What Is A "Conservative"

I think conservatism has lost its luster due to poor policies by so called conservatives and lack of a good defense by real conservatives. It is time we brought some definition to the brand.
This will be long but worthy of your time. If we are going to reclaim America we better know where we stand and who we are.

The definition of “conservative”
By Steven J Allen

I am often asked what I mean by “a conservative.”
It’s difficult to define membership in a group that makes up over half the adult population of the United States. But here’s my best effort.

* A conservative believes in the motto quoted by Henry David Thoreau, “That government is best which governs least.” A conservative’s vision of government was put forth by Thomas Jefferson: “a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another [and] shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement.”

* A conservative believes that individuals and families are the basic units of society, and that anti-family policies (such as the current ultra-high tax rates on working families) should be ended.

* A conservative believes that, however unattainable the goal of moral perfection, people should strive to put morality and their families ahead of other concerns in their lives.

* A conservative has compassion for the poor and opposes policies, such as those based on socialism and on opposition to new technology, that cause or extend poverty.

* A conservative believes in the free trade of goods and services, but rejects the mercantilism (“welfare for corporations”) that masquerades as free trade.

* A conservative believes that great weight should be put on the wisdom expressed in the founding documents of Western civilization and American society, including the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution with its Bill of Rights.

* A conservative believes in the Rule of Law – that a law means what it says, as the language of the law was understood when the law was written. A conservative rejects the idea of a Living Constitution, under which lawyers and judges can change laws by undemocratic means. If judges are allowed such power, Jefferson noted, the U.S. Constitution “is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the Judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.”

* A conservative believes that public policy should encourage advancement based on ability and achievement, not on membership in an actual or concocted group.

* A conservative understands that “the public interest,” as determined by governing elites, is not the public interest – that, not surprisingly, it represents the interests of the governing elites.

* A conservative has respect for those who have made sacrifices in the cause of freedom, and for those who put their lives in peril to protect others. A conservative has respect for people who work hard and play by the rules.

* A conservative believes that military force should be used with care, in limited circumstances in which the cause of freedom and the just interests of the United States are at stake. A conservative believes that government officials should not put American servicemen and servicewomen in harm’s way without giving them a clearly-defined mission and the resources they need for victory.

* A conservative believes that the United States should avoid entangling alliances and the trappings of empire.

* A conservative has compassion for the oppressed and seeks peacefully to free them from oppression.

* A conservative believes that people have the right to protect their families and businesses from criminals.

* A conservative sees the United States of America as a special place because of its history as a beacon for freedom-loving people from around the world. A conservative believes the United States is blessed by the presence of people from countless nations and cultures when those people are hard-working, law-abiding, and eager to interact with other Americans through a shared language.

* A conservative believes that people should be treated fairly – that, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., they should “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” – and that racism, anti-Semitism, ridicule of groups such as Southerners and rural people, hatred of Christians (or particular groups of Christians), and other forms of bigotry are unacceptable. A conservative rejects the false classification of human beings into discrete groups called “races,” whether such racism is motivated by fantasies of racial supremacy or of permanent racial grievance. A conservative considers policies based on “race” to be unethical and immoral.

* A conservative rejects the worship of government power that is reflected in such fascist ideologies as communism, national socialism (Nazism), and theocracy. A conservative believes that communists, national socialists, theocrats, racists, and other advocates of oppression and hate should be ostracized.

* A conservative abhors violence and rejects the initiation of force in settling political disputes.

* A conservative is part of the majority that voted against Clintonism (corruption in the name of liberalism) in 1992 and 1996. A conservative is one of those who, in the congressional elections of 1994-2004, voted Republican in the belief that they were voting against Big Government corruption.

* A conservative identifies with the political movement led in the 1960s by supporters of Barry Goldwater, in the late ’70s and in the ’80s by Ronald Reagan and his supporters, and in the early ’90s by the framers of and advocates for the Contract with America.

A person does not have to adhere to a strict set of political principles to meet my definition of conservative. One of the characteristics I associate with true conservatives is that they believe in free argument and debate, not unthinking uniformity of opinion.

“Political correctness” is for liberals. Indeed, the term “politically correct” was first used, without irony, by Marxists.

No two people agree on everything, and no two conservatives agree on 100% of the issues. As a political movement, conservatism is broad enough to include several types of person:

* Libertarian conservatives seek to reduce the size, cost, and intrusiveness of government. They say to bureaucrats and politicians: “Leave us alone!” and “Mind your own business!” Libertarians proudly refuse to recognize political reality. But, within the ranks of conservatives, libertarianism serves a necessary and critical function: it is the brake in the train of conservatism. By libertarian conservative standards, every proposal must be measured as to whether it will ultimately strengthen or weaken Big Government. Ronald Reagan referred to libertarianism as “the heart of conservatism.”

