$100B Is Not What It Used To Be

I was thinking about the movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery tonight. I was stuck on a plot point I had a problem with. Why would Dr. Evil want $100B if he is going to destroy the world anyway? wouldn't it be easier to set up his own monetary system? Magma... Always makes me laugh.

Anyway, it dawned on me that the movie came out just 13 years ago but today, with all President Obama has spent on Stimulus Packages and New Budgets, $100B is not all that much money any more. That might be only 1% of the money that will be spent in the next 10 years of these new programs. We already, have $60T in the unfunded liabilities of Social Security and Medicare over the next 50 years. So, maybe Dr. Evil was just a small time crook after all. Magma... Ha ha ha.

-Jeremy

Democracy in Action

What a great day!

Today, I felt like I came out of hiding to meet hundreds more like me at the Laguna Beach Tea Party in California. While it really just consisted of waving at cars, so many of which honked back (a surprise in ultra liberal Laguna,) it allowed me to feel like the people on my side of the issue really are not going to take this administration's fiscal policy lying down.

We will fight back vocally, on the street. Something foreign to the modern conservative movement. More importantly, there wasn't a single fight, broken window or arrest made. This means, it will never make the news. Today's events were the perfect example of media bias in our news and I hope it makes people look at the cause in a different light.

-Jeremy

Thank you President Reagan

If President Obama succeeds, it will be for the same reason President Clinton succeeded. Thanks to the great President Reagan seeing an end to the existential threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, President Clinton was free to pursue his agenda without distraction. Fortunately, he didn't stand for anything but being loved.

Well, once again, we have President Bush to thank for dealing a serious blow to the real threat of Islamic terrorism. If President Obama succeeds, it may because we will not hear from Osama Bin Laden for years to come. Obama really does believe in something so it may be that his success is short lived.

-Jeremy

Aaaaaahhhhhhh!

-Jeremy

Manly Month of March

31 days of growth. Now I can shave it off. Seems like a
waste but I am tired of scratching my face. Takes longer
to type.

-Jeremy

Blogging Anew

It's been a while but it's time to start it up again. At least my dear cousin is in the right industry for the Obama administration as a teacher. As a small business owner, I seem to be the enemy. I have the Audacity to Hope I achieve over $250,000 profit in my company this year. But I surely will be penalized for it. It doesn't matter that in year one I made $0. After two years, I have seen the fruits of my labor and I have hired three people this year. I could hire more if I kept more of the money.

So what is the response from the President? More guaranteed loans from the SBA!!! Yeah, who wants some debt? There seems to be more than enough to go around. My goal is to grow by hard work, not by spending money I don't have. So, come punish me Mr. President, spread my wealth around.

- Jeremy

The Jena-6 and the power of personal non-violent protest

I have been powerfully effected by the situation in Jena, Louisiana. I teach in a ninth grade transition program that's over 90% African American. My students in North Carolina have taken it very personally, and understandably so. The worst part of the racism in Jena is that it occured on many levels including Institutional Levels. Institutional racism is the most destructive of all. When members of institutions such as the School Superintendent, Law Enforcement Officers, and Attorneys wield their power in an unequal way it is not only insulting on a racist level, but it undermines the public's confidence in these very important institutions. If the public has no confidence in these institutions the very fabric of our society begins to tear apart.

I believe that these young black men were shown repeatedly that the standards of their community were applied unequally. The situation got to such a point that they finally erupted in a violent attack on a white boy that was connected to some of the hatred. While I can understand the frustration, and outrage of these young men I wish they hadn't resorted to violence. It has without question made the situation worse for them.

The power of Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights movement of the 60's was that it was non-violent. In Selma it was obvious who the victims were. It opened the eyes of the nation. Nobody could deny the injustice of innocent, peaceful blacks being beaten by the police. In Jena things are more complicated because 6 victims of racism and violence used violence to make their oppressor into a quasi-victim in the eyes of some.

