There are those in today's society who think that secession is the answer to the problems currently facing America. Naturally, all of the ones I've encountered - which number three so far - are Southerners. I've been giving this a great deal of thought, and what follows are my opinions as to why I feel that secession is not the answer.
First and foremost, there's the obvious legal reason: Secession has been deemed unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. In 1861 the question of the constitutionality of secession had never been approached, so there was no legal precident saying one way or the other. Obviously, a large portion of the nation thought that secession was legal, and there was another larger portion of the nation that felt otherwise. In any event, there was nothing to say that it was illegal, so secession happened. Personally, I don't think it would have made a difference one way or the other; the Southern states were hell-bent on secession, and nothing was going to stop them.
But that's not the case today. In the case of Texas v. White (74 U.S. 700), Chief Justice Chase, writing for the court in its 1869 decision, said:
"The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible
Union, composed of indestructible States. ... Considered, therefore, as
transactions under the Constitution, the Ordinance of Secession, adopted
by the convention and ratified by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and
all the Acts of her Legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance,
were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law. ... Our
conclusion, therefore, is, that Texas continued to be a State, and a State
of the Union, notwithstanding the transactions to which we have referred."
Personally, I disagree; I think secession is 100% constitutional, but until the present-day Supreme Court issues a different opinion, the legal fact is that secession is illegal. This means that the Federal government would be 100% justified in using Federal troops to enforce the law. (Whether or not those troops would actually follow the orders is another topic entirely.)
Now for some other reasons that people may not have fully considered.
In 1861, the Federal government wasn't anywhere near as entwined in the day to day operations of the states as it is today. Federal intervention in the daily affairs of the states was minimal, as it should have been. But that was then, and this is now; here's what would happen in THIS day and age if all ties to the US Federal government were severed:
1) All Federal funding for roads and highways - gone.
2) All Federal funding and assistance for public education- gone.
3) All Federal funding and assistance for home loans - gone.
4) All Federal funding for railways - gone.
5) All Federal funding for state-level safety programs - gone.
The seceding state(s) would now have to pony up the money to carry out these programs on their own. And if they had the money to begin with, they wouldn't need Federal assistance, would they? And of course, the loss of Federal funding would mean the loss of jobs that had been created and sustained by the Federal funding, which would mean a rise in unemployment.
But it gets worse. Much worse.
For the seceding state(s), ALL import/export activities would stop immediately, and would not be resumed until import/export agreements could be hammered out with the other states in the United States and the other countries in the world. This could be a lengthy process, and in the mean time the seceding state(s) would literally be living behind a self-imposed blockade - nothing would be coming in, and nothing would be going out. That means jobs would be lost, income would be lost, the supplies for day to day life would very quickly run out, and that would lead to a whole lot of civil unrest among the people. And just who do you think the people are gonna take their frustrations out on? The government they just seceded from, or the leaders who put them behind the self-imposed blockade?
All businesses with Federal contracts would be shut down, since the Federal contracts would be nullified by the secession. More loss of jobs, more loss of income, more unemployment - again, until an agreement could be reached to resume the contracts, IF the US Federal government chooses to do so. And nothing says they do, you know. Nobody likes to have the hand that feeds someone bitten by the one being fed.
All Federal military bases located in the seceding state(s) would close, and all of the civilian jobs at those bases - gone. More unemployment, which would get worse as the local businesses that depended on the base being nearby would suffer a drastic loss of revenue due to the drop in customers. And when the bases close, the US government may very well do exactly what they did to Clark Air Base in the Philippines when it closed - they tore down every single building on the base rather than turn them over to the Philippine government, and they even blew up the runway and carted off the chunks of asphalt to dump in the ocean. Who says they won't do the same to the abandoned bases in the seceding state(s)?
With the closing of the Federal military bases and the departure of Federal troops, the seceding state(s) would be left nearly defenseless. The National Guard wouldn't be able to help, as the US government would invariably Federalize the Guard and take control of the troops, suplies, and weapons. The desertion rate among the state Guard units would skyrocket, and those troops would now look towards their State Militia instead. But as of this date, only 22 of the 50 states have active State Militias. Of these 22 states, only 8 of them are Southern states. And most of the state militias are unarmed units, with no stockpile of state-owned weapons to fall back on.
Any currency issued by the seceding state(s) or the government formed by the states would be worthless, since it would have no gold reserve or trade agreements of any kind to support it. It literally wouldn't be worth the paper it was printed on.
All shipments of goods from states still in the Union would stop until an agreement could be reached between the seceding state(s) and the Union states. This would include food, gasoline, and electricity.
The borders of all states still in the Union and neighboring the seceding state(s) would invariably be closed, either at the direction of the state government or the Federal government. That means NO interstate travel or transportation, which effectively means the seceding state(s) are now behind a self-imposed blockade on sea AND land.
International travel between the seceding states and foreign countries would stop until an agreement could be made to allow it. This includes the foreign countries agreeing to recognize the passports of the seceding state(s) or the new government formed by the seceding states. And your US passpoprts? Throw them away because they're useless now, and hope it doesn't take a few years for the new country's passports to be recognized by the rest of the world.
Mail delivery from anywhere outside of the boundaries of the seceding state(s) would stop, again until an agreement for services could be reached - if at all. Again, nothing says that Uncle Sam has to turn the other cheek and be nice, you know. He could just fold his arms across his chest and let the seceding states stew in their own juices behind their self-imposed land/sea blockade.
Those are the reasons I came up with in about 30 minutes of serious thought, and I'm not sure there aren't more that I can't imagine.
There are some very key differences between 1861 and today which play a major role in why secession won't work today. In 1861 the United States was mostly rural, it had been in existence for less than 90 years, and the people were much more loyal to their individual states than they were to a Federal government. They never thought any other way - they were loyal to their states first, and that was that. They were also much more self-sufficient then than we are now - for the most part, the people in the rural areas made their own clothing, grew their own crops, and raised their own livestock for slaughter rather than rely on supplies from outside their community. The individual states didn't rely anywhere near as much on the Federal government to survive then as we do now.
It wasn't like that in 1861, but it sure is now.
I'm sure there are those out there who will decry me as not being a "true Southerner" because I don't support the idea of secession; to that, I say bullshit. Nowhere is it written that I have to be pro-Secession in order to be a "true Southerner." I was born in Richmond, Virgina, the former capital of the Confederacy, and am damned proud of it. I have three ancestors that I know of who fought for their home and the Confederacy, and I'm damned proud of that, too. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be in the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
I'm open to - and welcome, actually - sane, mature discussion on the points I've raised here, but I'll say right now that I will NOT under ANY circumstances respond in ANY WAY to any asinine, immature comments and/or name-calling, except maybe to tell you to kiss my Rebel ass. Other than that, you WILL NOT get a response from me. Personally, I don't care what you think of me - my life, my future, and my income don't depend on it, so why should I care?
And if you don't care for my opinions, that's fine too. You're most certainly entitled.
Deo Vindice.
IHC
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Stupid Statements 101: "The South Will Rise Again!"
I cringe every time I hear a Southerner say these words, and it makes me wanna just bitch-slap the ignorant redneck who said them so hard it spins his head around on his neck like Linda Blair in "The Exorcist."
Let me get a few things straight before I go any further. As my profile here says, I'm a Virginian by birth which makes me a Southerner, and I'm also a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I'm very proud of my Southern heritage and will defend it at the drop of a hat. I've taken the time to get to know the real reasons for the War for Southern Independence and will not hesitate to share my knowledge with anyone, no matter what side of the Mason-Dixon Line they live on. I spend a great deal of my time re-educating folks and correcting their misconceptions about the South, the War for Southern Independence, the facts and fiction about slavery in America, and things like that.