* Traditionalist conservatives (including “religious conservatives”) seek to preserve traditional values and traditional culture, and emphasize the importance of morality and religious faith. Most traditionalist conservatives are regularly involved in religious activities. Often, traditionalist conservatives are Southern Baptists, or are among the Catholics who were most favorable to Pope John Paul II, or are orthodox Jews, or Mormons, or belong to some other religious denomination that emphasizes tradition and family life. But they can be of any religious view. Traditionalist conservatives stand in opposition to secularist extremists, who seek to erase every public reference to religious views other than their own, and to Radical Religious Left organizations such as the National Council of Churches, which seek to use the power of government to impose their religious views on society.

* Neoconservatives are often former liberals and democratic socialists who have acknowledged the failure of liberalism and socialism to solve society’s problems, in the sense of the old saying, “A neoconservative is a liberal who’s been mugged.” Most older neoconservatives are former members of the branch of liberalism and democratic socialism associated with New York intellectuals; they rebelled against policies that condoned or promoted Communism. Neoconservatives tend to emphasize scientific analysis of the success or failure of government programs – for example, by statistical studies of whether “welfare,” “affirmative action” discrimination, broad restrictions on gun ownership, and other policies actually improve the lives of the people they are supposed to help. They believe the U.S. should play a leading role in world affairs, especially in defense of beleaguered democracies such as Israel. They favor strong action to promote the spread of democracy in the world, noting that constitutional democracies rarely – or, by some measures, never – fight wars against each other. (In recent years, many critics of the Bush Administration have used the term “neoconservative” to refer to anyone who supported the Iraq War and related endeavors.)

* Populist conservatives believe that grassroots citizens, not the political or cultural elite, should have the most influence in the halls of power. This view was reflected in William F. Buckley Jr.’s remark that he would rather be governed by the first 300 people in the Boston telephone book than by the faculty at Harvard. Populist conservatives, who usually have backgrounds in poor and middle class families, are among the most avid students of public affairs, as is reflected in the public response to populist-oriented media such as Fox News and political talk radio. Populist conservatives are especially skeptical of policies favored by pseudo-intellectuals and by elites in Washington and Hollywood.

* Dynamic conservatives believe that economic growth and economic opportunity (the chance to improve one’s station in life) are keys to solving many of society’s problems. Associated with supply-side economics, they emphasize the need to cut taxes, and they emphasize the liberating aspects of new technology such as computers and the Internet. Though this group is small compared to other types of conservatives, it is highly influential because of its ability to engage in the rapid spread of information and ideas.

There are people who aren’t so deeply involved in politics that they can identify with one of the groups listed above. They just know what they believe is right, and they think conservatives best represent that point of view.

On many issues, from military intervention to immigration policy, there is disagreement among conservatives. That’s why it is important that conservatives argue and debate the issues among themselves, not just with our adversaries.

Ultimately, a conservative is someone who fits reasonably well into one or more of these groups, and who feels comfortable working in coalition with others who are called conservative.

What is a Conservative
by Lyn Nofgizer

"Allowing for differences I would define a conservative, first as one who believes in the Constitution as it is written. That takes care of free speech, freedom of religion, the right to petition the government, the right to keep and bear arms and, in the words of William O. Douglas in one of his saner moments, 'the right to be let alone.'

"Second, a conservative believes in small, limited government at every level. Along with this he believes strongly in individual responsibility. That is, a person or a family should take care of itself and turn for help to government only when all other means have been exhausted. It also means that society, before government, has a duty to take care of its own. Government should be a resource of last resort.

"Third, a conservative believes taxes should be levied for the purpose of financing the limited responsibilities of government such as providing for the common defense, catching and incarcerating criminals, minting money and filling potholes. Taxes should not be levied for the purpose of redistributing wealth.

"That's about it.

"I know there are those who say a conservative should be pro-life, which I am, but I'm not sure a person has to be that to qualify as a conservative. Nor am I sure that a person must be opposed to pornography, which I am. In both cases there are questions of individual rights and responsibilities which are arguable.

"One other thing I think a conservative believes is that the parents, not government, are and should be responsible for the upbringing and behavior of their children.


These two writings clearly bring forward the conservative and the value that has been lost by those who claim the name but fail to practice the art. Washington DC is littered with those who have small parts but claim to be wholly conservative when they are not. This has bastardized conservatism and is tearing away the fabric of America.
I suggest reading these through a few times. A solid position is much harder to argue from then one that weaves and bobs. America can be won again because these are the values we are looking for. Unless you can clearly define those values you will never stand out. We need to raise up leaders who clearly are conservative and know what that means.

