English test in Japan. However, that doesn't mean that the Japanese speak English - most of them can hold only a basic conversation, if that. They may know some grammar rules that make our heads spin, but they lack the most vital part of the language: communication. I can communicate in English, and most Japanese can't. Thus, higher education standards doesn't necessarily mean that you perform better.
Also, how can kids live up to these standards when Americans drug all their kids up on psychotropic drugs. If you looke at statistics, of all the psychotropic drugs in the world, America uses 80% of them. That leaves a mere 20% to be divided up among the rest of the world. Thus, American kids are pretty much destined to have lower grades than, say, a German or Japanese student.
Already, we've made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We've dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life.
Early childhood education is a joke. It wasn't even available until recently, and that didn't stop geniuses from shaping our world. I, for one, didn't go to early childhood, and neither did my youngest brother. My other brother did, and he didn't have an advantage on us because of it.
We've made college affordable for nearly seven million more students -- seven million. (Applause.) And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children's progress.
I still can't afford college, but then again, I'm poor. I went for two years and can't afford to go any longer. I do plan on going back, but the economic outlook of this country is sad indeed.
But we know that our schools don't just need more resources. They need more reform. (Applause.) That is why this budget creates new teachers -- new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We'll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools. (Applause.)
That's what No Child Left Behind set out to do, and it's done nothing but hinder education. Besides, why does the government have to stick its nose into our schools?
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and as educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. So tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country -- and this country needs and values the talents of every American. (Applause.) That's why we will support -- we will provide the support necessary for all young Americans to complete college and meet a new goal: By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That's is a goal we can meet. (Applause.) That's a goal we can meet.
High aspirations, but it seems as though Obama assumes that every American would get higher education and training if they could afford it. The truth is, plenty of Americans are quite happy being greeters at Walmart and don't want higher education.
Besides, if everyone spends a fortune on college, then who's going to serve burgers? I know, it's a generalization, but the decision to get a college degree or not to is up to individuals. By choosing not to, you are not betraying your country. Maybe yourself, especially if you're gifted, but the country won't suffer all that much.
"And if your tailors all become kings, then there will be no one left to sew the clothes. So much for French fashion, and politics." -- Percy, The Scarlet Pimpernell TV movie.
Now, I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. (Applause.) And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch, as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country -- Senator Edward Kennedy. (Applause.)
Ooo... this sounds strangely like a bribe, and like socialism. I thought he removed this from his Agenda page! Must have just to stop the angry emails.
These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent -- for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, read to their child. (Applause.) I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father, when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home. That is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. That's an American issue. (Applause.)
Thanks for stating the obvious, Obama. However, if the State owns our children and dictates what they learn, then how can parent assume responsibility? Parents are important in educating our children, but can he assume that parents will rally behind his education plans?
There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that's the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. (Applause.) That is critical. I agree, absolutely. See, I know we can get some consensus in here. (Laughter.) With the deficit we inherited, the cost -- (applause) -- the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down. That is critical. (Applause.)
Yeah, and he's doing wonders to bring down the deficit. I mean, we're implement new, expensive programs, subsidizing a bunch of crap, and basically spending through our noses and running up the deficit. Please, don't compound on the problem!
Now, I'm proud that we passed a recovery plan free of earmarks -- (applause) -- and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.
I'm against earmarks, but with a plan this big, you almost need them to make sure some of the money stays here at home. Vote no against the plan, but make sure that the money isn't all going to whatever anybody feels like.
And yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade. (Applause.)
By the time he's done, this $2 trillion he speaks of will look like a pebble in my driveway. Seriously, I don't see how he can possibly cut the deficit in half, particularly when he plans on spending so much more. It's not going to work, but I think he's counting on the fact that most Americans just don't pay attention to that.
In this budget -- in this budget, we will end education programs that don't work and end direct payments to large agribusiness that don't need them. (Applause.) We'll eliminate -- we'll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq -- (applause) -- and reform -- and -- and reform our defense budget so that we're not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don't use. (Applause.) We will -- we will root out -- we will root out the waste and fraud and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn't make our seniors any healthier. We will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. (Applause.)
Well, that takes care of a tiny, almost insignificant portion of the budget. What's he planning to do with the rest of it? Or, perhaps, by education program that don't work does he mean the whole Department of Education?
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. (Applause.) Now, let me be clear -- let me be absolutely clear, because I know you'll end up hearing some of the same claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: If your family earns less than $250,000 a year -- a quarter million dollars a year -- you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: Not one single dime. (Applause.) Not a dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut -- that's right, a tax cut -- for 95 percent of working families. And by the way, these checks are on the way. (Applause.)
Hurray! Just like every other politician promised!
Now, to preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans. (Applause.)
I'm 80% sure that these programs are doomed in the long run.
Finally, because we're also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead 10 years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules -- and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Applause.) For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price. (Applause.)
I'm not aware that the cost was hidden. You could find it if you had the incentive to look for it. Perhaps I'm mistaken - I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Along with our outstanding national security team, I'm now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war. (Applause.)
Meanwhile, the Mexican border begins to fall apart...
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens halfway around the world. We will not allow it. (Applause.)
It's great when we assume that we know who the terrists are, where they are, and who to trust to fight them for us. Somehow, this sounds like a distraction to me.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: We honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. (Applause.)
This is the best thing he's said thus far.
To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned. (Applause.)
So much for chopping the deficit in half.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend -- because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. And that is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists. (Applause.)
Key words here, "Example of America." That's what a non-intervention foreign policy is, but no one wants to hear about that.
Because living our values doesn't make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. (Applause.) And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture. We can make that commitment here tonight. (Applause.)
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand. To seek progress towards a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century -- from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty -- we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
More building alliances, invading others, imposing on others, and saying that it's necessary in this new, more dangerous world. Here's the deal, the rules are the same, no matter what toys you use to play the game. The Middle-east is no more a threat to themselves and each other than it was a decade ago, the difference being that we have a reason to poke our noses into it. Tag is always tag, whether it's played with our hands, lasers, or paint balls.
And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us having a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world's.
As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us -- watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.
Too bad they insist on following a headless chicken. I'm afraid that we're headed towards a single currency, which is doomed to failure.
Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege -- one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.
I'm 100% certain that we're shaping it for ill.
I know that it's easy to lose sight of this truth -- to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial. But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.
I think of Leonard Abess, a bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn't tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, "I knew some of these people since I was seven years old. It didn't feel right getting the money myself." (Applause.)
I think about -- I think about Greensburg -- Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community -- how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. "The tragedy was terrible," said one of the men who helped them rebuild. "But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity."