One of the things I find myself continually fighting is the image and misconception that all Southerners are inbred, knuckle-dragging hicks who are only one or two DNA strands away from that kid playing the banjo in "Deliverance." And every time a Southerner utters that phrase about the South rising again, all they do is prove the misconception to be true.
That, friends and neighbors, is why I absolutely despise that phrase!
I recently had a chance to ask a serious question about that phrase to someone who said it in a public forum. One of the members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group on Facebook, a guy named John Hatfield from Kentucky, said those ominous words in a status update, so I asked him about it. Here's my ver batim question:
"Just for the sake of argument - and I know I'm poking a hornet's nest here, but oh well, it's been a long time since I did something foolish - exactly how will the South "rise again," John? And what makes you think it hasn't already?"
I got a reply from someone else before him, and it went like this:
"through rebellion Ray. i dont support violent secession, i think we should try to make it peaceful, but i realize America wont allow that, will invade us, and people like me and John will pick up our guns and fight, even if its unfruitful, we can say we fought for what we believed in."
I had already had a discussion with this poster about rebellion and secession before, so I told him that we'd already discussed it and wanted to hear John's answer. The next post came from John Hatfield, and went like this:
"all I see from you on here is starting a fuss over the flag that we all love all the time. Why join a group If you don't support our causes. Go to the Yankee side If you don't like what you read. I will fight my southern ways...I will join the fight when they are a civil war again which, they will be soon (with all my southern brothers... See More). An by god I will fight for my flag which is the stars and bars!!! I will fight any yankee's that don't like our ways. I think your a damn yankee under deguise!" (Grammatical and spelling mistakes are as per the original, since all I did was 'cut and paste.')
I guess I was supposed to be insulted by being called a "damn yankee," but to be honest with you, I've been called much worse. John seems to be one of those folks who think that this is The Ultimate Insult. But anyway, I told him that he didn't answer my question and asked him why not. I also asked him, since he claims to be an SCV member, if he was aware of The Charge and the mission of the SCV. Lastly, I asked him if he was going to answer the question or stoop to more insults which only made him look foolish. Here's the reply I received, ver batim:
"I don't have to answer to nobody If I don't want to. Go raise hell some where else. The only fool here is you!"
I get the feeling that he didn't answer the question because he couldn't, being that he didn't know what he was talking about. My experience in life and many discussions on many forums has shown me that whenever you corn-hole people on things that they don't know anything about, their only response is to stoop to insults and name-calling, and Mr. Hatfield seems to be one of those.
He's also a living embodiment of the misconception that people have about Southerners. He does nothing but reinforce the image of some fat-assed redneck in bib overalls, wearing a trucker's hat and driving around in his pickup truck waving a Battle Flag while shouting either "Yee-haw!" or "The South's gonna rise agin!" This image is just as offensive to me as the image of a thick-lipped, barefoot black man in tattered overalls playing a banjo is to a black man. It does nothing but draw scorn and ridicule towards Southerners and the South, and makes it all that much harder for people to take Southerners seriously.
Aside from all that, it's just a stupid statement. There is NO REASON for the South to secede from the United States, and it would accomplish NOTHING. The only thing it accomplished in 1861 was to cause the ultimate financial and structural ruination of the South which took more than 50 years for the South to recover from, and only an idiot would think that things would change in this day and age. Sure, I'm just as disgusted with what's going on in Washington with our elected leaders as the next guy is, but I'll be the last one to suggest that secession is the solution.
And Southerners running around shouting, "The South's gonna rise agin!" isn't helping any. All it does is make them and other Southerners look stupid.
But of course, they'll be the last ones to ever realize or, God save us, admit it.
IHC
Let me get a few things straight before I go any further. As my profile here says, I'm a Virginian by birth which makes me a Southerner, and I'm also a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I'm very proud of my Southern heritage and will defend it at the drop of a hat. I've taken the time to get to know the real reasons for the War for Southern Independence and will not hesitate to share my knowledge with anyone, no matter what side of the Mason-Dixon Line they live on. I spend a great deal of my time re-educating folks and correcting their misconceptions about the South, the War for Southern Independence, the facts and fiction about slavery in America, and things like that.
One of the things I find myself continually fighting is the image and misconception that all Southerners are inbred, knuckle-dragging hicks who are only one or two DNA strands away from that kid playing the banjo in "Deliverance." And every time a Southerner utters that phrase about the South rising again, all they do is prove the misconception to be true.
That, friends and neighbors, is why I absolutely despise that phrase!
I recently had a chance to ask a serious question about that phrase to someone who said it in a public forum. One of the members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group on Facebook, a guy named John Hatfield from Kentucky, said those ominous words in a status update, so I asked him about it. Here's my ver batim question:
"Just for the sake of argument - and I know I'm poking a hornet's nest here, but oh well, it's been a long time since I did something foolish - exactly how will the South "rise again," John? And what makes you think it hasn't already?"
I got a reply from someone else before him, and it went like this:
"through rebellion Ray. i dont support violent secession, i think we should try to make it peaceful, but i realize America wont allow that, will invade us, and people like me and John will pick up our guns and fight, even if its unfruitful, we can say we fought for what we believed in."
I had already had a discussion with this poster about rebellion and secession before, so I told him that we'd already discussed it and wanted to hear John's answer. The next post came from John Hatfield, and went like this:
"all I see from you on here is starting a fuss over the flag that we all love all the time. Why join a group If you don't support our causes. Go to the Yankee side If you don't like what you read. I will fight my southern ways...I will join the fight when they are a civil war again which, they will be soon (with all my southern brothers... See More). An by god I will fight for my flag which is the stars and bars!!! I will fight any yankee's that don't like our ways. I think your a damn yankee under deguise!" (Grammatical and spelling mistakes are as per the original, since all I did was 'cut and paste.')
I guess I was supposed to be insulted by being called a "damn yankee," but to be honest with you, I've been called much worse. John seems to be one of those folks who think that this is The Ultimate Insult. But anyway, I told him that he didn't answer my question and asked him why not. I also asked him, since he claims to be an SCV member, if he was aware of The Charge and the mission of the SCV. Lastly, I asked him if he was going to answer the question or stoop to more insults which only made him look foolish. Here's the reply I received, ver batim:
"I don't have to answer to nobody If I don't want to. Go raise hell some where else. The only fool here is you!"
I get the feeling that he didn't answer the question because he couldn't, being that he didn't know what he was talking about. My experience in life and many discussions on many forums has shown me that whenever you corn-hole people on things that they don't know anything about, their only response is to stoop to insults and name-calling, and Mr. Hatfield seems to be one of those.
He's also a living embodiment of the misconception that people have about Southerners. He does nothing but reinforce the image of some fat-assed redneck in bib overalls, wearing a trucker's hat and driving around in his pickup truck waving a Battle Flag while shouting either "Yee-haw!" or "The South's gonna rise agin!" This image is just as offensive to me as the image of a thick-lipped, barefoot black man in tattered overalls playing a banjo is to a black man. It does nothing but draw scorn and ridicule towards Southerners and the South, and makes it all that much harder for people to take Southerners seriously.
Aside from all that, it's just a stupid statement. There is NO REASON for the South to secede from the United States, and it would accomplish NOTHING. The only thing it accomplished in 1861 was to cause the ultimate financial and structural ruination of the South which took more than 50 years for the South to recover from, and only an idiot would think that things would change in this day and age. Sure, I'm just as disgusted with what's going on in Washington with our elected leaders as the next guy is, but I'll be the last one to suggest that secession is the solution.