I bring this up to lead into another point. I believe that personal non-violent protest is the most powerful way to change injustice. However, it must be differentiated from a government's response to injustice. The Bible says that governments are a sword to execute judgement and justice. If they do not respond with force to protect their citizens from attack, they shirk their God-given responsibility.

By definition governments cannot be Christian, only individuals can. Governments are entities without souls who only do what their leaders make them do. Governments can and should reflect Christian values, so the citizens will be blessed with justice, peace, freedom and prosperity, but they will never answer to God. Only people do. Governments are a sword to be used wisely.

-Paul B.

No more Republican scandals

Congress should spend their time on something other than crime in this country, it seems the criminals all get elected to Congress now. There are plenty of bad Democrats. But not every Democrat has $100,000 in their freezer. My distress is that so many of the criminals in Congress are in my party, Republican.

This is my appeal to the Republican party and Republicans thinking of running for public office. If you are like Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham or Tom DeLay and you are after money, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you. If you have some sexual predilection like Mark Foley or Larry Craig, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you. If you can't wait to start using earmarks, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you either.

If you ever want to win another election, you will hold the Democrats on spending money, be swift in winning the war in Iraq and moving on to new terror locations and face up to the Mainstream Media without shame. The voters didn't vote for Democrats because they had a better plan, that is clear. They just didn't want the Republican party in its present state.

-Jeremy

Sally Field is a Fool

During her Emmy acceptance speech last night, Sally Field said that if mothers ruled the world, there would be no war. She won her Emmy portraying a mother. This to me is the epitome of foolishness. She is so ignorant of the Muslim world where not only do mothers themselves strap on bombs and make war on occasion but they are proud of their martyr children that make war against the perceived enemy.

She may never understand that we will only have peace when the rest of the world adopts America's Judeo-Christian values regardless of whether they practice Judaism or Christianity.

-Jeremy

Carbon offsets and other liberal lies

I agree Jeremy. Edwards is a nightmare. He lives in an enormous mansion over 20,000 sf and talks about us being frugal. What an idiot and a hypocrite. I suppose he needs that much space to research poverty. Yeah, to some that actually makes sense. Then there are the so-called carbon offsets so they can feel better about their lifestyle. I actually have no problem with him living as extravagant a lifestyle as he wants. Just don't preach to me about giving up anything. Carbon offsets are literally nothing. They pay windmill companies money to run their clean windmills. While this does add more electricity, it does not replace the "dirty" forms of energy out there. It's the same as the medieval indulgences, where the rich would pay money so they could indulge in sin. My how they've lost their way!!!!

Under Edwards, an apple a day, does not keep the doctor away

I don't know if you heard it this week but Edwards actually said that if elected president, he will create a federal mandate requiring annual physicals. I guess this means we will end up paying double for health insurance because of government waste but it's okay, he will raise your taxes for it.

As much as I don't like Tom Tancredo, I have to hand it to him. He absolutely made the war on terror crystal clear in the Republican debate the other night. So many people to not take terror seriously. They are so isolated in safe old USA.

-Jeremy

My condolences to all you who had to have the iPhone first.

Hillary and Tyranny

Read my title to the tune of "ebony and ivory". Fred Thompson said it well recently, "if government is big enough to give you everything, it is big enough to take away everything". So true!!!!!!! John Edwards wants us to give up our SUV's. Hillary wants to take "corporate profits". Obama wants to try "diplomacy" with murderous thugs. Yeah, it's quite an outstanding crop of leaders the Dems are trotting out there.

-Paul

Hillary for Socialist Ruler of America, er President

After listening to her stump speech over the weekend, it seems that she wants to redistribute wealth and give "you" everything you can't seem to get on your own. I don't know why she hates the rich, she is rich. She seems to think that she can provide healthcare, higher wages, paid education, pre-school for all and of course no service member to ever be outside the US. None of this, of course, is provided for in the constitution. Even if you could make a valid argument for some of these services, they can only be funded by states and not the Federal Government.

Hugh Hewitt played the speech for most of his first two hours and I don't know how I will be able to handle four to eight years of listening to her much less the next year of campaigning. At least President Bill Clinton had a comfortable voice.