I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina -- a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She had been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this chamber. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters." That's what she said. We are not quitters. Applause.)
These words -- these words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us. (Applause.)
These are inspiration stories, but they do little in Obama's mouth except try and win us to his side by playing on our emotions. I'm touched by the stories, really. However, that doesn't make me agree with Obama.
I know -- look, I know that we haven't agreed on every issue thus far -- (laughter.) There are surely times in the future where we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. I know that. (Applause.) That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
It's hard to find common ground with someone who plans to run our currency into the ground and expose us to the hatred we've sown around the world.
And if we do -- if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, "something worthy to be remembered."
Oh, I'm pretty sure I won't forget this, years from now when I'm talking to kids, reciting the story of how stupid politicians handed over a multi-billion dollar deficit to them.
Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)
Just when you think it can't get worse, it ends!
So, I realize that these 3 long parts weren't the best. I appologize. However, it's late, and I'm not always performing at my best. Please, watch Schiff's video in Part 1, and remember that America is not a government, it's an ideal.
The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity -- it is a prerequisite.
Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.
Unfortunately, he seems to have hit the nail on the head. Now, I believe that most occupations that require more than a high school diploma simply don't need one! So much has been placed on obtaining a degree that simply proving that you know how to do a job isn't an option anymore. This is especially true in the field of computers, where you need a degree even if you can out-program the world!
This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education -- from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. (Applause.) That is a promise we have to make to the children of America. (Applause.)
Education doesn't necessarily equal brains. For example, the Japanese are smart. Most people won't argue the fact that their standards are higher, their tests much more difficult, and their suicide rate soaring because of it. However, let me present to you an example: English. Most Americans probably couldn't pass an English test in Japan. However, that doesn't mean that the Japanese speak English - most of them can hold only a basic conversation, if that. They may know some grammar rules that make our heads spin, but they lack the most vital part of the language: communication. I can communicate in English, and most Japanese can't. Thus, higher education standards doesn't necessarily mean that you perform better.
Also, how can kids live up to these standards when Americans drug all their kids up on psychotropic drugs. If you looke at statistics, of all the psychotropic drugs in the world, America uses 80% of them. That leaves a mere 20% to be divided up among the rest of the world. Thus, American kids are pretty much destined to have lower grades than, say, a German or Japanese student.
Already, we've made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We've dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life.
Early childhood education is a joke. It wasn't even available until recently, and that didn't stop geniuses from shaping our world. I, for one, didn't go to early childhood, and neither did my youngest brother. My other brother did, and he didn't have an advantage on us because of it.
We've made college affordable for nearly seven million more students -- seven million. (Applause.) And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children's progress.
I still can't afford college, but then again, I'm poor. I went for two years and can't afford to go any longer. I do plan on going back, but the economic outlook of this country is sad indeed.
But we know that our schools don't just need more resources. They need more reform. (Applause.) That is why this budget creates new teachers -- new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We'll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools. (Applause.)
That's what No Child Left Behind set out to do, and it's done nothing but hinder education. Besides, why does the government have to stick its nose into our schools?
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and as educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. So tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country -- and this country needs and values the talents of every American. (Applause.) That's why we will support -- we will provide the support necessary for all young Americans to complete college and meet a new goal: By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That's is a goal we can meet. (Applause.) That's a goal we can meet.
High aspirations, but it seems as though Obama assumes that every American would get higher education and training if they could afford it. The truth is, plenty of Americans are quite happy being greeters at Walmart and don't want higher education.
Besides, if everyone spends a fortune on college, then who's going to serve burgers? I know, it's a generalization, but the decision to get a college degree or not to is up to individuals. By choosing not to, you are not betraying your country. Maybe yourself, especially if you're gifted, but the country won't suffer all that much.
"And if your tailors all become kings, then there will be no one left to sew the clothes. So much for French fashion, and politics." -- Percy, The Scarlet Pimpernell TV movie.
Now, I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. (Applause.) And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch, as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country -- Senator Edward Kennedy. (Applause.)
Ooo... this sounds strangely like a bribe, and like socialism. I thought he removed this from his Agenda page! Must have just to stop the angry emails.
These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent -- for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, read to their child. (Applause.) I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father, when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home. That is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. That's an American issue. (Applause.)
Thanks for stating the obvious, Obama. However, if the State owns our children and dictates what they learn, then how can parent assume responsibility? Parents are important in educating our children, but can he assume that parents will rally behind his education plans?
There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that's the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. (Applause.) That is critical. I agree, absolutely. See, I know we can get some consensus in here. (Laughter.) With the deficit we inherited, the cost -- (applause) -- the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down. That is critical. (Applause.)
Yeah, and he's doing wonders to bring down the deficit. I mean, we're implement new, expensive programs, subsidizing a bunch of crap, and basically spending through our noses and running up the deficit. Please, don't compound on the problem!
Now, I'm proud that we passed a recovery plan free of earmarks -- (applause) -- and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.
I'm against earmarks, but with a plan this big, you almost need them to make sure some of the money stays here at home. Vote no against the plan, but make sure that the money isn't all going to whatever anybody feels like.
And yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade. (Applause.)
By the time he's done, this $2 trillion he speaks of will look like a pebble in my driveway. Seriously, I don't see how he can possibly cut the deficit in half, particularly when he plans on spending so much more. It's not going to work, but I think he's counting on the fact that most Americans just don't pay attention to that.
In this budget -- in this budget, we will end education programs that don't work and end direct payments to large agribusiness that don't need them. (Applause.) We'll eliminate -- we'll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq -- (applause) -- and reform -- and -- and reform our defense budget so that we're not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don't use. (Applause.) We will -- we will root out -- we will root out the waste and fraud and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn't make our seniors any healthier. We will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. (Applause.)
Well, that takes care of a tiny, almost insignificant portion of the budget. What's he planning to do with the rest of it? Or, perhaps, by education program that don't work does he mean the whole Department of Education?
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. (Applause.) Now, let me be clear -- let me be absolutely clear, because I know you'll end up hearing some of the same claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: If your family earns less than $250,000 a year -- a quarter million dollars a year -- you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: Not one single dime. (Applause.) Not a dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut -- that's right, a tax cut -- for 95 percent of working families. And by the way, these checks are on the way. (Applause.)
Hurray! Just like every other politician promised!
Now, to preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans. (Applause.)
I'm 80% sure that these programs are doomed in the long run.
Finally, because we're also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead 10 years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules -- and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Applause.) For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price. (Applause.)