And Southerners running around shouting, "The South's gonna rise agin!" isn't helping any. All it does is make them and other Southerners look stupid.
But of course, they'll be the last ones to ever realize or, God save us, admit it.
IHC
Friday, March 26, 2010
It's Not About Race, You Moron!
The past week or so has been a very interesting, distressing, and enlightening time for me, and I can't say that this is a positive thing. I've learned first-hand just how blind, fanatical, and racist the supporters of NObama can be.
It's like this: like hundreds of thousands of other disgruntled Americans who are on Facebook, after the disastrous health care bill was passed by the House I went looking for a group on Facebook that was established for folks like myself who hate the bill and want to see it repealed, and the politicians who voted for the bill voted out in November. (I even started a group myself; it's called, "MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER!") Well, I found the group I was looking for; it's called "O.B.A.M.A. - One Big Ass Mistake America," and I promptly joined it.
And apparently, so did a whole bunch of NObama supporters, for the sole reason of raising hate and discontent.
I found out several things pretty quickly. The first was that there are a whole bunch of black people in this country who voted for NObama simply because he was black (like I didn't already know that), and a couple of them even proudly admitted to it during a debate on that group's page. One of them even said that after the way "his people" had been brought over to America and how they'd been treated since then, he felt fully justified in voting for a black man just because he's black. And NO, he didn't think that was racist!
Also rearing their ugly heads were the Kool-Aid drinkers who so totally believe the hype of the last election campaign run by The Great Pretender that they wouldn't know facts if they jumped up and bit them in the ass. They'll quote you facts and figures and swear on the Bible that their sources are immaculate and absolutely correct...their sources, of course, are either Black Voices or CNN. And when you counter with stories by more main-stream and "middle of the road" agencies like Fox News, they immediately decry the sources as being "biased" and "racist-oriented."
Then there were the nice folks (sarcasm, y'all...sarcasm) who were very quick to say how great the health care bill was, how much good it was going to do for America, and how they just didn't understand how we could object to it. After all, socialized medicine works where they live - in Canada!
The day I listen to a Canadian tell me how I should think about a government that he/she has no part of by not living in this country is the day Hell freezes over.
But the thing that really surprised me, and in hindsight I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at all, was the number of times one of these Kool-Aid drinking morons said that "anyone who disagrees with NObama is doing it just because he's black, so that makes you a racist!"
Hold on, here...let me get this straight: you can vote FOR him just because he's black and you're NOT a racist, but if I disagree with him just because he's black, that makes ME a racist?
No, what that makes YOU is a fuckin' moron!
Of course, when you try to point this out to these Kool-Aid drinking idiots they totally miss the point.
But here's one of the things that really concerns me about this whole thing. This group of people aren't concerned with what the health care bill would do for the nation, or what detriment it would have. That's not why they wanted to see the bill passed, not at all. They see it as a fight between a black President and white America, and they want the black President to win - simply because he's black. To them, it's a race fight plain and simple. These dimwitted numbskulls wouldn't see the facts of the matter if you glued it to the insides of their eyelids - all they know is a black President wants to do something, and they want him to do it just to score a victory over the white man.
To them, it's all about race.
To me, it's about something that will be disastrous for this country. It's not about the color of his skin; never has been, never will be. It's all about this being the first tentative baby-step towards socialism, and now that this first dangerous step has been taken, I'm really scared to see what he's going to try next.
But the die has already been cast, and has been since the day the inauguration was over - anyone who dares disagree with or complains about NObama is automatically a racist, because we're obviously doing it just because he's black.
Now more than ever, I'm convinced that racism is alive and well in America, and is living in the black community. Parts of it, anyway.
We're facing a tough two years and ten months, ladies and gentlemen...on the one hand, we don't know what our Fearful Leader is gonna do next to move further on his agenda of establishing socialism, but I have a feeling I know where he's gonna go - he's gonna go for the Second Amendment, I think. After all, before you can control the people you have to disarm them. Time will tell. But no matter where he goes, the fight against him and his unconstitutional, socialist actions will be made doubly hard by us also having to fight the unfounded charges of racism that will invariably be thrown against any white man who criticizes the Messiah of black America.
Well, that's okay. It won't stop me or the hundreds of thousands of other patriotic Americans who recognize the threat for what it really is, and we'll fight tooth and nail to protect and defend the Constitution even if our President won't - even after swearing an oath to do so.
And the fight starts in November. You know what we're gonna do then, right? We're gonna....
MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER!
IHC
It's like this: like hundreds of thousands of other disgruntled Americans who are on Facebook, after the disastrous health care bill was passed by the House I went looking for a group on Facebook that was established for folks like myself who hate the bill and want to see it repealed, and the politicians who voted for the bill voted out in November. (I even started a group myself; it's called, "MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER!") Well, I found the group I was looking for; it's called "O.B.A.M.A. - One Big Ass Mistake America," and I promptly joined it.
And apparently, so did a whole bunch of NObama supporters, for the sole reason of raising hate and discontent.
I found out several things pretty quickly. The first was that there are a whole bunch of black people in this country who voted for NObama simply because he was black (like I didn't already know that), and a couple of them even proudly admitted to it during a debate on that group's page. One of them even said that after the way "his people" had been brought over to America and how they'd been treated since then, he felt fully justified in voting for a black man just because he's black. And NO, he didn't think that was racist!
Also rearing their ugly heads were the Kool-Aid drinkers who so totally believe the hype of the last election campaign run by The Great Pretender that they wouldn't know facts if they jumped up and bit them in the ass. They'll quote you facts and figures and swear on the Bible that their sources are immaculate and absolutely correct...their sources, of course, are either Black Voices or CNN. And when you counter with stories by more main-stream and "middle of the road" agencies like Fox News, they immediately decry the sources as being "biased" and "racist-oriented."
Then there were the nice folks (sarcasm, y'all...sarcasm) who were very quick to say how great the health care bill was, how much good it was going to do for America, and how they just didn't understand how we could object to it. After all, socialized medicine works where they live - in Canada!
The day I listen to a Canadian tell me how I should think about a government that he/she has no part of by not living in this country is the day Hell freezes over.
But the thing that really surprised me, and in hindsight I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at all, was the number of times one of these Kool-Aid drinking morons said that "anyone who disagrees with NObama is doing it just because he's black, so that makes you a racist!"
Hold on, here...let me get this straight: you can vote FOR him just because he's black and you're NOT a racist, but if I disagree with him just because he's black, that makes ME a racist?
No, what that makes YOU is a fuckin' moron!
Of course, when you try to point this out to these Kool-Aid drinking idiots they totally miss the point.
But here's one of the things that really concerns me about this whole thing. This group of people aren't concerned with what the health care bill would do for the nation, or what detriment it would have. That's not why they wanted to see the bill passed, not at all. They see it as a fight between a black President and white America, and they want the black President to win - simply because he's black. To them, it's a race fight plain and simple. These dimwitted numbskulls wouldn't see the facts of the matter if you glued it to the insides of their eyelids - all they know is a black President wants to do something, and they want him to do it just to score a victory over the white man.
To them, it's all about race.
To me, it's about something that will be disastrous for this country. It's not about the color of his skin; never has been, never will be. It's all about this being the first tentative baby-step towards socialism, and now that this first dangerous step has been taken, I'm really scared to see what he's going to try next.
But the die has already been cast, and has been since the day the inauguration was over - anyone who dares disagree with or complains about NObama is automatically a racist, because we're obviously doing it just because he's black.
