March 15, 2010

How Bad Is It?  State Law Presented as Substitute For Parental Control and Direction?

Recently, the Arizona Senate proposed a bill that would prohibit writing, reading or sending text messages and e-mails WHILE DRIVING on a state highway.  The bill was defeated, revived for review and passed and is, at present, waiting for a full senate vote. 

I would think that the essence of the bill would get nothing but a nod of approval by most of us, but I wonder if that would be true of the comments made by supporters of the bill.  I can't believe that we need this law to begin with, I mean how ignorant might we be to feel that such an activity while driving, is a sane deterent to keeping our eyes on the road as we go 55, 65, 75 miles per hour down the long and winding road?  Have things gotten so bad on the homefront that we need this?  And I am not talking about the homefront, in relationship to war, but instead, I am talking about the homefront as in 'FAMILY AND HOME'. 

How did I get to this place from the bill?  Let's look at the supporters' stated reasons for the need of such a bill.

I have copied, word for word, from The Arizona Republic (afternoon edition) article on Mar. 2, 2010 "Supporters said the bill is about saving lives.  They said parents would be able to tell their children that texting while driving is illegal".  The article went on to quote one of the senators "It's such a dangerous activity to be texting while you're driving that outlawing it would seem to be a given."  We need a law to enforce the words of a parent, we need a law to give credence to common sense?

Wouldn't preoccupation with texting and having your eyes off the road be considered RECKLESS DRIVING?  There is a law against reckless driving on every state, county, municipal or any other such road, highway, by way, lane, drive, street, etc, etc in every state and territory of this country.  In some cases, you can lose your privilege to drive if convicted of reckless driving and, in many cases, your insurance carrier will drop you quicker than a hot potato.  But, above and beyond that, I bring this subject up because of the HOMEFRONT and the RESPONSIBILITY or lack thereof, of PARENTS to EDUCATE, GUIDE and DISCIPLINE their children---in this case---so that they may live beyond their teen years.  I am NOT suggesting that only teens text while driving, but I go back to the supporters' comments that 'parents can tell their children it is illegal'.

When I first read the headline in the Arizona Republic this morning, I thought someone had found some answers to many of the questions that we are asking in regards to solving problems in our state and national arenas. 

What else was I supposed to think?  Here is--exactly--what the headline screamed with authority:  "Mental-health overhaul clears Senate committee".  And, I thought; it should clear a lot more than just a committe of senators, shouldn't it?  If it would clear a Senate committee then surely it would move on.

By the comments of many, the mental state of some of our elected officials, both at the local and national levels, have been suspect for some time.  How else can some of the acts of  bailouts, spending, runaway budgets, unemployment issues, tax initiatives and mortgage modifications (to name a few) be explained?  These programs were ludicrous in their proposal and they continue to be unstable, creating, among other things, MENTAL stress for a multitude of those on Main Street.

Judging the conditions of the state and the efforts on our state capitol grounds, I would think a mental health overhaul should clear a House committee also. After clearing the Senate and the House committees, it could clear the entire House and Senate and then go to the Capitol building.  Therein could lie the problem, although Governor Brewer seems to support this action.  If it sails across the desk and gets signed into law, would it then clear the Capitol?  

Let me see, if it clears the House, the Senate and the Capitol, would the business of government in the State of Arizona be in a free fall?  Oh, the horrors of what that might create--budget issues, unemployment crisis, mortgage foreclosures run amuck, businesses leaving the state, higher taxes, etc.  Oops, I seem to have forgotten that that is how things have been for some time.  So, let me back up and make the proper comment:  If the legislative and executive branches 'get cleared' , chances are that it will just be business as usual.

Could the clearing go national?

Let me look at the headline one more time:  "Mental health overhaul clears Senate committee".  I recall, that as soon as I read the headline, I scanned the article hoping to find information about the parade.  But, nothing scheduled; no fanfare, no trumpets, no confetti---oh well, we can all dream.

Reminds me of an old lawyer joke (and the bottom of the ocean), with the punch line being:  "It's a start".

Okay, so the headline was poorly structured and that isn't what the article was about, but it sure brightened my day, gave me a moment of hope and made me think.  And that, my dear friends, isn't all bad.  I guess we will have to clear out some of those that occupy these offices ourselves.   "You might as well educate yourself---you are paying for the lessons"  and then vote----NOVEMBER COMETH!

Did you join the millions that gladly rang out 2009? 
Did you join even more as they welcomed 2010 with an open and optimistic heart and mind? 
Did you feel that this New Year was a bit different than many of the past? 
Did you feel that somehow this one was more special? 
Did you feel that this New Year should be recognized by you, as the clock struck midnight, wherever you were?

It seems as though many people thought that somehow, this one was different and this coming year was one to welcome with open arms.

What was it about this new year?  I think I can sum it up this way.  The past year started off with a dark cloud hanging over it due to the economy and the uncertainty regarding the ever increasing unemployment situation.  There wasn't a whole lot of reason to celebrate the coming year of 2009.