I'm not aware that the cost was hidden. You could find it if you had the incentive to look for it. Perhaps I'm mistaken - I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Along with our outstanding national security team, I'm now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war. (Applause.)
Meanwhile, the Mexican border begins to fall apart...
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens halfway around the world. We will not allow it. (Applause.)
It's great when we assume that we know who the terrists are, where they are, and who to trust to fight them for us. Somehow, this sounds like a distraction to me.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: We honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. (Applause.)
This is the best thing he's said thus far.
To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned. (Applause.)
So much for chopping the deficit in half.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend -- because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. And that is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists. (Applause.)
Key words here, "Example of America." That's what a non-intervention foreign policy is, but no one wants to hear about that.
Because living our values doesn't make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. (Applause.) And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture. We can make that commitment here tonight. (Applause.)
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand. To seek progress towards a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century -- from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty -- we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
More building alliances, invading others, imposing on others, and saying that it's necessary in this new, more dangerous world. Here's the deal, the rules are the same, no matter what toys you use to play the game. The Middle-east is no more a threat to themselves and each other than it was a decade ago, the difference being that we have a reason to poke our noses into it. Tag is always tag, whether it's played with our hands, lasers, or paint balls.
And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us having a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world's.
As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us -- watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.
Too bad they insist on following a headless chicken. I'm afraid that we're headed towards a single currency, which is doomed to failure.
Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege -- one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.
I'm 100% certain that we're shaping it for ill.
I know that it's easy to lose sight of this truth -- to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial. But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.
I think of Leonard Abess, a bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn't tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, "I knew some of these people since I was seven years old. It didn't feel right getting the money myself." (Applause.)
I think about -- I think about Greensburg -- Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community -- how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. "The tragedy was terrible," said one of the men who helped them rebuild. "But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity."
I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina -- a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She had been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this chamber. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters." That's what she said. We are not quitters. Applause.)
These words -- these words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us. (Applause.)
These are inspiration stories, but they do little in Obama's mouth except try and win us to his side by playing on our emotions. I'm touched by the stories, really. However, that doesn't make me agree with Obama.
I know -- look, I know that we haven't agreed on every issue thus far -- (laughter.) There are surely times in the future where we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. I know that. (Applause.) That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
It's hard to find common ground with someone who plans to run our currency into the ground and expose us to the hatred we've sown around the world.
And if we do -- if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, "something worthy to be remembered."
Oh, I'm pretty sure I won't forget this, years from now when I'm talking to kids, reciting the story of how stupid politicians handed over a multi-billion dollar deficit to them.
Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)
Just when you think it can't get worse, it ends!
So, I realize that these 3 long parts weren't the best. I appologize. However, it's late, and I'm not always performing at my best. Please, watch Schiff's video in Part 1, and remember that America is not a government, it's an ideal.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
State of the Union Part 2
Okay, I'm back to keep hammering away on this thing. In the future, I probably shouldn't strive for such an elaborate critique, but I kind of enjoy going that extra mile.
Anyway, when we left off, it was getting increasingly apparent that no one really reads the Constitution. It's sad, but true.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on programs we don't need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education. (Applause.)
I'd like to highlight the "even as t cuts back on programs we don't need," line. So far, I don't recall Obama cutting one single relevant program! What does he plan on cutting, especially since he seems to be more than eager to bombard us with a lot of new programs that we don't need.
It begins with energy.
Somebody call Al Gore!
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy-efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
I agree that we need energy, and that we seem to be falling behind other countries, however, our budget doesn't permit this! If we could cut costs in other areas we could probably begin to embark on such endeavors, but not at the moment.
Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders -- and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again. (Applause.)
Again, I agree with this. America needs to start making things, whether it be cars or energy. However, I highly doubt that our subsidize-happy President is going to just sit back and let private companies handle such things.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We've also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history -- an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine and science and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
Again, how do we plan to pay for all of this, especially on top of everything else the Federal Government is attempting to pay for. Why not encourage the States to do this kind of thing, if we're really serious about doing it? It's a nobel task, but it's going to drive up the deficit like you wouldn't believe!
But to truly transform our economy, to protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. That's what we need. (Applause.) And to support -- to support that innovation, we will invest $15 billion a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power, advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more efficient cars and trucks built right here in America. (Applause.)
I really want to, but I'm not going to go on a tirade regarding climate change. Instead, I'm going to focus solely on the $15 billion a year to develop new energies. With a budget like this, Obama will either have to crank the printing press into overload, or he's going to have to tax the bejeezus out of us. Either way, we'll end up paying for this with our tax dollars, if our economy lasts that long.
Speaking of our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a retooled, reimagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it. (Applause.)
Competition is a good thing, but by bailing them out, and with so much cash, Obama and Bush have done damage to the currency. Besides, it's believed that French man named Nicolas Cugnot actually invented the first automobile, not an American. In fact, if you want to get picky, the first real automobile was created by a German guy named Karl Benz. I think the French and Germans are ashamed of this rewriting of history, Mr. Obama.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what's necessary to move this country forward.
Printing money is easy; completely reforming our monetary system isn't. It seems that Obama is pretty sure he'd like to take the easy route, but he'd like to trick everyone else into thinking that he's making a tougher choice than he is.
And for that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, 1 million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it's one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.
This is precisely why government needs to stick their noses out of the health circle, and tell their friends, the pharmaceutical companies, to do the same. A long time ago, a mainstream doctor's education was not bought by the drug companies, who discourage any form of treatment that doesn't have to do with them and their often hazardous products.
A long time ago, churches and other charities ran the hospitals, so no one had to pay more than they could afford. The quality of care was good - perhaps sometimes better than today - and no one was going bankrupt.
The government also stuck their noses into insurance, and now there's no real competition between the companies, so prices aren't going down any time soon. This is the problem, and more government isn't going to do the trick. We need to look through history to see what the cause of all this is.
Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold. We can't afford to do it. It's time. (Applause.)
See above comment. Seriously, we don't need more government!
Already, we've done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last 30 days than we've done in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for 11 million American children whose parents work full-time. (Applause.) Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American, including me, by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. (Applause.) And -- and it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that's one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.
Can you hear me laughing out loud! This is when my alternative medicine bias becomes amazingly transparent. First of all, the war on cancer is a failure, and it has led to some barbaric treatments. 75% of physicians wouldn't undergo chemotherapy if they were diagnosed with cancer. I'll do a whole post on that later (I first have to get my antipsychiatry one up), but trust me when I say that cancer can be cured through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, drugs that help the immune system, not tear it down. The cure is in front of our noses, but unless Big Pharma can profit from it, government won't endorse it. Thus, Obama wants to spend our taxpayer money searching for a magic bullet - one that requires no effort on the sufferer's part.