Now more than ever, I'm convinced that racism is alive and well in America, and is living in the black community. Parts of it, anyway.
We're facing a tough two years and ten months, ladies and gentlemen...on the one hand, we don't know what our Fearful Leader is gonna do next to move further on his agenda of establishing socialism, but I have a feeling I know where he's gonna go - he's gonna go for the Second Amendment, I think. After all, before you can control the people you have to disarm them. Time will tell. But no matter where he goes, the fight against him and his unconstitutional, socialist actions will be made doubly hard by us also having to fight the unfounded charges of racism that will invariably be thrown against any white man who criticizes the Messiah of black America.
Well, that's okay. It won't stop me or the hundreds of thousands of other patriotic Americans who recognize the threat for what it really is, and we'll fight tooth and nail to protect and defend the Constitution even if our President won't - even after swearing an oath to do so.
And the fight starts in November. You know what we're gonna do then, right? We're gonna....
MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER!
IHC
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Misdirections and the Truth About the Health Care Bill
So now that all of the Demoncrats in Washington and the power-hungry, socilalist wannabe dictator NObama are celebrating their big "victory" in getting the unconstitutional and disastrous health care bill passed, how's about we take a closer look at one or two of the provisions of the bill itself and dispell some misdirections with the truth, hmmmm?
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL MAKE AVAILABLE HEALTH CARE FOR 32 MILLION AMERICANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
Sounds good, right? It's supposed to; after all, this was the main selling point on the bill from Day One.
BUT THE TRUTH IS: THE HEALTH CARE BILL MAKES IT MANDATORY THAT YOU PURCHASE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE OR FACE PUNISHMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Whoa, hold it - MANDATORY? You mean I HAVE to go buy health insurance? Sure, people think that health insurance is a good thing, but what if you're one of those people who don't believe in doctors, or have a religious objection to medical services, such as practicing Christian Scientists? What if I just don't like the Feds telling me what I HAVE TO DO? Sorry, Charlie, you're out of luck. NObama says you HAVE TO DO IT, and he doesn't care what you think.
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL FORCE ALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE PLANS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
Another good thing, right? At first glance, maybe. But then...
BUT THE TRUTH IS: MANY SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, OR THE $30,000.00 FINE FOR NOT DOING IT WILL SHUT THEM DOWN.
Not such a good thing for the "mom and pop" business which employs maybe three people, huh? So much for the proliferation of small businesses in America and the "American Dream." That one went right out the window with NObama's first step towards a socialized America, which is HIS "American Dream."
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUY HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
True to a point. But where do you think the money for those subsidies is gonna come from?
BUT THE TRUTH IS: MONEY FOR THE SUBSIDIES WILL COME FROM THE FINES LEVIED AGAINST BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHO DO NOT BUY HEALTH INSURANCE.
So there's your answer, something that NObama pledged NOT to do during his campaign. The money is gonna come from - drum roll, please - MORE TAXES. And the individual fine, by the way, can be as much as $750.00.
Now here's something that they didn't tell you either, and it's pretty easy to figure out why not. Who do you think is gonna be responsible for ensuring that all of the subjects of NObamaland buy health care insurance, and collecting the fines for those miscreants who don't?
Why, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, of course!
But wait a minute...there's a problem! It seems that the much-vaunted Health Care Bill gives the IRS the mandate to enforce the bill's provisions, but not the means to do so! From a news story by Jessica Weinstein on FOX NEWS:
It will cost the IRS $5 billion to $10 billion over 10 years to handle the new workload, according to a March 11 estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. But the Senate bill doesn’t provide any funding for the expansion of the IRS, and it virtually ties the hands of the IRS to collect fees on individuals and businesses who don’t buy health insurance.
“The use of liens and seizures otherwise authorized for collection of taxes does not apply to the collection of this penalty," according to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation. "Non-compliance with the personal responsibility requirement to have health coverage is not subject to criminal or civil penalties under the code and interest does not accrue for failure to pay such assessments in a timely manner."
That means there’s virtually nothing the IRS can do to enforce the fines in the legislation, forcing the tax man to rely on the consciences of taxpayers or to skim off any federal benefits, tax credits or refunds they have coming to them.
"In other words, if you're due a refund or some other federal benefit, and you didn't obtain qualified insurance, your refund or benefit will be tapped for your fee,” said Bill Ahearn, director of policy and communications for the Tax Foundation.
“People who aren't due any refunds or federal benefits will apparently face no collection action, as the IRS's hands will be effectively tied and it will be a truly voluntary tax."
A voluntary tax...relying on the "conciences" of the people to pay a voluntary tax...riiiiiiiight! You and I may have the concience, but I bet there's plenty of people out there who don't have the concience, or who will just refuse to do it because they don't like being told what to do. Oh, yeah, right, they're gonna lose their tax refund! Yeah, well, what if you're not getting one? Or you're relying on that money to help pay bills?
Sorry, Charlie, NObama doesn't care!
Personally, I think this bill is the single most ill-conceived, ill-designed, poorly constructed, unconstitutional and financially disastrous thing to ever come out of Wahsington, DC. This is a huge step towards NObama's goal of socializing America, and the Obamabots have helped him take it. These mindless droids and racist bigots are so set on helping the nation's first black President "win a victory" that they can't see far enough down the road to realize just where their hero is leading them. (More on the "racist bigots" thing later...stay tuned.)
But I see it, and I'm going to fight against it. And the very first thing we do is this: MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER! Vote out EVERY SINGLE CONGRESSMAN who voted to pass this unconstitutional legislation, and two years from now we vote out NObama himself!
There's a revolution coming, and I'm damned proud to be a part of it.
What about you?
IHC
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL MAKE AVAILABLE HEALTH CARE FOR 32 MILLION AMERICANS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
Sounds good, right? It's supposed to; after all, this was the main selling point on the bill from Day One.
BUT THE TRUTH IS: THE HEALTH CARE BILL MAKES IT MANDATORY THAT YOU PURCHASE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE OR FACE PUNISHMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Whoa, hold it - MANDATORY? You mean I HAVE to go buy health insurance? Sure, people think that health insurance is a good thing, but what if you're one of those people who don't believe in doctors, or have a religious objection to medical services, such as practicing Christian Scientists? What if I just don't like the Feds telling me what I HAVE TO DO? Sorry, Charlie, you're out of luck. NObama says you HAVE TO DO IT, and he doesn't care what you think.
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL FORCE ALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE PLANS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
Another good thing, right? At first glance, maybe. But then...
BUT THE TRUTH IS: MANY SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, OR THE $30,000.00 FINE FOR NOT DOING IT WILL SHUT THEM DOWN.
Not such a good thing for the "mom and pop" business which employs maybe three people, huh? So much for the proliferation of small businesses in America and the "American Dream." That one went right out the window with NObama's first step towards a socialized America, which is HIS "American Dream."
MISDIRECTION: THE HEALTH CARE BILL WILL PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUY HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
True to a point. But where do you think the money for those subsidies is gonna come from?
BUT THE TRUTH IS: MONEY FOR THE SUBSIDIES WILL COME FROM THE FINES LEVIED AGAINST BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHO DO NOT BUY HEALTH INSURANCE.
So there's your answer, something that NObama pledged NOT to do during his campaign. The money is gonna come from - drum roll, please - MORE TAXES. And the individual fine, by the way, can be as much as $750.00.
Now here's something that they didn't tell you either, and it's pretty easy to figure out why not. Who do you think is gonna be responsible for ensuring that all of the subjects of NObamaland buy health care insurance, and collecting the fines for those miscreants who don't?
Why, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, of course!