Yes, there was an air of change in the making.  The nation had elected its first president of color, an African-American, a historical presidential event.  He came in, riding the campaign train, fueled by a promise of change in Washington and filled with a dedication to transparency in government.  He vowed that it would not be politics as usual and the good old boy network would not consist of persons making a career out of retreading themselves to serve one administration after another.
 
The nation took on a reverent sort-of feeling as too many looked upon this charismatic individual as a redeemer come to save them.  He was clean cut, fit, handsome and had a smile that lit up a room.  And, he displayed an intellect when he spoke, unlike many before him.  And yet, if for no other reason than his birth conditions, he was deemed as someone that could relate to the common man, the desperate, the desolate, the oppressed and the needy.  It was as though this man felt the pain, whether it was the destitute man at the Los Angeles Rescue Mission or the single mother of 5 living in Harlem. 

The nation had this man and his promises to look forward to and they welcomed the ceremonies of the inauguration with such fervor that it easily rivaled any such ceremony---ever.

Yes, there was a fleeting moment of celebration and then the country had to go back to work, at least those that hadn't been laid off yet.  And the work started out with the administration loading up its employment roster with retreads from past administrations. 
And the work continued as questionable decisions were being made regarding the tax payers money.  It seemed as though it was being used to feed Wall Street while Main Street continued to beg for a few crumbs.

As small businesses started to fail, the administration and congress funneled more money into the abyss that the auto industry had fallen into.  And, as Washington continued to take more control of the banks, the auto industry and the housing market, the American people continued to lose jobs and bank foreclosures seemed to run rampant as more and more Main Street Americans became homeless.

What happened to all of the promises?  Americans had said no to bailouts, no to stimulus programs and no to a huge budget filled with more pork than any budget in history, nearly 9,000 special interest favors.  And, it became even more frustrating when we realized we were no longer being informed.  Transparency had given way to backroom meetings and private deals, because, according to some, no matter what we wanted, they would vote according to what they deemed to be the right thing to do.  We were losing our representative form of government to something that seemed to have totalitarian overtones.

In less than 3 months, many Americans had gotten off the promise train and more got off at each stop.  There were no station stops with promises fulfilled-- and the windows were being replaced by boards--until there was only a sliver of transparency.  People started emulating the image of Paul Revere on horseback and other early founding fathers, warning citizens of looming loss of liberties and foreseeing the inevitable; higher taxes.  In less than three months Washington started losing its shiny image and started to display what seemed to be an ever growing, out-of-control demagoguery that left many Americans with an uneasy feeling of the future.

Out of a seemingly necessary act, people started rallying to save themselves from a government that seemed to have closed its ears to them.  Americans started attending town hall meetings and organizing what became known as 'Tea Parties'.  Americans started speaking out loud of their displeasure, yet the voices continued to be unheard on 'the hill'.There was a sickness in the air regarding the future of America.  We were taking on more and more debt by borrowing from foreign nations, nations that were sworn enemies not so long ago with ideologies and governing principles in total contradiction to our democracy. 

And we added to this sickness the N1H1 flu that became a true pandemic.

As many had anticipated, the same industry that got billions and billions of borrowed monies wasted away to finally end up in bankruptcy procedures.  Ramroded by the President, a new auto czar and a handful of supporters, the two companies reneged on contracts, lease agreements, employment conditions, pension programs, laid off hundreds of thousands, stiffed suppliers and closed loyal dealerships all across America, shed its rusty liabilities and came out the other side of the miracle pool with a new name and shiny chrome exterior. 
 
We took time to observe the passing of some noted persons, such as Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite and Edward 'Ted' Kennedy.  We eulogized and eulogized some more, to the point of near canonization, yet, as the death toll mounted of our military sons and daughters, we simply brought them home and laid them to rest without most of us even knowing their name.  And for the latter:  Shame on us. Those that gave their all deserve better.

The banks continued to hold onto our money, refused to extend reasonable credit lines and continued to snub their noses as more and more disclosures came out about bonuses paid and certain questionable practices by the home lending industry.  Foreclosures grew and unemployment climbed. 

And town halls sprung up and the American people started getting louder.  Yet, the agents we had sent to Washington to represent us became increasingly aloof, to the point of calling some of us as unpatriotic, not worth listening to, un-American, misled, an unruly mob and---- some of our elected officials put it this way:  They had too much dignity to stoop to meet with their constituents.  How did that make you feel?

And when things had gone on long enough and we had enough debt laid upon us that we or generations to come will be paying through eventual higher taxes, we were told we would have a health care bill passed before the summer ends and the forecast showed it could cost us trillions.

We cried no, think it over, plan it correctly, but the drive went forward.  Partisan committees formed and partisan meetings took place.  Again a promise broken.  We were promised an end to the bipartisanship politics that Washington had worked under.  So much for another promise.  Bickering became the norm on the hill and a wider division, between parties, became evident.

