Live your life in such a way...... ....that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says...... "Oh, S**t!.... she's awake!!"
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Now that Chile, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, and Serbia have reformed their tax codes and/or Social Security systems, maybe it's time the US did the same.
While I am in favor of having a woman president, I just don't believe, in my heart, that it will happen in 2008. I honestly believe that America just isn't ready for a woman to lead the most powerful nation on Earth. And, I'm not sure that the world is ready for a female POTUS.
"People in the know" claim that Hillary Clinton is gearing up for a run in 2008. She might well be, and maybe there will be enough polls to convince her that America wants her as POTUS. I don't think it she will be elected for several reasons.
- She's got too much baggage (can we say Whitewater?)
- She's a Northeasterner although I'll bet she'll play up the fact that she's originally from Illinois (the coveted heartland) and lived many years in Arkansas (the south)
- But most of all, she's a woman.
Although I trust her about as much as I trusted John Kerry, I admit that she's intelligent, speaks well, and she's turning more to the right than she ever was before. Although I think that's merely a ploy to garner votes. Do whatever is necessary to win the office. Sympathy over the Monica situation isn't enough to get her elected to the presidency.
Other "people in the know" say that Condi Rice is the only Republican who could possibly beat her. While I have the greatest admiration for Dr. Rice, she's got a few things against her as well. She's never held elected office, much less run for office. And the big two: she's black and she's a woman.
Are there any circumstances under which I would vote for Hillary? Perhaps, it would depend on who the Republican and third party candidates were. I would not vote for her, or any woman, simply because they are women, but I wouldn't hold that against them either. Many people would, however. I wouldn't hold it against Dr. Rice that she is black. Again, many people would. Of the two, my vote would go to Dr. Rice, hands down.
I think that before we start planning a POTUS run, we need to get a female VP elected. Get the public used to the idea of a woman a heartbeat away from the presidency. Then, we can start thinking about a female POTUS. One step at a time.
We've come a long way, baby. I just don't think we've come that far yet.
UPDATE: I'm not the first to write about a Rice/Clinton 2008 matchup, not by a long shot. Many have written on this topic. Here is a post from Stolen Thunder that very nicely details why Dr. Rice is the most likely choice for POTUS in 2008. And here is a website dedicated to electing Dr. Rice in 2008. I'm not backing down from my previous statements that I don't believe we'll see a woman president, but if Dr. Rice indicates she's interested, I'll do what I can to get her nonimiated, and then elected.
Maybe we've come further than I thought?
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Unfortunately, at this point, Terri's wishes can't be carried out. No one knows what she would want to do. There is one way to keep this from happening to you. Make sure that your loved ones know what you want. I don't want to be "kept alive." If I'm on a ventilator, remove it. If God wants me, He'll take me. If not, then let me live. It might not be the life I would want, but I know I don't want to die by starvation either.
Thanks to Matt Margolis, here is a site where you can get answers to just what a living will is and how to customize one to your own wishes. Don't wait until later. This is too important to wait. Your very life may depend on what your wishes are and who knows about it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown and white silk shorts. If you see Jessica or know anything about her disappearance, call the sheriff's office at 352-726-1121 or call 911.
Here is how you can help.
What You Can Do to Win the Future
A Citizen's Action Center
Write Letters to the Editor
Attend Town Hall and City Council Meetings
Call Talk Radio
Spread the word about Winning the Future
- Photocopy the Social Security chapter and give it to young people
Blogs, Bulleting Boards, and Meetup
Volunteer Organizations to Get Involved With
Write your Representative or Senator
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Where do you stand on the great and growing gap between traditional American values and the secular liberalism of the Left? Take the following test.
Score each statement from 1 to 10 depending on how much you agree or disagree with it, with 10 meaning you strongly agree and 1 meaning you strongly disagree. If you’re neutral, write 5.
Add the score at the end. The higher the score, the more you lean toward traditional American values. The lower the score, the more you favor the secular left-liberal system.