And let's wonder what in the world he means by preventative care! Vitamins? No, I think he's trying to get those taken off the shelf... Hmmm... exercise? Americans are too lazy for that, and there's no profit. I personally think he's blowing steam here, or he intends on forcing pills down everyone's throats under the pretense of prevention. Then again, some places are actually suggesting mastectomies as a preventative treatment!
And there's also the privacy issue. I don't want anyone to see my health records but me! I refuse to submit my health care records to the government, and you should, too!
This budget builds on these reforms. It includes a historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform -- a down payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. (Applause.) It's a commitment -- it's a commitment that's paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it's a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.
The last line here intrigues me. So, by taxing everyone to pay for a massive socialist health care plan, most of which will probably be paid for by our printing press, we'll bring down the deficit? What about paying for all the other crap Obama plans on subsidizing? Our deficit is going to get bigger, not go down, unless I'm really missing something here.
Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that's why I'm bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
I'll bet you anything this won't include Republican Ron Paul, who is also a doctor, or anyone from the alternative medicine community. And by Republican, I'm sure he means Neocon.
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. Once again, it will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and our conscience long enough. So let there be no doubt: Health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year. (Applause.)
Please, keep your socialized health care to yourself, I'd rather have my freedom of choice.
Okay, be patient, I'll get Part 3 up soon.
Anyway, when we left off, it was getting increasingly apparent that no one really reads the Constitution. It's sad, but true.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on programs we don't need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education. (Applause.)
I'd like to highlight the "even as t cuts back on programs we don't need," line. So far, I don't recall Obama cutting one single relevant program! What does he plan on cutting, especially since he seems to be more than eager to bombard us with a lot of new programs that we don't need.
It begins with energy.
Somebody call Al Gore!
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy-efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
I agree that we need energy, and that we seem to be falling behind other countries, however, our budget doesn't permit this! If we could cut costs in other areas we could probably begin to embark on such endeavors, but not at the moment.
Well, I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders -- and I know you don't, either. It is time for America to lead again. (Applause.)
Again, I agree with this. America needs to start making things, whether it be cars or energy. However, I highly doubt that our subsidize-happy President is going to just sit back and let private companies handle such things.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We've also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history -- an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine and science and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
Again, how do we plan to pay for all of this, especially on top of everything else the Federal Government is attempting to pay for. Why not encourage the States to do this kind of thing, if we're really serious about doing it? It's a nobel task, but it's going to drive up the deficit like you wouldn't believe!
But to truly transform our economy, to protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. That's what we need. (Applause.) And to support -- to support that innovation, we will invest $15 billion a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power, advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more efficient cars and trucks built right here in America. (Applause.)
I really want to, but I'm not going to go on a tirade regarding climate change. Instead, I'm going to focus solely on the $15 billion a year to develop new energies. With a budget like this, Obama will either have to crank the printing press into overload, or he's going to have to tax the bejeezus out of us. Either way, we'll end up paying for this with our tax dollars, if our economy lasts that long.
Speaking of our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a retooled, reimagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it. (Applause.)
Competition is a good thing, but by bailing them out, and with so much cash, Obama and Bush have done damage to the currency. Besides, it's believed that French man named Nicolas Cugnot actually invented the first automobile, not an American. In fact, if you want to get picky, the first real automobile was created by a German guy named Karl Benz. I think the French and Germans are ashamed of this rewriting of history, Mr. Obama.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what's necessary to move this country forward.
Printing money is easy; completely reforming our monetary system isn't. It seems that Obama is pretty sure he'd like to take the easy route, but he'd like to trick everyone else into thinking that he's making a tougher choice than he is.
And for that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, 1 million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it's one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.
This is precisely why government needs to stick their noses out of the health circle, and tell their friends, the pharmaceutical companies, to do the same. A long time ago, a mainstream doctor's education was not bought by the drug companies, who discourage any form of treatment that doesn't have to do with them and their often hazardous products.
A long time ago, churches and other charities ran the hospitals, so no one had to pay more than they could afford. The quality of care was good - perhaps sometimes better than today - and no one was going bankrupt.
The government also stuck their noses into insurance, and now there's no real competition between the companies, so prices aren't going down any time soon. This is the problem, and more government isn't going to do the trick. We need to look through history to see what the cause of all this is.
Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold. We can't afford to do it. It's time. (Applause.)
See above comment. Seriously, we don't need more government!
Already, we've done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last 30 days than we've done in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for 11 million American children whose parents work full-time. (Applause.) Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American, including me, by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. (Applause.) And -- and it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that's one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.
Can you hear me laughing out loud! This is when my alternative medicine bias becomes amazingly transparent. First of all, the war on cancer is a failure, and it has led to some barbaric treatments. 75% of physicians wouldn't undergo chemotherapy if they were diagnosed with cancer. I'll do a whole post on that later (I first have to get my antipsychiatry one up), but trust me when I say that cancer can be cured through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, drugs that help the immune system, not tear it down. The cure is in front of our noses, but unless Big Pharma can profit from it, government won't endorse it. Thus, Obama wants to spend our taxpayer money searching for a magic bullet - one that requires no effort on the sufferer's part.
And let's wonder what in the world he means by preventative care! Vitamins? No, I think he's trying to get those taken off the shelf... Hmmm... exercise? Americans are too lazy for that, and there's no profit. I personally think he's blowing steam here, or he intends on forcing pills down everyone's throats under the pretense of prevention. Then again, some places are actually suggesting mastectomies as a preventative treatment!
And there's also the privacy issue. I don't want anyone to see my health records but me! I refuse to submit my health care records to the government, and you should, too!
This budget builds on these reforms. It includes a historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform -- a down payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. (Applause.) It's a commitment -- it's a commitment that's paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it's a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.
The last line here intrigues me. So, by taxing everyone to pay for a massive socialist health care plan, most of which will probably be paid for by our printing press, we'll bring down the deficit? What about paying for all the other crap Obama plans on subsidizing? Our deficit is going to get bigger, not go down, unless I'm really missing something here.
Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that's why I'm bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
I'll bet you anything this won't include Republican Ron Paul, who is also a doctor, or anyone from the alternative medicine community. And by Republican, I'm sure he means Neocon.
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. Once again, it will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and our conscience long enough. So let there be no doubt: Health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year. (Applause.)
Please, keep your socialized health care to yourself, I'd rather have my freedom of choice.