And it became evident that the administration was shifting gears and a new assertive effort was to begin in 'the other war'.  Afghanistan needed a surge and so the President handpicked a general to assess the situation and bring back his findings.  He did and the nation waited and wondered why we didn't act.  We wondered how could party politics over-ride the general's educated and informed assessment and how long do we wait before we give our troops the additional support they need to complete their mission?

And then one of the most horrific acts took place.  In the history of this nation and  of our military nothing had shocked us more.  We were left numb and then we cried out for a quick justice.  A radical Muslim, killed 13 of our heroes at Fort Hood and wounded nearly 30 more.  I refuse to refer to him by name or rank to this day.  He needs to be wiped from the military records and those slain should fill the pagesthat would have been used for all the accounts written.

I will continue to deny this as an act of terror.  It was an act of treason.  Let us live up to our principles of justice.  Let a military tribunal go through the formalities of a trial (after all we have ample witnesses to his guilt) and then place him before a firing squad or hang him.  America and the honorable men and women that serve and have served her deserve this and they deserve it without any further delay.

As 2009 wound down, the banks started talking about paying back the T.A.R.P funds and the bailout money they had taken to become bigger and wealthier.  And why?  Because in a year of unemployment crisis, a foreclosure dilemma beyond dimensions and small business failures, the banks and wall street firms made near record profits and they now want to compensate their executives with bonuses.  Bonus amounts that would rival the GNP of many nations.

And, that takes us back to the beginning.  We started hearing about quick fixes, we were brow beaten into excepting quick fixes and today we are hooked.  As a pusher gives a taste of a 'feel good' drug to his mark, knowing well that he will get him hooked and then he will become dependent on him and his product, and he will commit crimes to get his fix.  So this seems the goal of some in  Washington.  Give us a quick fix; we feel good for the moment, then we want more and eventually we will have to rely on a government program for our existence.  And if the government doesn't have the money, just as the drug user, we will look for the money elsewhere.   We will take from other programs to fund our new fixes.

Fortunately, this is where the new year comes in and not a moment too soon.  We can break the habit.  We can make resolutions and we can look to a day of less dependence on government.  Instead of going along with the ever growing size of our government, we can start shrinking it.  We have the power---WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT.
 
And one great way to start the cut back process is by going to the polls this year and voting for those that are honest, have integrity, stand on American principles of the Constitution, have a history of listening to the people and a history of promises kept.

Then with our backing; they will serve in our state capitols, serve in Washington,  pass bills to decrease programs, to down size government, to get spending under control and to cut off the easy flow of money to Wall Street and give it to reasonable projects on Main Street that will put people to work.  And to put people to work now, not in the future.

As there was a dark cloud over the beginning of the past year, there hangs one today as more legislation is being considered to put us further in debt.  But, as also was the case last year, there is a freshness in the air.  And this time it isn't because of one man.  It is because of the American people.

No longer is our cry for a change going to Washington, but instead, a change in the hearts and minds of Americans as we go to the polls.  We see past the broken promises even though transparency has been denied us. 

No wonder this New Year seems different.  It isn't about a man riding the promise train, it is about us; Americans and our ability to:

'ACCEPT THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE,
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN,
AND TO HAVE  
THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.'

AND, AS WE START OFF THIS NEW YEAR--------WE ARE A WISER PEOPLE!
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Pushers in Washington and Users on Main Street

November 30, 2009

Washington continues to amaze even the most skeptical with their spending programs.  Its as though they use them as a pusher uses drugs.  They promise a feel-good result and though these drugs are questionable, they are seemingly legal.  Washington has figured out a way to get Main Street high, and they have done it in such a slick way that neither the pushers nor the users have to look over their shoulder as to who might be watching the selling and use of these drugs.  Main Street principles and hard work seem to have been stepped over in search for another quick fix--another program that increases the size of a government that just continues to spend and spend. 

What about the consequences?  Of course there will be the occasional court cases, but not the type that require a public defender, instead, more like the kind that requires a business attorney to account for the money that was used to buy a quick fix or a good bankruptcy attorney to wash away the debt and the troubled assets (remember the T.A.R.P program?). 

There will also be the withdrawals with which many of these users will have to face as they run out of funds needed to buy another fix.   But unlike the junkie that can get into a state funded rehab program to help kick the habit, these addicts will be left to cope the best way they can.  Unfortunately, some will have such a rough time of it that there will be casualties along the way.  What else would you expect?  And if users are looking for some sympathy from the pushers, to feel sorry for them and give them a free high:  Think again.  That just doesn’t happen in the world of illegal drugs.  While many shy away from the pushers and their offerings, the temptation persists since there doesn’t seem to be a consequences at the moment.   But what about the future, what then?  Isn’t it known that quick fixes bring certain ruin?