But wait a minute...there's a problem! It seems that the much-vaunted Health Care Bill gives the IRS the mandate to enforce the bill's provisions, but not the means to do so! From a news story by Jessica Weinstein on FOX NEWS:
It will cost the IRS $5 billion to $10 billion over 10 years to handle the new workload, according to a March 11 estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. But the Senate bill doesn’t provide any funding for the expansion of the IRS, and it virtually ties the hands of the IRS to collect fees on individuals and businesses who don’t buy health insurance.
“The use of liens and seizures otherwise authorized for collection of taxes does not apply to the collection of this penalty," according to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation. "Non-compliance with the personal responsibility requirement to have health coverage is not subject to criminal or civil penalties under the code and interest does not accrue for failure to pay such assessments in a timely manner."
That means there’s virtually nothing the IRS can do to enforce the fines in the legislation, forcing the tax man to rely on the consciences of taxpayers or to skim off any federal benefits, tax credits or refunds they have coming to them.
"In other words, if you're due a refund or some other federal benefit, and you didn't obtain qualified insurance, your refund or benefit will be tapped for your fee,” said Bill Ahearn, director of policy and communications for the Tax Foundation.
“People who aren't due any refunds or federal benefits will apparently face no collection action, as the IRS's hands will be effectively tied and it will be a truly voluntary tax."
A voluntary tax...relying on the "conciences" of the people to pay a voluntary tax...riiiiiiiight! You and I may have the concience, but I bet there's plenty of people out there who don't have the concience, or who will just refuse to do it because they don't like being told what to do. Oh, yeah, right, they're gonna lose their tax refund! Yeah, well, what if you're not getting one? Or you're relying on that money to help pay bills?
Sorry, Charlie, NObama doesn't care!
Personally, I think this bill is the single most ill-conceived, ill-designed, poorly constructed, unconstitutional and financially disastrous thing to ever come out of Wahsington, DC. This is a huge step towards NObama's goal of socializing America, and the Obamabots have helped him take it. These mindless droids and racist bigots are so set on helping the nation's first black President "win a victory" that they can't see far enough down the road to realize just where their hero is leading them. (More on the "racist bigots" thing later...stay tuned.)
But I see it, and I'm going to fight against it. And the very first thing we do is this: MAKE 'EM PAY IN NOVEMBER! Vote out EVERY SINGLE CONGRESSMAN who voted to pass this unconstitutional legislation, and two years from now we vote out NObama himself!
There's a revolution coming, and I'm damned proud to be a part of it.
What about you?
IHC
Monday, March 22, 2010
It's A Sad Day In and For America
I just received a text message from a friend of mine that pretty much says it all. It said, "I went to sleep in America and woke up in Cuba."
The passage of NObama's health care bill by the House is the biggest single step towards socialism and the gradual erosion and removal of individual liberties and rights in the history of America. The arm-twisting, back-room dealings, and shady agreements made by NObama and his band of merry idiots is nothing short of disgusting, and all of them should hang their heads in shame.
But they aren't. They're laughing and smiling, thinking that they've done this "great thing" for America and have accomplished this "big victory." In fact, all they've done is saddled people who make a hell of a lot less money than they do with the financial burden of paying the health insurance bills for those lazy, shiftless, good-for-nothing assholes who choose not to go get a friggin' job and support themselves. These people would rather suckle off of the government tit and have things handed to them rather than go out and become a productive member of society, and the Demoncrats in Washington have just made it easier for them. They've just handed out yet another "freebie" to a group of people who are nothing more than professional freeloaders, worthless scum, pimples on the ass of society, and who have been given yet another official reason sanctioned by the US Government as to why they should NEVER go out and try to improve themselves and make a contribution to society.
And in one fell swoop, the Demoncrats in Congress have done two additional things: they have given the Federal government more control of the lives of individual Americans and small businesses alike, and have guaranteed that the national debt is going to skyrocket like a Saturn 5 rocket on its way to the moon.
The depths to which I despise NObama and the Demoncrats in Washington is indescribable. For once, I find myself at a loss for words.
So they're celebrating a "big victory" in Washington this morning. Okay, fine. Go right ahead. Enjoy it while you can, because there's gonna be another celebration in November of this year, and it's one you won't be participating in. And two years after that, we're gonna celebrate again when the chieftain of the Merry Idiots becomes a private citizen again. So go ahead, smile and laugh while you can.
He who laughs last, motherfucker.
IHC
The passage of NObama's health care bill by the House is the biggest single step towards socialism and the gradual erosion and removal of individual liberties and rights in the history of America. The arm-twisting, back-room dealings, and shady agreements made by NObama and his band of merry idiots is nothing short of disgusting, and all of them should hang their heads in shame.
But they aren't. They're laughing and smiling, thinking that they've done this "great thing" for America and have accomplished this "big victory." In fact, all they've done is saddled people who make a hell of a lot less money than they do with the financial burden of paying the health insurance bills for those lazy, shiftless, good-for-nothing assholes who choose not to go get a friggin' job and support themselves. These people would rather suckle off of the government tit and have things handed to them rather than go out and become a productive member of society, and the Demoncrats in Washington have just made it easier for them. They've just handed out yet another "freebie" to a group of people who are nothing more than professional freeloaders, worthless scum, pimples on the ass of society, and who have been given yet another official reason sanctioned by the US Government as to why they should NEVER go out and try to improve themselves and make a contribution to society.
And in one fell swoop, the Demoncrats in Congress have done two additional things: they have given the Federal government more control of the lives of individual Americans and small businesses alike, and have guaranteed that the national debt is going to skyrocket like a Saturn 5 rocket on its way to the moon.
The depths to which I despise NObama and the Demoncrats in Washington is indescribable. For once, I find myself at a loss for words.
So they're celebrating a "big victory" in Washington this morning. Okay, fine. Go right ahead. Enjoy it while you can, because there's gonna be another celebration in November of this year, and it's one you won't be participating in. And two years after that, we're gonna celebrate again when the chieftain of the Merry Idiots becomes a private citizen again. So go ahead, smile and laugh while you can.
He who laughs last, motherfucker.
IHC
Friday, March 19, 2010
The REAL Barack Obama
I was going to post something of my own thoughts today like I normally do, but I ran across something on the web - Facebook, to be exact - that is the most prolific, accurate, intriguing, and downright frightening thing I've ever read about NObama. It says so much better than I ever could everything about the man that scares the crap outta me, so I've decided to post it here. It's rather lenghty, but trust me, it's worth the time spent reading it! When you're done and feel the same way I do, I hope you'll "cut and paste" it and pass it on, because EVERYONE in America - Liberals and Conservatives - need to read this!
So here it is.
Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News. He is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down.
He recently gave a closed speech to an audience of 25 people at the Center for the American Experiment. What follows is a first-hand account of what the doctor had to say. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.
Last Monday was a profound evening, Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views. He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post.
The entire room was held spellbound during his talk.
I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said!
If you feel like forwarding this to those who are open minded and have not drunk the Kool-Aid, feel free.
Summary of his comments:
1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton. He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES!
3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada.
4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add
46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada. God forbid!
5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.
6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States, but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America, as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!
7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to
blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he
is a narcissist.
8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage.. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.
9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus package. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.
10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.
11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late.
Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our good understanding of what is really going on in DC, and our action pursuant to that understanding!! It really IS up to each of us to take individual action!! Start with educating your friends and neighbors!
Scared? You should be. Pass it on.
IHC
So here it is.
Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News. He is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down.
He recently gave a closed speech to an audience of 25 people at the Center for the American Experiment. What follows is a first-hand account of what the doctor had to say. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.