-Jeremy

Trader Joe's and the blessings of Liberty

I was at the Grand Opening of the grocery store Trader Joes this morning. Initially, I was skeptical as we waited for the doors to open. I saw all these people so excited, whoopin' and hollerin', and I thought "ok, you people are stereotypical, shallow, consumers. This is just another grocery store". Well, these people had experienced Trader Joe's in California, Arizona, and all over, and they knew what I didn't. I needed only 5 minutes to see how wrong I was. This store was made for people like us who are transitioning to a more whole-food based, organic diet, and the prices are about 30% less than what we normally pay for similar items. This, of course, will not only have a positive ripple effect to our health, but our ability to use our money for other priorities. Economically, it will empower us and give us more choices.

As I shopped for ingredients for my famous fajitas, that I'll be making tonight for some friends, I began thinking about the Garden of Eden. God filled it with abundance, variety, pleasure, comfort, and most importantly..........choices. Almost everything in it was good, but there was one choice that God prohibited. Anytime you have liberty there will be abundance, blessings and choices. Some will lead to life, and others will lead to death. When God restores the world it will become more and more like the original Garden of Eden.

Now, I don't believe America is the Garden of Eden. But our government system values many things that God values. America has chosen freedom, and liberty, and to secure the blessings of liberty we've instituted a free-market, capitalistic economic system. The result is that Americans have more choice and opportunity than anywhere else in the world. Yes, there are dangers to choice. Just like the two trees in the garden, life and death are before us all the time. Do I use my money to buy food for my family, or waste it on lottery tickets? Do I give to charity or use it for mindless entertainment. Many times you can do both, and that's ok. But when you must choose, what do you choose?

The nature of poverty is lack, rationing, and very few choices, all of which are difficult. Do I choose food or medicine; electricity or paying the water bill? It's not good at all. In communist countries there isn't abundance in any form, except misery. People wait on line for hours for one kind of bread, and are rationed how much they can buy. This is not defeated by more rationing. I hear many people that want to fight poverty with poverty. They want to coercively take away resources through taxes, and redistribute it. Poverty is defeated by more freedom, empowerment, choices and opportunities. The greatest liberator for those stuck in poverty is education. The average person with a college education will make over a milliion dollars more, over their lifetime, than a high school graduate. Education empowers, and creates opportunities. It's the parable of the talents. It allows a person to use the giftings God gave them. Education invests in people. The return on investment is a society full of people empowered to create their own destinies. These are the blessings of liberty.

Nahoul the Jihadist Bumble Bee

What the world needs now is.................. How does that song go? Well, instead of love you've got a popular kids show led by an 11 year old and a Jihadist Bumble Bee. Great!!!!! Never mind the fact of the historical right of the Jews to inhabit Israel. Never mind the fact that there is no such thing as a "palestinian people". There never was an official Arab-run country called Palestine. Never Mind the fact that it was controlled by Britain before Israel came, not the Arabs. Never mind the fact that God gave it to the Jewish people. They suddenly maintain this lie that it's their land, and this kid wants the Jews out. Go to this link and see the article about this tool of evil propaganda. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293284,00.html

-Paul

The Iowa Straw Poll

So Romney won the straw poll yesterday. Does it mean anything? The last few Republicans that won the straw poll went on to win the nomination: Bush and Dole. My sense is that this election year is different though. There are some potentially major players that haven't officially entered the race yet: Fred Thompson, and Newt Gingrich. Not to mention that Guiliani, and McCain ignored it altogether. One thing that could be a significant indicator of things to come is Mike Huckabee's strong 2nd place finish. I see his stock rising, and rising. I think he could be a very strong Vice-presidential candidate for Thompson, Guilini or Romney. There is even a chance that he might pull even with the top 3 I mentioned and make it into a top four situation.

Another thing I've been thinking about is how the top Republican Candidates absolutely dwarf the top Democrat candidates in experience. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are a bunch of 1 term senators. The Dems definitely have star-power with the attractiveness of their top 3, but that's all. It definitely should be interesting, though.