Okay, be patient, I'll get Part 3 up soon.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
State of the Union Address
First, I'll give you my amateur response, followed by Peter Schiff's. Admittedly, I missed the first part of it, as I was watching a DVD of Monk instead, which reminds me of another article I have to get up. Anyway, I know this is a bit off-topic, but something in the episode caught my attention and made me remember the sorry state of our country.
It was the episode titled Mr. Monk Goes to the Circus, in which a ringmaster was killed by a very acrobatic individual. His date ran away, and when Monk finds her, he points out that she was afraid to draw attention to herself because she's trying to become a US citizen. When she asks him how he knows this, he ponts out the copy of the Constitution that she has in her bag and says, "No US citizen would ever read the Constitution." That's exactly how I felt as I watched Obama's speech last night. No one reads the Constitution, not even the President, and that's taking into account the fact that no one has proof of where Obama was born.
Now, from what I saw of the speech, Obama was contradicting himself all over the place. One of the things that really caught my ears was when he was talking about energy, since he seems to a disciple of Al Gore. He said something about our dependency on oil being the reason for this economic crisis, which means that he knows nothing about how we've managed to run ourselves into debt. Oil hasn't been eating that much of our savings, but our foreign policy has. Not to mention the nanny state, etc.
He also swears to find us better healthcare (does this include killing our seniors as the stimulus plan says?), funding our education ('cause we all know that we can afford more government funding), and to throw more and more government spending in our faces until we're so inflated that our currency is no longer worth anything.
Now, I'm going to break down the whole speech for you as I did for the inaugural speech. However, I'm including Schiff's response to it at the bottom, so you have something from an actual professional and not just a bunch of sarcastic, sardonic, and common sense stuff from me. So, let's break this baby down.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States -- (applause) -- she's around here somewhere.
You'll see the applauses everywhere, most of them led by Nancy Pelosi, who really needs to find something for those dry eyes of hers.
I have come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
Gee, I wonder who those people are...
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven't been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has -- a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family.
It was the episode titled Mr. Monk Goes to the Circus, in which a ringmaster was killed by a very acrobatic individual. His date ran away, and when Monk finds her, he points out that she was afraid to draw attention to herself because she's trying to become a US citizen. When she asks him how he knows this, he ponts out the copy of the Constitution that she has in her bag and says, "No US citizen would ever read the Constitution." That's exactly how I felt as I watched Obama's speech last night. No one reads the Constitution, not even the President, and that's taking into account the fact that no one has proof of where Obama was born.
Now, from what I saw of the speech, Obama was contradicting himself all over the place. One of the things that really caught my ears was when he was talking about energy, since he seems to a disciple of Al Gore. He said something about our dependency on oil being the reason for this economic crisis, which means that he knows nothing about how we've managed to run ourselves into debt. Oil hasn't been eating that much of our savings, but our foreign policy has. Not to mention the nanny state, etc.
He also swears to find us better healthcare (does this include killing our seniors as the stimulus plan says?), funding our education ('cause we all know that we can afford more government funding), and to throw more and more government spending in our faces until we're so inflated that our currency is no longer worth anything.
Now, I'm going to break down the whole speech for you as I did for the inaugural speech. However, I'm including Schiff's response to it at the bottom, so you have something from an actual professional and not just a bunch of sarcastic, sardonic, and common sense stuff from me. So, let's break this baby down.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States -- (applause) -- she's around here somewhere.
You'll see the applauses everywhere, most of them led by Nancy Pelosi, who really needs to find something for those dry eyes of hers.
I have come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
Gee, I wonder who those people are...
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven't been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has -- a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family.
No, I'm pretty sure we've all been affected by this recession-turning-depression.
You don't need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day. It's the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It's the job you thought you'd retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that's now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
Check, check, and check. However, I'm afraid Obama's lack of knowledge when it comes to economics is what keeps me awake at night.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before. (Applause.)
Yeah, we probably will recover, but not under Barrack Obama. Here, all I see is a charismatic leader playing the optimistic we're-stronger-than-ever card. Who wants to hear a pessimistic leader?
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation.
Wanna make a bet?
The answers to our problems don't lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and our universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more. (Applause.)
I agree, although the answers to our problems also lie in the laps of our politicians, most of whom act like chickens with their heads cut off.
Now, if we're honest with ourselves, we'll admit that for too long, we have not always met these responsibilities -- as a government or as a people. I say this not to lay blame or to look backwards, but because it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we'll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
I agree with him here as well, but I'm sure that our ideas of what the role of government ought to be differ immensely.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank. We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before.
Ha, I knew I remembered hearing this! Hey, Obama, you really want to know what started this decline? Check out the Federal Reserve's history, our insane foreign policy, etc.
The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform.
Remember back when health care was a charity thing for the poor? Before lobbyist and government stuck their large noses into health care, you were charged based on what you could pay. Health care reform would mean getting government out, not trying to pay for everyone with taxpayer money. Besides, what with all the other extravagant spending going on, that we taxpayers will have to pay for, by the way, how does he expect to accomplish this?
Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for.
So much for national sovereignty. Anybody remember No Child Left Behind?
And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.
I think what he means to say is, "And while we were trying to fund and regulate all this and more, we managed to spend even more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government ever before."
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. (Applause.)
Guess what? That's what the stimulus package does! It's just a short-term answer to our problem that's going to bury us in the future. Take your own advice Obama, or can you not see beyond tomorrow?
Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn't afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.
Stop blaming the free market! Regulations were not gutted, and the market was unhealthy because of it! If anything, deregulation of the Federal Reserve is what caused this. They pumped in the money and have been papering over this problem for a long time. Blame them, for they are the curs who need regulation.
Now is the time to act boldly and wisely -- to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that is what I'd like to talk to you about tonight.
Obama certainly is acting boldly, but hardly wisely. You can't start lending out what you don't have, for starters. And you can't invest in anything as long as you don't have money to invest! Spending like Paris Hilton in Vegas isn't going to solve these problems. Instead, the government needs to save and bring down the deficit.
It's an agenda that begins with jobs. (Applause.)
Oh goody, jobs! Maybe Realms of Fantasy will come back to life and I can sell them an awesome story about a charismatic wizard who sunk a legendary king's country because he promoted bad policies and enchanted all the trees to produce unimaginable amounts of money.
As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President's Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets.
You mean like giving jobs to minorities regardless of whether they can actually perform said job?
Not because I believe in bigger government -- I don't.
I usually don't call people hypocrites, as it's such a strong word, but here I go: HYPOCRITE! You''re whole platform revolved around the expansion of government! Even George Bush was more conservative than you, and I don't count Bush as a very conservative individual.
Not because I'm not mindful of the massive debt we've inherited -- I am.