What lies ahead?  What the users can expect is for the pushers to split and leave them in agony.  The pushers will simply move on, to a life of luxury, built on the misery of others.  They have their swank cribs, on the ultra private golf course, and they take in the sun on private yachts.  And they take private jets to party in places the users will never visit.  

And for the users, what fate awaits?  What the users can expect is the artificial world that they have been part of, a world that will crumble and crumble with severe and long lasting consequences.  What made the user take the first dose?  That answer couldn’t be simpler; it was their greed!

Yes, their greed and your greed.  You are just as responsible.  You see, without standing against the pushers, you became part of the problem.  You wanted what everyone else was getting.  And so, you sat back and bought into the stimulus package, you mumbled, but you bought into it.  You tried to give some opposition to the mortgage parachute program, but you gave in to it also.  You even resisted the AIG bailout, but eventually the pushers got you to go along with it by giving you a story about how it would help you in the long run.  And for the earmarked and deceitfully stained budget, you really didn’t much care; you watched it become a reality.  You ranted about the king pins and their dealings, but, just as before, the pushers knew you would forget it once your neighborhood was promised a playground or your inner city was promised a couple of rehabs with big screen TVs.  After all, they did repeat over and over, that it wasn’t about Wall Street, it was about Main Street.  Right?

Greed; your greed and that of your fellow users, did all of this and you were so used to the quick fixes that you started looking for more.  The pushers knew you would.  So they folded a couple of companies and left many to die along the roads as they closed shops and moved to a highly protected area within the bankruptcy courts.  And when the coast was clear, after everyone left the area, thinking surely the occupants had all died or they would have come out by now, after that, they snuck out from the protection with new identities.  And lo and behold, they had your money and your backing, because you they knew you were still hooked.

And before you would have enough thought to try to clean up, they set up a diversion while they opened a new route from which to distribute a new drug.  They knew you would be all against anything that would hurt your family.  They also knew you wouldn’t stand for anything that could take away your right to get clean.  You still keep kidding yourself that someday you will just stop using.  Anyway, they gave something to chew on and they called it health care reform.  And once that got into your system, to the point that it was consuming you, the pushers knew they had you and that you would not resist the next fix. 

And boy, oh boy, did they have that right.  They got you so hyped up on this new drug that you and many of your neighbors started knocking down the doors of the new fronts for the pushers.  You and your neighbors started begging the fronts to take your stuff and give you theirs.  And, it worked.  You got so high that everyone started saying the fix works and the habit is good and the future looks bright, thanks to these drugs.

And now, the fronts for the pushers are about to find out what getting high is all about.  The withdrawals are about to set in.   The pushers knew that this was coming.  That’s why they all took a month for vacation and they will take more.  As for the withdrawals, they could get real nasty.  But then again, if the withdrawals are bad enough, the pushers won’t have as much resistance to their next fix, regarding your health, or the fix after that, the one that keeps them, as the king pin, representing your neighborhood.

And to think, it all started with a pusher’s greed to feel good at the expense of another’s habit, the habit to buy into a quick fix to feel good.  The cycle feeds off of itself.  The pusher just bought you a new merry-go-round.   The pusher’s future and Wall Street depends on it.

Main Street needs to wake up, clean up, go to work and get rid of the neighborhood pushers.  American history tells us that Main Street became strong through hard work; not one big government spending  program after another---not one quick fix after another.
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Have we become numb or indifferent?  Have we forgotten our commitment or have we simply found distractions that have become more important to many of us because we, or our families, are directly affected?  We are engaged in a war and the death toll, civilians included, continues to mount, not so much from conventional weapons, but more so from suicide bomb incidents.  Great numbers are killed in single incidents where vehicles, heavily loaded with explosive devices, are driven into populous areas with unsuspecting workers, shoppers and visitors.  And let's not forget to add to these numbers the devastation from I.E.Ds planted in the roads, along the roadsides, in walking lanes and anywhere else the extremists feel they can take enough innocent and/or unsuspecting lives without being detected. And, how can we overlook the lives taken by those that have explosives strapped to their bodies that they detonate once they are within the deadly proximity of those that these radicals have been sent to kill.

We continue to add to the rising count of American military service personnel, both men and women.  These numbers are made up of the brave souls that volunteered to enlist, to defend, to stand for freedom and to oppose oppression, tyranny and a multitude of other inhumanities.

In the past few months, it seems as though there are different set of rules that apply to the display of public opposition.  Whatever happened to those that opposed the war back in the years of the past administration?  Where are those voices as the war continues today?  Whatever happened to those that opposed the loss of American lives?  As the daily, weekly and/or monthly death toll rises above those in recent years, where are those voices?  Once, those that made their voices heard, bullied their views through the media and, together, those opposed and the media, tried to bully their  opinions upon the administration of the time.