Last Monday was a profound evening, Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views. He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post.
The entire room was held spellbound during his talk.
I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said!
If you feel like forwarding this to those who are open minded and have not drunk the Kool-Aid, feel free.
Summary of his comments:
1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton. He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES!
3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada.
4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add
46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada. God forbid!
5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.
6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States, but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America, as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!
7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to
blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he
is a narcissist.
8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage.. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.
9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus package. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.
10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.
11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late.
Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our good understanding of what is really going on in DC, and our action pursuant to that understanding!! It really IS up to each of us to take individual action!! Start with educating your friends and neighbors!
Scared? You should be. Pass it on.
IHC
Friday, March 12, 2010
"What the HELL am I doing out here with all these civilians?"
This is the question I ask myself at least once a month, sometimes more. I always ask myself this question whenever I get frustrated at the differences between life in a military community and a civilian community. Those of you who have experienced life in a military community know exactly what I'm talking about, but those of you who haven't don't have a clue. And that's not your fault, something that I understand, but it still does little to help me deal with it.
For all of you out there who have never served, let me try to explain.
The differences between life in a military community and life in a civilian community are night and day. Life in a military community comprises the everyday use and following of ideals such as honor, integrity, reliability, dependability, punctuality, and above all else, following the rules. Everyone who joins the military knows from Day One that he or she will be expected to live by these values and ideals, and they willingly accept the challenge. If they weren't willing and didn't have at least a really good idea of what was going to be expected of them, they wouldn't have joined in the first place. Sure, the military community has its malingerers, liars, and unreliable people just as the civilian community does, but it has far less of them and they are dealt with much more quickly and decisively than in the civilian community. Once you're identified as one of the above by the military, your days are numbered - and if you've got a good supervisor, that number won't be any higher than two digits, with the first one being a "3."
If only it were the same in the civilian community.
I'm willing to bet that each and every one of you who may be reading these words can, if you stop and think about it for ten seconds, identify at least two people in your workplace who are lazy, useless, good for nothing workers who you can't understand why they still have a job with your company and why the company hasn't flushed them down the toilet a long time ago.
You can, can't you?
I share your frustrations, believe me. In my job as a Loss Prevention Specialist for a major retailer, it's part of my daily responsibilities to go behind literally every associate in the store and ensure that they're doing their jobs the way the company policy says they are to do them. And every week I come across something so stupid, so inane, and so obviously wrong that it just stupifies me to think that someone can do something like this and get away with it. But because of the way the civilian community is established, and because there is a shocking lack of personal honor and integrity among a larger portion of the population than I would like, it's gonna happen every week and continue to happen. And I doubt it will ever change.
The thing that galls me the most is the lack of personal integrity and personal honor. For example: take the cashier who asks the manager if she can have a Saturday off, knowing that Saturday is THE biggest and busiest sales day of the week, and it just so happens the company is running a sale that weekend. Of course, the answer is going to be "no," so what happens bright and early Saturday morning? The cashier calls out "sick." How convenient, huh? And she calls out again on Sunday as well. She's scheduled to be off on Monday since she was supposed to work the weekend, and surprisingly enough she shows up on Tuesday as if nothing happened.
Then there's the Department Manager who gives his notice, and promptly does what the military calls "going on the ROAD." ROAD stands for Retired On Active Duty, and refers to someone who has submitted their retirement papers, knows the military can't touch them from that point on until they retire, and promptly gets a case of the lazies - they come to work, go to lunch, and go home each day, accomplishing little if anything at all during the day. So one of our Department Managers gives his notice and goes "on the road." And to make matters even worse, he calls the store one afternoon and tells them that "I'm going to be sick on Monday, so I won't be there." And sure enough, come Monday he's a no-show at work.
So, dear reader, are you starting to get the idea?
Sure, I realize that no community is perfect, and I'll be the first one to tell you that after 23 years in Uncle Sam's Air Force, the military community sure isn't perfect. But it's a Garden of Eden compared to what I've seen here "on the outside."
I miss the Air Force and military service every single day, and I envy those who are serving. I also realize that there's little if anything I can do to change what's going on out here; the best I can do is learn to live with it and cope with it the best that I can. Sometimes I don't think I'll ever be able to adapt, but most of the time I think I can. This past week has been one of the former.
And, believe it or not, writing about it helps.
IHC
For all of you out there who have never served, let me try to explain.
The differences between life in a military community and life in a civilian community are night and day. Life in a military community comprises the everyday use and following of ideals such as honor, integrity, reliability, dependability, punctuality, and above all else, following the rules. Everyone who joins the military knows from Day One that he or she will be expected to live by these values and ideals, and they willingly accept the challenge. If they weren't willing and didn't have at least a really good idea of what was going to be expected of them, they wouldn't have joined in the first place. Sure, the military community has its malingerers, liars, and unreliable people just as the civilian community does, but it has far less of them and they are dealt with much more quickly and decisively than in the civilian community. Once you're identified as one of the above by the military, your days are numbered - and if you've got a good supervisor, that number won't be any higher than two digits, with the first one being a "3."
If only it were the same in the civilian community.
I'm willing to bet that each and every one of you who may be reading these words can, if you stop and think about it for ten seconds, identify at least two people in your workplace who are lazy, useless, good for nothing workers who you can't understand why they still have a job with your company and why the company hasn't flushed them down the toilet a long time ago.
You can, can't you?
I share your frustrations, believe me. In my job as a Loss Prevention Specialist for a major retailer, it's part of my daily responsibilities to go behind literally every associate in the store and ensure that they're doing their jobs the way the company policy says they are to do them. And every week I come across something so stupid, so inane, and so obviously wrong that it just stupifies me to think that someone can do something like this and get away with it. But because of the way the civilian community is established, and because there is a shocking lack of personal honor and integrity among a larger portion of the population than I would like, it's gonna happen every week and continue to happen. And I doubt it will ever change.
The thing that galls me the most is the lack of personal integrity and personal honor. For example: take the cashier who asks the manager if she can have a Saturday off, knowing that Saturday is THE biggest and busiest sales day of the week, and it just so happens the company is running a sale that weekend. Of course, the answer is going to be "no," so what happens bright and early Saturday morning? The cashier calls out "sick." How convenient, huh? And she calls out again on Sunday as well. She's scheduled to be off on Monday since she was supposed to work the weekend, and surprisingly enough she shows up on Tuesday as if nothing happened.
Then there's the Department Manager who gives his notice, and promptly does what the military calls "going on the ROAD." ROAD stands for Retired On Active Duty, and refers to someone who has submitted their retirement papers, knows the military can't touch them from that point on until they retire, and promptly gets a case of the lazies - they come to work, go to lunch, and go home each day, accomplishing little if anything at all during the day. So one of our Department Managers gives his notice and goes "on the road." And to make matters even worse, he calls the store one afternoon and tells them that "I'm going to be sick on Monday, so I won't be there." And sure enough, come Monday he's a no-show at work.
So, dear reader, are you starting to get the idea?
Sure, I realize that no community is perfect, and I'll be the first one to tell you that after 23 years in Uncle Sam's Air Force, the military community sure isn't perfect. But it's a Garden of Eden compared to what I've seen here "on the outside."
I miss the Air Force and military service every single day, and I envy those who are serving. I also realize that there's little if anything I can do to change what's going on out here; the best I can do is learn to live with it and cope with it the best that I can. Sometimes I don't think I'll ever be able to adapt, but most of the time I think I can. This past week has been one of the former.
And, believe it or not, writing about it helps.