To give him the benefit of the doubt, I do think that he may actually think he's doing the right thing and not intentionally trying to bury us all.
I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardship. In fact, a failure to act would have worsened our long-term deficit by assuring weak economic growth for years. And that's why I pushed for quick action. And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law. (Applause.)
Remember earlier when he was talking about quick fixes? That's exactly what this is. His actions are going to do great harm to this nation, and his neverending spending is going to make the deficit worse, as you can't lower the deficit if you don't cut spending.
Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90 percent of these jobs will be in the private sector -- jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.
Is this the part with the minorities? Why don't we just stop outsourcing all our jobs?
Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make. (Applause.)
And you further put is in debt, didn't you?
Because of this plan, 95 percent of working households in America will receive a tax cut -- a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st. (Applause.)
You should only cut taxes if you plan to cut spending, but I haven't seen that at all yet. How are we going to pay for this? The printing press at the Federal Reserve will supply the currency, but for every dollar they print, they charge interest, which taxpayers pay back.
Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. And Americans -- (applause) -- and Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm. (Applause.)
Admittedly, this sounds really good, but it's not possible.
Now, I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work.
You got that right. I suppose he's not totally blind after all!
And I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we've all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.
It's already started! The broken promises and wasteful spending is already here! This whole plan cannot go right because it's wrong from the start.
And that's why I've asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort -- because nobody messes with Joe. (Applause.) I -- isn't that right? They don't mess with you.
Gee, I wish Statler and Waldorf were there to watch this circus - they'd have had a ball with that one!
I have told each of my Cabinet, as well as mayors and governors across the country, that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I've appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent.
Recovery.gov, right? I can't wait to blog about it in the future!
So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system.
By saving money and bringing jobs home, right?
I want to speak plainly and candidly about this issue tonight, because every American should know that it directly affects you and your family's well-being. You should also know that the money you've deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system. That's not the source of concern.
No, I'm more concerned about my money being worthless. Yeah, it'll still be in the bank, but it won't have value.
The concern is that if we do not restart lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins.
Lending is going to run up the deficit and cause runaway inflation. Glad to see the President knows how to look ahead!
You see -- (applause) -- you see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education, how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
However, we have to have cars to buy, shelves to stock, etc. Credit is important, I believe that, but you still cannot lend what you don't have because the deficit will come back to bite you in the butt. Obama seems to think that by causing consumers to spend, it will automatically make up the deficit, but it won't. We're spending too much, printing too much, and outsourcing too much.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. And with so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or even to each other. And when there is no lending, families can't afford to buy homes or cars. So businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
Credit is important, but lending is, again, adding to the problem. Do consumers need confidence in their banks? Yes, definately, but banks need to take responsibility for themselves and not loan what they can't afford to lose. We also need to take responsibility for ourselves by refusing to live beyond our means. Our own government doesn't set a good role model for us in this regard, but we have to. What Obama says in this paragraph makes sense to a certain degree, but he acts like credit is the only way out and it isn't.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, to restore confidence, and restart lending.
Again, it's too early in the crisis to start lending. We can't lend what we don't have, and we can't rely on our unregulated Federal Reserve to be responsible with the money they're printing. Don't regulate the market, regulate the Federal Reserve, and don't lend what we don't have. It's up to the government to start saving, up to American companies to stop going overseas, and up to us to buy only what we can afford.
And we will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running. (Applause.)
Thus running up the deficit; we've been down this road before. Besides, some small business owners say that they're doing much worse under Obama's leadership than before.
Second -- second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages. It's a plan that won't help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values -- Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped to bring about. In fact, the average family who refinances today can save nearly $2,000 per year on their mortgage. (Applause.)
Aside from the fact that this borders socialism, we have the problem in that Americans have been living way beyond their means again. The middle-class has been pretending to be rich (luckily I'm poverty-stricken, so I learned how to live within my means), and they aren't being held accountable. Let them sell their houses and downsize - we don't need to live in fine mansions. The housing bubble will only get bigger if we make artificially low interest rates, which are caused by inflating the money and devaluing the currency.
Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems, we will hold accountable those responsible, force the necessary adjustments, provide the support to clean up their balance sheets, and assure the continuity of a strong, viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.
I'm half afraid that this will lead to nationalizing the banks, which leads to socialism. You know, a poll says that 75% of Europeans blame the Central Banks for their economic problems. I'm pretty sure that 75% of Americans blame Bush. How sad is that? We, who have never been so far down the road to socialism before, don't understand its implications, and we scoff at the countries who have gone down that path and now shout their warnings to us.
I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives bank bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won't solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we restart lending to the American people and American business, and end this crisis once and for all.
This is just tricky wording to make sure it's drilled into our heads that free markets are bad and big government is good.
And I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive, and this time, they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. (Applause.) This time -- this time, CEOs won't be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks, or buy fancy drapes, or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over. (Applause.)
Again, more lending. He's just talking in circles now.
Still, this plan will require significant resources from the federal government -- and, yes, probably more than we've already set aside.
Barrack Obama, we the people can always count on you to devalue our currency even more. Whatever happened to us taking our lives into our own hands and owning up to our mistakes? What was it Sharona said in the aforementioned episode of Monk? "Suck it up."
But while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen. (Applause.)
Worse for the next generation? Yeah, I want to watch my little cousin try and pay back all this money we're printing. Here's the deal, if we do nothing and pretend this isn't happening just as we've done for the past how many years, we'll hit a depression.
If we bring our troops home, our jobs home, toss out a truck load of government programs, and put a leash on the Federal Reserve, the market will balance itself out. We'll suffer for a time, but we'll come out of it, the currency will deflate some, and we can work on our deficit.
If we let Obama have his way, we'll inflate until the dollar no longer holds value, enter a long depression, and possibly wind up at the mercy of a global empire. This is what we want to avoid at all cost! Even now, the MSM pushes for a Revolution. Let us peacefully end this silly charade of politics.
Now, I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and the results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I. So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you -- I get it.
Does he really?
But I also know that in a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment. (Applause.) My job -- our job -- is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not send -- I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can't pay its workers, or the family that has saved and still can't get a mortgage. (Applause.)
Politicians trying to convince us that our best interests is at their core.
That's what this is about. It's not about helping banks -- it's about helping people. (Applause.) It's not about helping banks; it's about helping people. Because when credit is available again, that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend. And if they can get a loan, too, maybe they'll finally buy that car, or open their own business. Investors will return to the market, and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover. (Applause.)
More of the same. When do we get change?
So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. (Applause.) It is time -- it is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.