Time has marched forward and we have been subjected to a variety of attempts to end the war, to push a surge, to implement new strategies, to make new assessments and to man up or man down the efforts.  This administration even hand-picked a soldier to put his boots on the ground, make an assessment and file a comprehensive report complete with required numbers of personnel to take the fight to the enemy.  The ultimate goal of this finding was to control the insurgents, rid the Afghanistan region of those that instill fear and oppression in the people and to establish a form of government that would remove the chains of corruption and oppression.

Yet, when it is all said and done and the report had been delivered and scrutinized, there continued to be a lack of action.  Some of its contents has been made known, and there is much debate over the additional personnel requested for the fight.  No matter how long we take to have meetings and debate, one thing is certain:  meetings, differing opinions, debates and other non-actions only allow the enemy to continue to roll up the death toll and implant doubts in the minds of many as to our ability to win this war.

If the administration had not weighed all the possible views that could be included within such a report, if the administration had not planned to act on the advice of its chosen general, if the administration had planned on playing 'Monday armchair quarterback', then what was the object of putting any personnel in that theater at this time?  This isn't a game and there isn't a joy stick that controls the action.  And the downed participants don't get 'do-overs'.

The local participants, the American military volunteers and those forces that have allied themselves with us and the people of the region, all of these individuals are real and they experience the reality of the enemy on a, seemingly, daily basis.  And this, whether it's in the report or not, this is real: The enemy plants explosives to kill, to maim, to terrorize, to instill fear and to cause submission and surrender.

When it comes to engaging in battle, some things are absolute and necessary to insure victory.  One is that you better be focused on the mission, distractions can be deadly.  When the first step is taken to move forward, there is a single focus:  The Mission.  The time for talk is over, action is necessary, not more meetings or discussions. There is no room for other agendas or viewpoints---none.  And, in the minds of many, it is thought that vacations and guest appearances on entertainment shows to tout personal agenda items do little to enhance our military endeavors.  We are talking about the lives of our military sons and daughters.  Doesn't their blood take precedent over Wall Street bonuses, cash for clunkers, stimulus waste, health care reform, network squabbles and personality differences?

We need to fight this fight with a mighty force.  Our military and those that they are fighting to defend don't need more diplomacy, tact, meetings, discussions or further consideration.  The boots are on the ground, the march is on and focus is key.  This fight is not conventional, the weapons are not conventional and the enemy is certainly not conventional, nor are his methods. 

Presidents use their office as a bully pulpit to drive their points and influence the public.  Theodore Roosevelt was a master at it.  He also said that it is wise to speak softly and carry a big stick.  

Today, how about forgoing the speeches and the television appearances to make points for health care reform, how well the stimulus is working, how many jobs are being created by the recovery act, etc and etc?  Instead; how about LISTENING to our military leaders and accepting their evaluations and proposed actions?

(Just a thought:  I would heed the recommendation of a general that puts his boots on the ground, makes assessments and writes a report over some congressman that didn't read a bill before voting on it.)

And, as for a big stick?  You can't carry a stick to win this war, not when the enemy flies passenger aircrafts into buildings, killing innocent men, women and children.  You can't bring a stick to a war that has the opposition enlisting fanatics that wear explosives and stand next to children on the roadside---just before they detonate.

Blood above cash!  Time to focus!  Time to be forceful!  Time to march!  Time to win!

__________________________________________________________

Just one thing before I start.  I didn’t just jump on this band wagon; I have been voicing my concerns over this industry, bailouts and programs since late last year.  So, as you can see, this Administration, this Congress and this Senate listens to me just as much as it listens to you. My view of this oversight comes in the last paragraph of this article.

To begin with, I really love America.  And when my country gets a thorn that could fester into a serious wound, I can't sit back and do nothing.  And since I am fortunate enough to have a forum that reaches tens of thousands of people, I speak up.  Unlike so many talk radio programs, I don't deal in hype, supposition or conjecture that reeks of controversy, all for the sake of ratings.  I present the facts and I try to give non-biased commentary based upon the findings.  My personal views have no place in reports.  Luckily, this is not a report; instead it is the reasoning for my latest broadcast on July 27, 2009. 

The topic of race is often one that people only approach from the edges and skirt around the possibility of true, in-depth studies or conclusions.  Too often, humorous and ‘what a shame' comments divert any real attempts to get closure.

Recently, the issue of an arrest made the headlines.  A local incident became a national incident as soon as the President weighed in with some words, by his own admission; that were not based on facts.  Was the President racist, was the professor racist, was the policeman racist?  Was the incident filled with racial profiling, as the professor stated?  And it was a topic that most wanted to stay away from.  They would discuss the President's comment and dissect that, but otherwise, most seemed to ask questions that they expected the air to answer.  The news channels had their regular anchors  and the interviews were with, you guessed it, persons of color.  As though only an African-American could answer the question of ‘should President Obama have commented?', ‘do you think this was racially motivated?' and misdirected questions, such as ‘do we really have a race issue in America?'.  The dance around the facts was farcical and degrading.   As for me, I wanted the factual details and I wanted to relay the truth.