____ 1. We should be allowed to say “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.
____ 2. Able-bodied people on welfare should be required to work.
____ 3. Men who assault pregnant women and kill the unborn child should be prosecuted for assault and murder.
____ 4. The United States should put its own interests first and cooperation with international organizations second.
____ 5. Believe in God.
____ 6. Proud to be an American.
____ 7. Schools should teach new immigrants about American values.
____ 8. Everyone should learn English.
____ 9. Personal injury lawyers should get no more than 15 percent of any award.
____ 10. It is possible to use new technology and new science to develop clean, renewable energy that protects the environment and the economy.
Add up your score. If you scored above 51 points, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America is for you. This book is about how you can protect and defend America’s traditions and values.
There is a case before the Supreme Court that will have an effect on homeowner's rights from now on. In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled that property in blighted neighborhoods could be seized. Since then, lower courts have held that if the property can be redeveloped to produce more jobs or generate tax revenue, eminent domain could be applied.
The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States says:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Public use is generally defined as being property taken for firehouses, schools, roadways, and the like. Recently though, public use has been expanded to include any use that will increase the tax base, such as shopping centers and housing developments.
I can understand razing a slum and building a housing development but, there are better ways of doing it. If the area is blighted, tell the property owners to clean it up. If they don't assess fines against the property. Then, when the fines aren't paid, local government comes in a cleans it up, removes the residents, and sells the property to another private party to develop the property as he sees fit. This way, the original property owners have a chance to keep their property. It's a fairly simple matter of cleaning up the property. If the owner isn't able to, they can get help from friends and relatives to do the clean up or even pay someone to do so.
We have got to think about private property rights now, otherwise we might not have private property tomorrow.
Monday, February 21, 2005
I decided to make it a little easier on myself and on anyone who wants to look for this information. I've posted all 50 reasons on one blog page which can be found here. I've also put a link on the sidebar along with the five parts I originally published.
I did it this way because it might be easier for some people to digest it in parts, but can also be read in it's entirety.
I think the Fair Tax is important enough that I want to make sure everybody has a platform that they are comfortable with to read and understand.
Go to Americans for a Fair Tax for more information.
I sent The 50 Reasons to Senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson and to Representative Katherine Harris last week. Not enough time for any response. I did check the Fair Tax Scorecard today and found that Nelson and Harris are in the Will Not Commit column. Gee...why am I not surprised? Martinez is leaning toward the Fair Tax.
I'll check with Nelson's and Harris' offices to see if there is any change. Don't hold your breath. Nelson is a Democrat and Harris just won't commit. I think she's waiting to see which way the wind blows. I really didn't want to vote for Harris last November, but I just couldn't bring myself to vote for the opponent. The lesser of two evils, you might say.
This link will take you to the page where you can check on your own Congressional representatives.
From Newt.org
In a rapidly changing world with new threats and new competitors, we must implement policies that will ensure America’s leadership, safety, and prosperity. And we must reinvigorate the core values that have made America an exceptional civilization.
We do not believe the traditional instruments of government will reform themselves fast enough and thoroughly enough for the twenty-first century.
The entrenched lobbyists and entrenched bureaucracies will do all they can to minimize the changes no matter how vital those changes are to America’s future. Self interest will dominate national interest if the normal political system operates with business as usual. The pressure of daily events will keep both the news media and most politicians focused on the immediate and the trivial rather than the long-term and the profoundly important.
Only a grassroots citizens’ movement can insist on the level of change that is needed for our children and grandchildren to have a successful future.
Such a citizens’ movement would have to be focused on goals rather than on interest groups. The goals define the America we want our children and grandchildren to have.
To achieve this future we will:
I
Defend America and our allies from those who would destroy us. To achieve security, we will develop the intelligence, diplomatic, information, defense, and homeland security systems and resources for success.
II
Transform the Social Security system into personal savings accounts that will enable every worker to have higher retirement incomes from their own work and avoid the need for financial support from their children.
III
Recenter America on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life.
IV
Establish patriotic education for our children and patriotic immigration for new Americans. To achieve this, we will renew our commitment to education about American citizenship based on American history and an understanding of the Founding Fathers and the core values of American civilization.We will insist that both our childrenand immigrants learn the key values
V
Meet the triple economic challenges of an explosion in scientific and technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China and India by implementing:
A new system of civil justice to reduce the burden of lawsuits and to incentivize young people to go into professions other than the law.