IHC
Monday, March 8, 2010
Of Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs
A couple of days ago while I was getting my hair cut, I got into a conversation with the girl doing the cutting about guns, shooting, and concealed carry. That conversation led to the inevitable question being asked, when she learned I not only had a CCW permit but was armed at the time, of why I felt the need to be armed. Having answered this question many, many times before, I am more than ready when it comes up - which it inevitably will in ANY conversation about gun control. I gave her the answer which has pretty much been my stock answer ever since I read something on the web last year about sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. I have the original writing somewhere on my computer, but it's pretty long, so rather than hunt it down and repost it here, I'll just repeat my interpretation of that dialogue and hope it will suffice.
So here it is.
There are three kinds of people in the world - sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. They have little or no capacity for intentional violence. They know that to intentionally inflict pain and suffering upon another sheep is both morally and legally wrong, and they spend their entire lives intentionally not doing it, and they live in the hope - nay, the expectation - that they will be granted the same courtesy and respect. The sheep are the embodiment of all of the good qualities of mankind.
Then there are the wolves, and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. They have no moral sense of right or wrong, and if they do, they don't care. They have a very large capacity for intentional violence. They intentionally inflict pain and suffering on every sheep they encounter, and very often they do so with great enjoyment, relishing the suffering of the poor sheep. They actively seek out the weaker sheep for their targets, judging the weakest by their posture, their manner of speech, or simply by the clothing they wear. The wolves are the embodiment of all of the evil in the soul of mankind.
Then there are the sheepdogs. The sheepdogs live to protect the flock and confront the wolves, and will do so without hesitation or question, and will use any and all means to protect the flock and defeat the wolves. This protection will be provided at any and all costs, even at the cost of the sheepdog's life. The sheepdog understands that there is evil in the world, and to ignore that evil is to become a sheep - a victim.
I'm a sheepdog. I understand that there is evil in the world, and that this evil preys on the unprotected, the unprepared - and the unarmed.
Especially the unarmed.
This is basically the answer I always give when asked why I carry a weapon. But there's more to the writing about sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs, and it explains a very good point - one which I must share with you now, because I feel it's the reason behind why so many people in our society are working to make private weapon ownership illegal.
It goes something like this...
The sheepdog is a reminder, a reminder that there is evil in the world. The sheep of the world would rather go through their day and not see a sheepdog, for to see the sheepdog is to be reminded of the wolves. Sure, everyone knows that it's there, but they'd rather not be reminded of it. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
But when the wolf strikes, the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one, lonely sheepdog.
Rather than face the fact that there are wolves in the world and prepare to deal with that threat, the sheep would rather ignore the wolves and remove any reminder of the wolves from their view. Which means eliminating the sheepdog, or in this case, the tool which the sheepdog uses. They would much rather the sheepdog turn in his fangs, paint himself white and go "Baaa" like the rest of the sheep.
Until the wolf shows up, that is. And trust me, the wolf will show up.
As I said, I'm a sheepdog. I have seen firsthand the evil in the world, and I know - just as the sheep do but will refuse to admit - that the wolf will be back. And when he comes back, I'll be ready for him. Me, and the thousands of other sheepdogs in the world.
So, what about you, dear reader? Which are you - a sheep, or a sheepdog?
IHC
So here it is.
There are three kinds of people in the world - sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. They have little or no capacity for intentional violence. They know that to intentionally inflict pain and suffering upon another sheep is both morally and legally wrong, and they spend their entire lives intentionally not doing it, and they live in the hope - nay, the expectation - that they will be granted the same courtesy and respect. The sheep are the embodiment of all of the good qualities of mankind.
Then there are the wolves, and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. They have no moral sense of right or wrong, and if they do, they don't care. They have a very large capacity for intentional violence. They intentionally inflict pain and suffering on every sheep they encounter, and very often they do so with great enjoyment, relishing the suffering of the poor sheep. They actively seek out the weaker sheep for their targets, judging the weakest by their posture, their manner of speech, or simply by the clothing they wear. The wolves are the embodiment of all of the evil in the soul of mankind.
Then there are the sheepdogs. The sheepdogs live to protect the flock and confront the wolves, and will do so without hesitation or question, and will use any and all means to protect the flock and defeat the wolves. This protection will be provided at any and all costs, even at the cost of the sheepdog's life. The sheepdog understands that there is evil in the world, and to ignore that evil is to become a sheep - a victim.
I'm a sheepdog. I understand that there is evil in the world, and that this evil preys on the unprotected, the unprepared - and the unarmed.
Especially the unarmed.
This is basically the answer I always give when asked why I carry a weapon. But there's more to the writing about sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs, and it explains a very good point - one which I must share with you now, because I feel it's the reason behind why so many people in our society are working to make private weapon ownership illegal.
It goes something like this...
The sheepdog is a reminder, a reminder that there is evil in the world. The sheep of the world would rather go through their day and not see a sheepdog, for to see the sheepdog is to be reminded of the wolves. Sure, everyone knows that it's there, but they'd rather not be reminded of it. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
But when the wolf strikes, the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one, lonely sheepdog.
Rather than face the fact that there are wolves in the world and prepare to deal with that threat, the sheep would rather ignore the wolves and remove any reminder of the wolves from their view. Which means eliminating the sheepdog, or in this case, the tool which the sheepdog uses. They would much rather the sheepdog turn in his fangs, paint himself white and go "Baaa" like the rest of the sheep.
Until the wolf shows up, that is. And trust me, the wolf will show up.
As I said, I'm a sheepdog. I have seen firsthand the evil in the world, and I know - just as the sheep do but will refuse to admit - that the wolf will be back. And when he comes back, I'll be ready for him. Me, and the thousands of other sheepdogs in the world.
So, what about you, dear reader? Which are you - a sheep, or a sheepdog?
IHC
Monday, March 1, 2010
Louis Farrakhan is an Insane Racist...And an Asshole
I'm treading on dangerous ground here and I know it, but to be honest, there's a part of me that just doesn't give a good Goddamn. In this "politically correct" world in which we live, anytime a white man says anything to defend himself, his views, or his race, he's labeled a "racist" quicker than you can spit. But let any other man from any other race make the same statements, and everyone bows down to him like he's doing the world a great, big, fat favor.
But just for the record - and mainly for the hell of it, for those who may be reading this and not really know me - here's my views on the topic, and they're quite simple.
I was raised by my parents to judge people on what they do, not who they are or by the color of their skin. I've made it a practice to always do that, and I do so to this day.
I don't believe in special treatment or favoritism based on skin color, sex, religion, nationality, or sexuality. I believe that all men truly were created equal, and that one man is no more deserving of special treatment or consideration than another.
And lastly, I believe in plain, honest talk, even if it means being brutally honest when the need arises.
And believe you me, the need has arisen.
So, having said that, let's get on with why I think Louis Farrakhan is an insane racist asshole. We'll start with some quotes from a story that was on FoxNews.com yesterday (and has vanished from the front page today, by the way....wonder why that is?).
"CHICAGO -- Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, boasting his divine stature, on Sunday predicted trouble ahead for President Barack Obama and urged him to do more to improve the lives of blacks and the downtrodden."
I guess us poor white folk can just rot in hell, huh? 'Scuse me, but isn't that a racist thing for him to say?
"The 76-year-old leader said the "white right" was conspiring to make Obama a one-term president, and pointed to his stalled efforts to introduce health care legislation as proof."
Proof? What proof? I guess the part about the legislation being too expensive, forcing small businesses who can't afford to comply out of business, and the fear of the government taking over health care had nothing to do with it, huh? Nah, it's just whitey wantin' to keep the black man down...