I understand that many would raise an eye brow or dismiss my thoughts.  Surely you are familiar with the thinking that asks ‘what does a "white" man know about color discrimination?'.  What could a "white" man say that made any sense to a person of color?  I have heard it all in past years and I have to say, I don't hear it too often, anymore.  By the way, Tom Sawyer got his friends to paint a picket fence white, and, according to that guideline, I am not "white".

Just before I went on the air, I recalled a comment I made years ago, as a panel member that addressed the issue of separations within America.  It was that if you do not discriminate, if you are unbiased and truly blind to color, race and nationality, you may be chastised for the content or leaning of your words, but never for expressing your opinion.

I started off my broadcast with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He said:  "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".  I asked the audience to keep this quote in mind.  My personal feelings about Dr. King are irrelevant at this time, but I will state, for the purpose of this writing, I admired him, his principles, his character, his integrity and his love for God and all peoples.

I migrated to America from Europe when I was a young child.  I could never understand why I was the butt of jokes, sneers, name calling, down right nasty comments and fights.  After all, I was a child, I didn't fight in the war, I didn't have a side, at that time I never expressed my views; I just was.  Eventually I learned:  I found out what it was and I found out why it was.  It was discrimination and it was based on ignorance, covered in hypocrisy.  And today, when it comes to racism, those factors are just as true.  

Whether it is in our country, against our own citizens, or against visitors or against another nation, so many first cloak themselves in religious and/or spiritual robes as they worship God, pray for a better world, and invoke their ‘God will forgive me' and turn into vile and condescending hypocrites.  In a heart beat, they make statements and take actions that reek of ignorance as the ‘better-than-you', ‘holier-than-thou' discriminatory self takes over.

I got a bit off the subject; please indulge me for the moment.  My feelings on race, color and nationality discrimination could fill the halls of Congress.  Back to why I dared to air this program.

Eric Holder, the United States Attorney General, made a statement during his speech after taking office.  He was talking about America, that in his opinion, was more racist than we would admit and that things regarding race are avoided by Americans, that we are "essentially a nation of cowards".  To say I took exception to the statement goes beyond comment.  While I agree that many, as I said at the beginning of this piece, skirt the issue, but I do not believe cowardice is correct.  I believe that people are uneasy to speak openly because they, most often, haven't a foundation or true conviction of their own.  You don't need to live another's color, but you do need to understand the Creator made us equal.  Don't worry, I won't get Biblical and quote scripture.  But, even our Declaration of Independence tells us "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".  And just like that, if you are American and believe in our way of life, our freedoms and our Constitution, you have a foundation to build on and, without exception, racism is unconstitutional and to be against the Constitution is un-American.

I have noticed, throughout my life, that it is normally someone that could fit the description of being biased, prejudiced or discriminatory in regards to race, color or nationality, that brings up the issue of race.  And then, it is that same person that adamantly denies being a racist.  You know it is the truth and I would be willing to wager heavily that many of you reading this can think of someone you know that fits that description.

I live in an attractive and quiet neighborhood.  That is how I describe it, when asked.  I use that description to make a point.  What did you envision as you read that?  Take a moment and picture my neighborhood and my neighbors.    I will now veer from my normal description and, for the sake of making a point, I offer this description.  I live in a diverse and mixed ethnic neighborhood.  Now, what did you picture.  Get the point?  As diverse as it may be,  I never refer to one neighbor or another, while talking to friends or neighbors, as that black family, that African-American family, that Asian family, that German family,  that Hispanic family, that Indian family, or ----again, you get the picture..  I simply refer to them by name or location.  My neighbor isn't white, black, brown, yellow, pink or green.  My neighbor is my neighbor.  I do not shy away from talking about issues of equality in America, race, color or nationality.  Why?  Because I am very comfortable with my belief that "All men are created equal" and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the Creator.  To have a problem or feel uncomfortable with presenting an issue that may involve racism would be hypocritical on my part.  You either believe or you don't.  There are no exceptions.  It is like being pregnant, you either are or you aren't.  There is no such thing as almost, partially, or ‘all but'.

While I don't claim to be the last word on this topic, I would suggest that if you disagree with the concept of equality for all, you might want to examine the foundation of your conscience, the motive in your beliefs.

As I said at the very beginning, within the limits of my ability and talents, I will not let my country suffer.  I vowed to defend her while I wore this nation's uniform and, though no longer in uniform, I am an American Citizen that loves the life of being free.  If you are a parent, you understand that those that you love, you will protect at any cost.  If you are a homeowner, you understand how protective people can be over their property.  If you are an American, then surely you understand why I couldn't let issues or allegations of racism add another scar to this land.  I love this nation and she doesn't deserve a black eye, a broken arm or a scandalous reputation.  The Statue of Liberty stands in the harbor, with a message that welcomes all peoples, no matter the color.  The flag of this country stands as the symbol of freedom in America, without regard to race.  America is you and you and you and me.  And you and you and you and I, by virtue of birth, naturalization or government intervention, we are American.

