Save Social Security Now: That's what Bill Clinton said back in 1998. I believe he was talking about the budget surplus and how the surplus should be used. Democrats are saying that there's no crisis. So whose lies can you believe? Those who say there is a crisis or those who say there is none?
What is Social Security? I just heard Mark Weisbrot (Social Security: The Phony Crisis) on Cavuto on Business say that Social Security is an insurance program. People paid in to be sure they get a return in their old age. Neal Cavuto said that it's a welfare program. I hadn't thought about it before, but I think it's both. It's welfare for those who didn't (couldn't or wouldn't) prepare for their retirement years, and insurance for those who did.
Timothy Penny of the Washington Times explains just what the Bush plan calls for.
PS: I found yet another alternative to AARP. 60 Plus Association. As yet, they address only four specific issues: Death Tax, Energy, Health Care, and Social Security. From the website: The 60 Plus Association is a non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach to seniors issues. 60 Plus has set ending the "death" tax and Saving Social Security for the young as its top priorities. 60 Plus has been described as an "anti-tax advocacy group" and an "increasingly influential lobbying group for the elderly...often viewed as the conservative alternative to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)." Pat Boone is their national spokesman. If you don't know who Pat Boone is, you are too young to join. Just for the record, I know who Pat Boone is, but I'm too young yet to join.
One of my (many) pet peeves: I hate when politicians try to scare voters, usually the elderly and poor. And if you just happen to be black, you get extra attention. Why do they do it? Because they want to retain their cushy seat in Washington or their state capital. The Democrats are particularly good at this. The "evil" Republicans are trying to take Social Security away from grandma and trying to keep the poor, especially the poor blacks, from getting any further in life. The Republicans have done it too, but they just don't do it as well as Democrats. I think the Democrats are going to have to find another way to scare their constituents. The elderly don't scare as easily and the poor are figuring out that the Democrats don't have their best interests at heart. Now, don't get me wrong. There are Democrats who honestly want to make the quality of life better for the poor, black or white, but they are few and far between.
Iraq and the War Against Terrorism: I've been waffling a little in my own mind about the Iraqi war. I agree that we should have gone in, but where I disagree with most people is I think we should have taken Saddam out of power during the First Gulf War. Had we done that in '91, we wouldn't be doing it now. Iraq would be 14 years along as a country. We put, or helped put, Saddam in power so it was our responsibility to remove him. Now that we have done what we should have done 14 years ago, we have a responsibility to the Iraqi people to help them. We have to train their police officers to take control. We have to help the people put their leaders in place. It's our responsibility.
UN "Peacekeepers" and the Congo: I've been reading about sexual abuse by the "Peacekeepers" for some time and have been so sickened by it I just couldn't write before now. I've reached the point where I finally can without going totally ballistic. The "Peacekeepers" (should that be "piece"keepers?) have been banned from having sex with local residents because it's become such a scandal. It took a scandal of global proportions to make someone think that using food in payment to a starving 12-year for sex was a bad thing?
It's time to dismantle the UN entirely. Not just rid the US of it's presence, but just get rid of the whole decaying mess. Here's one link. Google for more if you have the stomach.
Observances: Thanks to Everyday Stranger, I found a website that lists all the holidays and observances for the month. this is too good for just a Ramblings post. Look for some observances in another post.
Dining Hazards: Oh, this is good! Thanks to Florida Cracker for showing the way.
Eason Jordan: He's out at CNN and good riddance. Jordan was a journalist who made a statement and was called on it. He couldn't provide any proof that what he said was true, and couldn't (or wouldn't) provide proof that he was misquoted or his statement was mis-interpreted. As a journalist and high-ranking CNN executive, Jordan should have known not to make statements he couldn't prove. Especially when they had an anti-American flavor. Maybe he thought that making such statements in Europe, where anti-American statements are popular, would go unnoticed in the US. Another poor judgment play. MSM has to understand that the bloggers on the Internet are here to stay and that everyone of "interest" shall we say, is subject to having their statements scrutinized. I believe that for the most part, bloggers will take the side of right. I say for the most part, because there will always be those who will defend the lies simply because they believe them to be true, regardless of proof. If the truth is out there, bloggers will find it. Anyone who make speeches should be aware that their words are subject to scrutiny. I don't celebrate the fact that Jordan resigned his job. I always hate to see someone forced out of a job simply because they made a stupid mistake.
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