"Dressed in ornate creme robes, he addressed the president directly:
"Your people are suffering. You can't ease their plight, but you can use your bully pulpit. Speak for the poor. Speak for the weak." "
Of course, he's talking about black people, you know. So much for the idea of the President being a leader of ALL Americans...
"He said helping the Nation of Islam, which has worked to reform black inmates for decades, would also be an answer.
"Put some money on back of us," he said. "We can reform our people." "
So let me see if I understand this...if an organization helps white inmates but not the black ones, they're called "racist," but if an organization helps black inmates but not the white ones, it's okay? Excuse me, but isn't denying someone something based on the color of their skin RACIST?? And does this moron REALLY think that the president is going to be stupid enough to actually GIVE HIM MONEY? Basically, what you have here is yet another lazy black man asking for a handout, wanting to get something for nothing.
I'd like to believe that Farrakhan, who is 76 years old, is senile...at least then, he'd have an excuse for his beliefs and statements. But the really scary thing is this: these comments were made at the Savior's Day Event at the United Center in Chicago, and there were 20 thousand people there cheering him on! So he obviously by far isn't the only black man to have these views, is he? He and his followers are just stupid enough to actually believe those views have merit, and that's scary. After all, Hitler started out with a band of 20 followers, all of whom had the same crazy beliefs, and look how that turned out.
I used to think that all of the people who said that there was going to be this big "race war" in America were full of beans, but after reading something like this I'm not so sure they're wrong. Our society today has become one in which anyone of any race who feels wronged or oppressed or denied something can get up on a soapbox, plead their case, slap the label of guilt on the white race, and get away with it no matter how wrong or egregious the accusations. But when a white man stands up and does the same thing, he's immediately derided as a racist, and his objections are quickly drowned out and roundly ignored.
And the really sad thing is that it's our own government that laid the groundwork for this by its actions during the Civil Rights era. I'll be the first to tell you that once upon a time in America, if you were black you stood little chance at getting ahead, because there were a whole lotta ignorant whites - on BOTH SIDES of the Mason-Dixon Line, thank you - who were doing everything they could to hold you back. And this "once upon a time" wasn't that long ago, either - like about 40 years or so. Something absolutely needed to be done, because what was going on was wrong, period.
But instead of only passing laws making racial discrimination illegal, the Federal government also instituted programs which gave things to people based on the color of their skin, as long as that skin color wasn't white. You didn't have to work for these things or earn them in any way - all you had to do was be born black. The end result, after 40+ years of handouts and freebies based on skin color, is Louis Farrakhan - a man who believes that he and his people are deserving of special treatment and consideration by the President of the United States simply because he, his people, and the President all share one trait: they're all black.
Everyone else can just go to hell.
The good news is that Obama is smart enough to have begun to distance himself from Farrakhan and his band of lunatics long before the elections got really going. That's one thing I've got to give credit to him for, and I'm not ashamed to say it.
As for Farrakhan and his insane ideas, I'd like to say that no one is paying that much attention to him, but keep in mind the 20,000 people that were in the audience cheering him on...twenty thousand. If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will.
It sure scares the hell out of me.
IHC
But just for the record - and mainly for the hell of it, for those who may be reading this and not really know me - here's my views on the topic, and they're quite simple.
I was raised by my parents to judge people on what they do, not who they are or by the color of their skin. I've made it a practice to always do that, and I do so to this day.
I don't believe in special treatment or favoritism based on skin color, sex, religion, nationality, or sexuality. I believe that all men truly were created equal, and that one man is no more deserving of special treatment or consideration than another.
And lastly, I believe in plain, honest talk, even if it means being brutally honest when the need arises.
And believe you me, the need has arisen.
So, having said that, let's get on with why I think Louis Farrakhan is an insane racist asshole. We'll start with some quotes from a story that was on FoxNews.com yesterday (and has vanished from the front page today, by the way....wonder why that is?).
"CHICAGO -- Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, boasting his divine stature, on Sunday predicted trouble ahead for President Barack Obama and urged him to do more to improve the lives of blacks and the downtrodden."
I guess us poor white folk can just rot in hell, huh? 'Scuse me, but isn't that a racist thing for him to say?
"The 76-year-old leader said the "white right" was conspiring to make Obama a one-term president, and pointed to his stalled efforts to introduce health care legislation as proof."
Proof? What proof? I guess the part about the legislation being too expensive, forcing small businesses who can't afford to comply out of business, and the fear of the government taking over health care had nothing to do with it, huh? Nah, it's just whitey wantin' to keep the black man down...
"Dressed in ornate creme robes, he addressed the president directly:
"Your people are suffering. You can't ease their plight, but you can use your bully pulpit. Speak for the poor. Speak for the weak." "
Of course, he's talking about black people, you know. So much for the idea of the President being a leader of ALL Americans...
"He said helping the Nation of Islam, which has worked to reform black inmates for decades, would also be an answer.
"Put some money on back of us," he said. "We can reform our people." "
So let me see if I understand this...if an organization helps white inmates but not the black ones, they're called "racist," but if an organization helps black inmates but not the white ones, it's okay? Excuse me, but isn't denying someone something based on the color of their skin RACIST?? And does this moron REALLY think that the president is going to be stupid enough to actually GIVE HIM MONEY? Basically, what you have here is yet another lazy black man asking for a handout, wanting to get something for nothing.
I'd like to believe that Farrakhan, who is 76 years old, is senile...at least then, he'd have an excuse for his beliefs and statements. But the really scary thing is this: these comments were made at the Savior's Day Event at the United Center in Chicago, and there were 20 thousand people there cheering him on! So he obviously by far isn't the only black man to have these views, is he? He and his followers are just stupid enough to actually believe those views have merit, and that's scary. After all, Hitler started out with a band of 20 followers, all of whom had the same crazy beliefs, and look how that turned out.
I used to think that all of the people who said that there was going to be this big "race war" in America were full of beans, but after reading something like this I'm not so sure they're wrong. Our society today has become one in which anyone of any race who feels wronged or oppressed or denied something can get up on a soapbox, plead their case, slap the label of guilt on the white race, and get away with it no matter how wrong or egregious the accusations. But when a white man stands up and does the same thing, he's immediately derided as a racist, and his objections are quickly drowned out and roundly ignored.
And the really sad thing is that it's our own government that laid the groundwork for this by its actions during the Civil Rights era. I'll be the first to tell you that once upon a time in America, if you were black you stood little chance at getting ahead, because there were a whole lotta ignorant whites - on BOTH SIDES of the Mason-Dixon Line, thank you - who were doing everything they could to hold you back. And this "once upon a time" wasn't that long ago, either - like about 40 years or so. Something absolutely needed to be done, because what was going on was wrong, period.
But instead of only passing laws making racial discrimination illegal, the Federal government also instituted programs which gave things to people based on the color of their skin, as long as that skin color wasn't white. You didn't have to work for these things or earn them in any way - all you had to do was be born black. The end result, after 40+ years of handouts and freebies based on skin color, is Louis Farrakhan - a man who believes that he and his people are deserving of special treatment and consideration by the President of the United States simply because he, his people, and the President all share one trait: they're all black.
Everyone else can just go to hell.
The good news is that Obama is smart enough to have begun to distance himself from Farrakhan and his band of lunatics long before the elections got really going. That's one thing I've got to give credit to him for, and I'm not ashamed to say it.
As for Farrakhan and his insane ideas, I'd like to say that no one is paying that much attention to him, but keep in mind the 20,000 people that were in the audience cheering him on...twenty thousand. If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will.
It sure scares the hell out of me.
IHC
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