Look, Ma! Socialism!
The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we're taking to revive our economy in the short term. But the only way to fully restore America's economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren't preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.
The only problem is that his short-term solution is going to lead us head-first into a long-term depresssion.
In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we've come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or a laundry list of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America -- as a blueprint for our future.
Too bad Congress hates this budget, almost unanimously!
My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we've inherited -- a trillion-dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.
What does he think the stimulus bill is going to do?
Given these realities, everyone in this chamber -- Democrats and Republicans -- will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.
This is what we call pandering to the audience with the old, "We're all in this together!" crap.
But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.
The government's role is very simple: ensure our freedom and protect our borders - a great recipe for prosperity. The States get to handle everything else.
For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle class in history. (Applause.) And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.
History also tells us that when we behave the way we currently are, nations come to an end. See the Soviet Union for details.
In each case, government didn't supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.
Is he trying to say that the Federal Government made these businesses thrive? Well, he's right; just look at Enron.
I'm going to do a part 2 soon. This is getting a lot longer than I thought. I hope I managed to shed some light on the flaws of this speech.
And I found it! The actual speech, so grab a paper bag, or a plastic bag, since it catches the vomit better, and get ready.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
An Inconvenient Debt
Glenn Beck did a great show to demonstrate inflation. Fortunately, it's made its way to Youtube and I can post it here.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Red Alert: Your Health is in Danger!
You know that overpriced stimulus Obama wants to shove down everyone's throat? It contains some healthcare information that should make even the most liberal among us prick their ears up!
The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by
a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily
transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.
But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his
2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”
Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.
The bold is mine, but this entire segment of article found at Bloomberg should alarm you. This is creepy, and it goes on.
Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)
What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.
The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.
I thought our healthcare was broken because not everyone could get the best medicine, and some of us (like me) don't even have the insurance or the money to afford a doctor visit. I guess the problem all along was that our healthcare was too much?
Anyway, and this is the part that should scare you.
Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should
be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating
them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.
Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464). The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s
book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis.
In 2006, a U.K. health board decreed that elderly patients with macular
degeneration had to wait until they went blind in one eye before they could get
a costly new drug to save the other eye. It took almost three years of public
protests before the board reversed its decision.
The article continues on, but just look at that for a minute. Chew on it, taste it, and I'm pretty sure you won't like it. Obama was supposed to show us how we can all get awesome healthcare for the elderly, the very sick, etc. Instead, it would seem that I could go to the doctor and get treated for cancer, but my elderly grandmother couldn't. Not that I trust mainstream medicine with cancer, but you get the idea.
On that note, I wonder how this affects the holistic medicine community. They are considered fringe, but are they subjected to the same kind of Big Brother treatment that conventional medicine is getting? Will naturopaths, nutritionists, etc. even be able to see patients? This could easily lead a flock of people to turning to alternative medicine and experiencing its wonders for themselves, or it could become illegal and we'll all die, unless, of course, it doesn't cost our new socialized government an arm and a leg to heal us. Given that the crooks up in Washington don't seem to mind spending billions of dollars on pork, a little thing like treating an elderly patient's osteoporosis should be nothing for them! *Checks the Stinge Meter*
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What is a Conservative?
To most it would seem as though the world is divided into liberals and conservatives, and the two ideologies clash at any given opportunity. Consumers can be conservative or lack self control in their spending, Christians and other religious groups can be conservative or liberal, and politics are conservative or liberal. However, we often come to times when we must question exactly what makes a conservative and what makes a liberal, politically speaking.
A comment during breakfast this morning left me to ponder this. I printed off an article I’d written on Political Retreat and passed it around while at the restaurant. I lot of people who eat there are self-proclaimed conservatives and they wear that badge proudly. As one man was reading, he asked me who the author was. I asked him if he was interested, and he said, “I’m interested in the author.” I told him it was me, and he raised his eyebrows and looked me over. “There were some things in here that weren’t conservative.”
I sputtered something out, and I can’t quite remember what. I’m terrible at speaking up in public, which is why I do most of my “serious” talking on the Internet. I can only assume that he found my stance against the War on Terror to be liberal. I thought about it a lot, and remembered that the traditional Republican stance was a non-intervention foreign policy; no nation building, strong borders, etc. It has been traditionally the Democrats who were for big overseas spending and for continuing wars. Why, with the advent of Bush’s War on Terror, has this perception of conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats changed so much? Have people really forgotten what it means to be a conservative in favor for going along with the tide? It doesn’t make sense to me that Republicans have won the title of “war monger” while Democrats have claimed the title of “peace keeper”.
Granted, my view of foreign policy would have been more readily accepted during the days of the Clinton Administration, but people tend to find me a bit radical anyway. I’m a proud mix of Republican, right-Libertarian, and Constitutional all at the same time. Thus, my view of the world and government’s place in it is a bit different from most people, but I probably wouldn’t call myself liberal. Here’s a quick rundown of what I feel is a conservative stance.
Firstly, conservatives want the Federal Government out of their lives. I believe that we can all agree on that. We’re against big bailouts, the government telling us how to educate children, and high taxes. We respect the power of the States and wish that the Supreme Court and Federal Government would do that as well, and we like to brag that we adhere to the Constitution when it comes to law-making, although a brief look at recent history tells us otherwise.
For example, conservatives have no qualms about a State law, so long as that law wasn’t influenced by the Federal Government or a decision by the Supreme Court. Let’s look at abortion. It used to be left up to the States to decide if it was legal or not. Along comes Roe vs. Wade and the Supreme Court decides to overturn abortion laws in all States! This kind of government interference doesn’t sit well with conservatives.
Second, conservatives have traditionally been about slashing big government spending. Conservatives have wanted to do away with this nanny state we seem to live in, in which the government pays for our faults instead of us. We shouldn’t subsidize everything, nor should we spend so much money overseas, and we should abandon Big Government projects that bear little fruit and sometimes even hinder us.
For example, the Dept. of Education is a biggie that conservatives have traditionally wanted to do away with, or at least cut back on. We all know what happened when Reagan and George W. Bush came into office, though. They expanded it, and now our schools are hurting because of policies like No Child Left Behind.
And on the note of foreign policy, conservatives have traditionally been for a strong, centralized national defense. Instead of getting ourselves into tireless, endless wars, we were supposed to be protecting ourselves from enemies and engaging other nations in a friendly way. Again, this viewpoint seems to have changed in recent years, so on one side you could say that the GOP is getting exactly what it deserves right now.