I repeat the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".

Why did I speak out on something considered as taboo by many?  Discrimination and racist attitudes have no place in my world and they shouldn't in yours.  We are the product of the same Creator.  We are all equal in His eyes and also in the core of our Constitution.  In my world, courtesy, diplomacy, respect and tact matter.  And when those traits, coupled to principles, integrity, morals, ethics and character, are taught to our youth, we can make this world a better place----one home, one street, one neighborhood, one city, one country at a time.  AND THAT MATTERS TO ME!

Listen to the Broadcast of July 27, 2009....
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PROPANE RIP OFF ---- LESS IN THE TANK, MORE IN THEIR BANK

May 27, 2009

FIRST: THE PROPANE RIP OFF AND VIEWS FROM THE RETAILERS

Another Trillion—But Who’s Counting

March 26, 2009
Well, Washington announced a new program and without thought, Main Street got the chills. We know it will cost us, it always does, we just don’t know how much this time. We will do something different with this writing. Washington announced the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (who makes up this stuff?), immediately referred to as TALF. We will precede the comments from Washington with a ‘FROM WASHINGTON’ and also print comments and quotes in black. My commentary and that of Main Street will be in red.

For the intricate details of this program, please refer to the national debt figures, the lack of jobs on Main Street, your personal bank account, your pension fund or your subsequent IRS tax returns.

For the end result of how this program should work, please check with any smiling face on Wall Street, the gleaming CEO and other officers of your bank or the Board of Directors of most Hedge Funds. A hint to finding them, they will be on their yachts, probably in some exotic port. Sorry, but as you know, it really isn’t about you. Congress just says that in order to stay connected to its votes.

Okay, let’s get started on detailing the latest phase of "THE SELLING OF MY AMERICA."

Well the new plan is out. Yes, we ---you and I---are soon to go into partnership with private investors and between the both of us we will buy up these toxic assets the banks now hold. I will put this in real plan language as we move along, but first, here is the latest deal from President Obama and United States Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner.

FROM WASHINTON: The Obama administration formally presented the latest step in its financial rescue package on Monday, an attempt to draw private investors into partnership with a new federal entity that could eventually buy up to $1 trillion in troubled assets that are weighing down banks and clogging up the credit markets.

Mr. Geithner added the following to the announcement, which surely instilled an air of confidence in the average person on Main Street.

FROM WASHINGTON: The Treasury secretary did not deny the uncertainties inherent in the new program on Monday but defended it as a practical approach. Mr. Geithner acknowledged that the government is taking a big risk with this program and his question was as to how best to do it.

Of course, the Government (that is you and me) is taking a risk. Since this whole collapse started it has always been Main Street that has had to reach and bail out those that sat back and waited for the rescue wagon. You probably have figured this next part out, but just in case you haven’t: This program could turn out to be a real sweet deal for our friends on Wall Street.

FROM WASHINGTON: The private investors would be subsidized but could stand to lose their investments, while the taxpayers could share in prospective profits as the assets are eventually sold, the Treasury said. The administration said that it expected participation from pension funds to insurance companies and other long-term investors.

Bottom line: Investors being subsidized could lose their investments---fat chance. With any subsidized program, the potential ‘real loser’ is the subsidizer, not the subsidizee--- let’s be real clear about that, as we read the next statement regarding the plan------

FROM WASHINGTON: The plan calls for the government to put up most of the money for buying up troubled assets, and it would give private investors a clearly advantageous deal. In one program, the Treasury would match one-for-one every dollar of equity that private investors invest of their own money in each "Public Private Investment Fund."

Yes, a clearly advantageous deal to the private investors. Without going into every minute detail or explaining the dollar investment portions (you can find that on the White House’s web site or in most cartoon sections of a variety of newspapers), let’s look at the end result.

FROM WASHINGTON: For a relatively small equity exposure, the private investor thus stands to make a considerable return if prices recover. The government will make a gain as well. In the worst case, the bulk of the risk would fall on the government.

Notice the wording in the release. Private investors stand to make a considerable return, while we, the government, will make a gain (nothing about considerable here). And of course, as to risk, well, we get the lion’s share of that one. Private sector (coded wording for Wall Street) gets the lion’s share of the reward, government (coded wording for you and me—Main Street) gets the risk bonanza. Someone explain how this is supposed to make all of us so happy? It seems everything is still the same, all profits lean to Wall Street, while Main Street gets handed the bill.

And if this program isn’t loaded enough to the gain of the investor; here is a little fact hidden into the plan that really has Wall Street smiling.