-Paul

Patriotism

I wanted to start a thread on Patriotism. Paul Pace has brought up that his allegiance is to God and not to America. I can agree with that in a worst-case scenario sort of way, but America's not there yet. That has caused me to think about why I love America. I suppose that there are some who are patriotic out of a reflexive form of nationalism. It's not easy these days to understand what makes America special amongst all the countries of the world. We are constantly bombarded by voices in the media and society that want to blame America for all the ills of the world. They say we are hated by the world, yet the world's citizens are beating, and swimming a path to our door so they can partake of the blessings of liberty.
Is America perfect? No. Are there excesses in American society? Definitely. Then why do I love America so much?

After much thought I realize that I love America, because it's ideals are consistent with God's character!!!!! When I pledge allegiance to the Flag, I pledge allegiance to the ideal of a nation being united under God, with liberty, and justice for all. These ideals make America special.

One of the definitions of the word "constitution" means: the substance of which something is made. I love the substance from which America is made. Freedom of Religion. Freedom of Speech. Freedom of the Press. The Right to Bear Arms (a check and balance against tyrannical government). Equal rights and protection under the law regardless of race, class, gender etc.... These ideals make me proud to be an American because they are the application on earth of things that were born in the mind of God in Heaven.

The times that I feel frustrated as an American are always the times that we fail to live up to these ideals. They are the times that people try to railroad the process and impose different values on American society; truly "unconstitutional" agendas: oppressive taxes, equal outcome-based laws, thought-crime legislation, abortion, property and income redistribution-type policies. All of those things are unconstitutional and therefore inconsistent with my Christian Faith. Patriotism and Faith not only intersect in the founding principles of America, but my Faith demands that I support these ideals for they bring some of the culture of heaven to the earth.

Random Thought #2

I find it ironic that Barry Bonds broke the home run record in the city that is investigating him - Washington, D.C.

It is also lost that the ultimate non-team player did not acknowledge that his team lost in the midst of his personal milestone. Home Run records don't show up in the standings.

-Jeremy

Bang! Bang!

Good for you Paul, I have been wanting to do the same myself for a long time. This is why all Israelis are required to carry a gun when transporting children. I don't understand why you connote the violence is negative. It reminds me of the people that demonize guns but not the perpetrator of the crime. Violence is what saved us in World War II. The threat of violence won us the cold war. Violence in and of itself is not a bad thing. I hope you do get one someday and I hope the kids get a good understanding of the history of guns and why our rights to guns as citizens is so vital.

-Jeremy

shooting practice

Well Fellas,
I went shooting yesterday for the first time in my life. A friend of mine has some guns and we went to a target range. It's interesting how this is coinciding with our discussion on the Christian and violence. I am still on the fence regarding whether I want to be a gun owner or not. On the one hand, I experienced vividly the awesome power, and responsibility it is to wield a gun, and that is scary for a number of reasons. I have young kids, so their safety is paramount to me. Part of me sees the benefits to them growing up with a healthy view, and knowledge of firearms, but still part of me is scared. I would definitely get a safe for it, that only I would know the combination to. But sill it's both reassuring and unsettling at the same time.
I tore up the dude on the target paper pretty good. If I were to do that to an intruder/attacker would I be alright with that? Would my kids be alright with that? Do I have other self-defense tactics at my disposal so that a gun-based solution is the absolute last resort? I've been trying to reconcile all of these questions and more. I kind of want my own "rules of engagement" so to speak. I'll let you all know what the final decision is and I invite your input.
I think as a teacher, Virginia Tech was the turning point for me where I began seeing it almost as my civic duty to be armed. We had a lock down this year at school and I would want to be able to protect my students. The administration at Virginia Tech was so proud of the gun-free laws they instituted a few years ago. They said it would make students "feel safer"..........appearance over substance!!!!
I say all that to say this, I don't know practically for me how this will all shake down. To own or not to own, that is the question.

-Paul