Some would argue that the War on Terror is what’s protecting us, and abandoning the Middle East will ultimately result in a compromise to our national security. This is when you have to go through history. It is our military presence in the world that has bred this hatred. We are not hated because we’re free, as other countries are pretty darned free too, but you don’t see the poor and oppressed peoples of the Middle East coming to kill them, do you? Our CIA radicalized the Islamic to attack the Soviets, we toppled elected leaders and propped up dictators, even supporting Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein at one point in time. This kind of activity results in unintended, negative consequences for us as a nation, and doesn’t help our image at all. We are not seen as a benevolent nation, ready to rescue those in need and defeat the enemies of freedom. Instead, we’re seen as materialistic, meddling crusaders on a mission only we can understand the benefit of.
Speaking from a conservative standpoint, we need to stop interfering and inciting hatred in those who might be our friends in trade one day. Close down those bases and bring our troops home; conservatively speaking, this war should have ended with the capture of Osama Bin Laden.
A comment during breakfast this morning left me to ponder this. I printed off an article I’d written on Political Retreat and passed it around while at the restaurant. I lot of people who eat there are self-proclaimed conservatives and they wear that badge proudly. As one man was reading, he asked me who the author was. I asked him if he was interested, and he said, “I’m interested in the author.” I told him it was me, and he raised his eyebrows and looked me over. “There were some things in here that weren’t conservative.”
I sputtered something out, and I can’t quite remember what. I’m terrible at speaking up in public, which is why I do most of my “serious” talking on the Internet. I can only assume that he found my stance against the War on Terror to be liberal. I thought about it a lot, and remembered that the traditional Republican stance was a non-intervention foreign policy; no nation building, strong borders, etc. It has been traditionally the Democrats who were for big overseas spending and for continuing wars. Why, with the advent of Bush’s War on Terror, has this perception of conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats changed so much? Have people really forgotten what it means to be a conservative in favor for going along with the tide? It doesn’t make sense to me that Republicans have won the title of “war monger” while Democrats have claimed the title of “peace keeper”.
Granted, my view of foreign policy would have been more readily accepted during the days of the Clinton Administration, but people tend to find me a bit radical anyway. I’m a proud mix of Republican, right-Libertarian, and Constitutional all at the same time. Thus, my view of the world and government’s place in it is a bit different from most people, but I probably wouldn’t call myself liberal. Here’s a quick rundown of what I feel is a conservative stance.
Firstly, conservatives want the Federal Government out of their lives. I believe that we can all agree on that. We’re against big bailouts, the government telling us how to educate children, and high taxes. We respect the power of the States and wish that the Supreme Court and Federal Government would do that as well, and we like to brag that we adhere to the Constitution when it comes to law-making, although a brief look at recent history tells us otherwise.
For example, conservatives have no qualms about a State law, so long as that law wasn’t influenced by the Federal Government or a decision by the Supreme Court. Let’s look at abortion. It used to be left up to the States to decide if it was legal or not. Along comes Roe vs. Wade and the Supreme Court decides to overturn abortion laws in all States! This kind of government interference doesn’t sit well with conservatives.
Second, conservatives have traditionally been about slashing big government spending. Conservatives have wanted to do away with this nanny state we seem to live in, in which the government pays for our faults instead of us. We shouldn’t subsidize everything, nor should we spend so much money overseas, and we should abandon Big Government projects that bear little fruit and sometimes even hinder us.
For example, the Dept. of Education is a biggie that conservatives have traditionally wanted to do away with, or at least cut back on. We all know what happened when Reagan and George W. Bush came into office, though. They expanded it, and now our schools are hurting because of policies like No Child Left Behind.
And on the note of foreign policy, conservatives have traditionally been for a strong, centralized national defense. Instead of getting ourselves into tireless, endless wars, we were supposed to be protecting ourselves from enemies and engaging other nations in a friendly way. Again, this viewpoint seems to have changed in recent years, so on one side you could say that the GOP is getting exactly what it deserves right now.
Some would argue that the War on Terror is what’s protecting us, and abandoning the Middle East will ultimately result in a compromise to our national security. This is when you have to go through history. It is our military presence in the world that has bred this hatred. We are not hated because we’re free, as other countries are pretty darned free too, but you don’t see the poor and oppressed peoples of the Middle East coming to kill them, do you? Our CIA radicalized the Islamic to attack the Soviets, we toppled elected leaders and propped up dictators, even supporting Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein at one point in time. This kind of activity results in unintended, negative consequences for us as a nation, and doesn’t help our image at all. We are not seen as a benevolent nation, ready to rescue those in need and defeat the enemies of freedom. Instead, we’re seen as materialistic, meddling crusaders on a mission only we can understand the benefit of.
Speaking from a conservative standpoint, we need to stop interfering and inciting hatred in those who might be our friends in trade one day. Close down those bases and bring our troops home; conservatively speaking, this war should have ended with the capture of Osama Bin Laden.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Obama Deception
Sorry, but I don't have anything particularly interesting right now. It's kind of difficult to juggle three blogs with limited time on my hands, and there's some particularly interesting things I can write about on politics, but I need time to organize my thoughts. They like to scatter sometimes, and it can be hard to put them together!
Anyway, it seems everyone's favorite conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, is working on a documentary called The Obama Deception. I missed out on his George W. Bush documentary, but this one looks quite promising, if he doesn't alienate his audience by rambling on about conspiracy theories, that is. I do enjoy conspiracy theories, I admit. I read up on what the 9/11 Truthers put up, the moon landing conspiracy, etc. I don't necessarily buy into them (although there's a few I might soon), but I do take interest in them.
However, a lot of people don't, and anything, however factual, that seems a little "out there" will scare them away from viewing it. Thus, while Alex's film might be full of juicy information for me to look into, I'm afraid that he might wind up shooting himself in the foot if he goes on about a New World Order agenda. I do believe in that theory, but I'm afraid too many "rational" people don't.
Anyway, here's the trailer.
Anyway, it seems everyone's favorite conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, is working on a documentary called The Obama Deception. I missed out on his George W. Bush documentary, but this one looks quite promising, if he doesn't alienate his audience by rambling on about conspiracy theories, that is. I do enjoy conspiracy theories, I admit. I read up on what the 9/11 Truthers put up, the moon landing conspiracy, etc. I don't necessarily buy into them (although there's a few I might soon), but I do take interest in them.
However, a lot of people don't, and anything, however factual, that seems a little "out there" will scare them away from viewing it. Thus, while Alex's film might be full of juicy information for me to look into, I'm afraid that he might wind up shooting himself in the foot if he goes on about a New World Order agenda. I do believe in that theory, but I'm afraid too many "rational" people don't.
Anyway, here's the trailer.
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