FROM WASHINGTON: Hidden in this program is the details of how the Treasury would dramatically revise and expand its joint venture with the Federal Reserve, known as the Term Asset-backed Secure Lending Facility, which was originally created to finance consumer lending and some forms of business lending. This program will soon be expanded to finance investors who want to buy existing mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, including commercial real estate mortgages.

In other words, the U.S. Treasury (our money) will be used to back the Federal Reserve as investors borrow money to buy these lame assets that were the single most contributing factor that got us into this mess in the first place. The same assets that made the banks look hard and long at their balance sheets and that look subsequently led to getting us, you and me and every other tax payer, to lend the banks money so they would lend money to us again. Yes, the initial Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that only helped the banks and did absolutely nothing for the people for which it was intended. This was money that the banks chose not to lend but instead to pad their balance sheets and buy up smaller banks and all the while they continued to freeze us out of borrowing OUR money---get the picture? Never forget the first half of the TARP bailout--at election time--let it be a voice in your voting. Never forget!

There seems to be some skepticism on the part of the potential investors over this plan and there is surely some concern on the part of the administration regarding the concept the investors have over this program. In simple language, the concern of the investor is "How much is in it for me and do I have to follow any rules?" So Washington, in selling this plan said:

FROM WASHINGTON: Administration officials strove to reassure potential investors that they will not be subjected to the sort of pressures, criticism and public outrage that followed reports of the million-dollar bonuses to executives of AIG.

Ya think? It might be hard to get investors to bite if they think that they or their employees are going to receive death threats in the event they make ‘mega kajillions’ of dollars on this lopsided program.

Most of these (if not all) toxic assets have been sitting (in a file marked by a skull and crossbones) since this whole mortgage collapse started last September. So what glitter has been added to make these assets (I use the term loosely) worth the effort? And let’s not forget the uproar over AIG and those bonuses that then led to the House to quickly draft a bill to tax these bonuses. Yes, the hypocritical action of the House, to cover its own tail, has left some investors more than cautious in contemplating this new program. Why should they think twice about this program? Remember, the Wall Street greedy will participate in a program that involves your and my money, again. So, they are concerned about the backlash when, not if, but when profits are realized. To be more precise, they are concerned what we will think when we find out how much they made and what little we got.

FROM WASHINGTON: The plan relies on private investors to team with the government to relieve banks of assets tied to loans and mortgage-linked securities of unknown value. But some executives at private equity firms and hedge funds, who were briefed on the plan, are anxious about the recent uproar over millions of dollars in bonus payments made to executives of the American International Group. Some of them have told administration officials that they would participate only if the government guaranteed that it would not set compensation limits on the firms, according to people briefed on the conversations.

Here is the part that President Obama’s administration crossed their fingers over and laid it out there, so that these ‘soon to be even richer’, fat cats of Wall Street will come to play.

FROM WASHINGTON: Mr. Geithner made it clear on Monday that no limits on executive compensation would be imposed on companies that invest — unless the companies are already subject to such limitations as recipients of TARP money.

As to whether Washington will renege on its intentions, I would say that the odds are good on that happening. Why? I think why not would be easier to answer, but how about these buzz words: no lobbyists in my cabinet, transparency (no time to read a bill, just vote), change (Washington insiders holding many positions in this administration), end of bickering and partisanship (no that even makes me laugh while writing it), no ear marks or pork barrel spending (oh, okay some, but no more than 9,000 at a time), we can not govern out of anger (who said last week they were angry?), and above all of these, there is the mindset of Congress. Congress, hypocritical, self-serving, dishonest and conniving, ‘please re-elect me’, yes, that Congress that insisted on the names of those that would not give back their bonuses and then quickly drafted a bill to tax persons beyond reason and to do so without cause, other than Congress was trying to save its own rear.

Be careful to not anger some members of congress, they hold powerful positions and they want those that would jeopardize their re-election campaigns to feel their wrath. As I watched the bonus hearings, I wondered if any of those questioning Edward Liddy, had cleaned their own side of the street lately. I also wondered if any of them ever think about the fact that they hold no power except that which you and I give them. I am not certain as to what their constitution says, but my constitution, the Constitution of the United States of America says the government is of, by and for the people. We, collectively, are the only true power of this great nation.

And to think that today is exactly nine weeks into this administration’s attempt to govern. About the only actions and results that are definite are the ones we didn’t want yesterday, don’t want today and definitely don’t want tomorrow. Those are the spending programs that focus on the wrong beneficiaries and the debt consequences that go along with these misguided programs. America laid its foundation on principles of ethical behavior and morals of truth, trust and respect. America was not built with borrowing, America was built with work.

All of this money for programs to bail out the bail out, after the program to bail out failed to bail out the ‘bailee’ (code word for Wall Street). And Washington keeps saying it is about Main Street, that is the real focus. Oh, really? Let me iterate a comment I made at the beginning: Sorry, but as you know, it really isn’t about you. Congress just says that in order to stay connected to its votes.