A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology.
Math and science learning equal to any in the world and educating enough young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully in national security and the economy with other well-educated societies.
Investing in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world—particularly in energy, space, and the environment.
Transforming health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector.
VI
Work to include every American in a system of patriotic stewardship so every person has a real opportunity to pursue happiness as their Creator endowed. Prepare for the aging of the baby boomers and their children so we can have active healthy aging with the best quality of life, the longest period of independent living, and the greatest prosperity. We will:
Develop a system in which those who wish to stay economically active are encouraged and incentivized to do so because active people live longer and healthier, have a greater opportunity to pursue happiness, and are less of a burden on their fellow citizens;
Develop a system of independent living and assisted living that increases the years in which people can be on their own and in most cases enables people to live their entire lives with freedom and dignity;
Develop a new model of quality long-term care in which both the care and the quality of life are compatible with a twenty-first century American expectation of progress and innovation.
Use the new technologies and new scientific knowledge to turn disabilities into capabilities and change government regulations and programs to help every American achieve the fullest possible ability to pursue happiness.
VII
Change the mindset of big government in Washington by replacing bureaucratic public administration with Entrepreneurial Public Management so government can operate with the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of the information age.
VIII
Balance the federal budget and insist on a lean government, low tax, low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world.
IX
Insist on congressional reform to make the legislative branch responsive to the needs of the 21st century.
X
Ensure an election process that is honest, accountable, accurate, and free from the threat of illegal votes or subsequent litigation.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Got this in an email from my father-in-law. Enjoy!
In an office:
TOILET OUT OF ORDER...PLEASE US FLOOR BELOW
(ewwwww!!!)
In a Laundromat:
In a London department store:
In an office:
In an office:
Outside a secondhand shop:
(hey!!!)
Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS
(hmmmm....)
Spotted in a safari park:
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR
(And when did elephants learn to drive????)
Seen during a conference:
Notice in a farmer's field:
(wonder what the interest rate is)
On a repair shop door:
More Woes: First it was the computer, which now doesn't seem to be turning on at all. Now it's the driver's side window on my van. So we'll be looking for a place to look at that. And the rear brakes still need work.
Photos: Dale took some photos Friday evening of Wyatt doing his Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Mommy's Home! dance. He also took some of Wyatt washing, or trying to wash my face. If I can figure out how to crop me out of the picture without losing the jist of what he's doing, I'll post it sometime or another. Maybe I can put my head on another body? Or maybe just substitute another face and body altogether? Have to give this idea some thought. Kathleen Turner? She's about my age and still looks good....
Speaking of (Not) Looking Good: I watched Monk last night. James Brolin was the murderous guest star. Life with Babs must not be treating him well. He just doesn't look like he's aging well. But then, things didn't go well in November, so she might be a little cranky these days.
Quote of the Day: Founding Father Samuel Adams wrote, "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." Thanks to Citizen Outreach for reminding me that the Founding Fathers were the first grassroots activitists.
Cell Phone Jammers: Boy howdy, I can relate to this one. Haven't we all been privy to a conversation that we didn't want or need to hear? With the advent of two way radio features in cell phones, we can now hear both sides of the conversation. We hear them in banks, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, doctor's offices, and everywhere else. And don't we all know at least one person, and sometimes we are that person, who has to be in constant touch with girl/boy friends, parents, spouse, partner, and so on who will interrupt a face-to-face conversation with you to take a call from someone else? I find this to be very rude and consider these people to be either control freaks or co-dependent to a control freak. You knew that someone would come up with a device that would jam these calls. But, as with every good idea, there is a downside that comes with it. Jammers are now available, (not legally, however) but they can't differentiate between the call between that annoying person in line behind you and the person who is trying to call 911 for a heart attack victim or an accident where a life might be lost because the call can't go through. I cannot begin to endorse jammers until someone can program a jammer that will not interfere with a 911 call. But when the programming is available, and legal, I will not endorse it, but I will want one.