More great reading on defining Conservative:

The Definition of Conservative

Proof

I and many others keep pointing out that our leaders don't know history. This failed knowledge has led to failed policies and excessive waste of the tax payers money. As proof to this fact I offer up the speech that Obama gave on Tuesday. He stated quite emphatically that America invented the Automobile. This is simply not true.
Anyone with Internet access can look this up and quickly learn that our president doesn't know history. The Automobile in the truest sense of the word was invented by a man in Germany by the name of Karl Benz. He created the first gas fired internal combustion engine self propelled vehicle in 1885. Others, even prior to him, created vehicles with steam or electric but Benz married gasoline to the automobile and gave us the future we enjoy today.
What Obama was probably stretching to remember, but suffers from fuzzy thinking, was Henry Ford's invention of the assembly line which made cars affordable and available to the masses. This was truly an American invention but the car was already on the road at the time. This small twist or revision of history gives us a glimpse of why we keep going down the same failed paths as those before us.
How does stuff this obviously wrong get into a presidential speech is also part of the story of interest. All those around him who helped him prepare his speech and polish his delivery, don't know history. The printers used to put the speech in a booklet and hand out to congress, don't know history. How many millions watched Obama give this speech and don't know history? Reading comments on various web sites furthered my proof that America is doomed to repeat history because we don't remember.
How can we save ourselves and move forward in NEW directions if we don't know history?

Understanding Why Big Government is Wrong

Keep spreading the word. Our politicians need basic economics classes so they can understand how badly they are screwing up America.

Bailout Calculator

I added this new widget to my side bar that helps us get a personal perspective of government debt. Our government used to incur a little debt every once in a while and now does it all the time. They don't seem to understand the need of living within its means. To make matters worse more and more Americans are wanting government assistance. We seem to have lost touch with the fact that the government isn't a bottomless pit of financial services at our beck and call. The governments resources come out of each and every Americans wallet. You and me pay the tab for keeping the party going.

It is time to stop the party and toss out the guests. We need to invite people over who want to clean this mess up and fix all the stuff that is broke. We need a completely new look in Washington DC and probably in your state capital as well. Politics has become a career for the loathsome, greedy liars of our time. As voters we have become a pathetic lot who allow this to continue by voting them back into office so they can continue to do their damage. We need to stop this death spiral that robs all of us of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So Wake Up America and have a look at what this has cost you. Fill in the boxes on the widget and hit calculate. Let's make this personal. What does it cost you?

According to the calculator, with a total bailout of nearly $8.5 trillion divided among 300 million Americans, every man, woman and child in the U.S. would have a tax burden of $27,599. (The IRS reports there were only 138 million taxpayers in 2007, putting the load at $61,153.04 per taxpayer.)

The U.S. Census Bureau's 2005-2007 American Community Survey reports the median family income is approximately $60,374, and the average U.S. family is made up of three people. If every person were to pay for the Wall street bailout, the calculator reveals that a family of three making $60,374 with a current income tax of $12,712 would face an additional tax of $5,333 each year to cover its costs – equal to a 42 percent tax increase.

In a period of 30 years at 5 percent interest, the calculator estimates the average family would pay $160,009 – or the cost of 12 Chevy Aveos, six college tuitions, 123 iMacs and 40 vacations.

This total doesn't include the latest bailout in the emergency Porkulus package. How much more are you willing to buy? There only spending your money, and your children's money, and your children's children's money, and your............................ Does Taxation Without Representation ring any bells here. In just over two hundred years we have become the government our founders fought to escape.

Are you going to start calling and telling them NO? Are you going to start writing and telling them NO? I have made this real easy for you so you can put the brakes on big government right now. I have a widget on my side bar that will help you get in touch with the very people at the center of the problem. All you need to do is type in your zip code.

Remember to be respectful because they are human and wrong. tell them what you want them to do and encourage them to do it. You may want to put these addresses in your contact list you are going to need to do this a lot over the next four years. If you don't think you owe enough yet, you can wait. They are planning to spend a whole lot more real soon.

links:
How much will you pay for Wall Street bailout?
Right.org

The Part The People Get

If all those serving in Obama's cabinet would pay their taxes the government wouldn't need to raise the rest of ours.

Looks like we get the stimulus that will only stink up the already bad economy.

Flatmobile

Somebody in the UK has a heck of a sense of humor or a death wish.

You can see more of this one of a kind car, here.

Tennesse Republicans I Salute You

I don't know if any of you caught this story but it needs to be read. It should be used as a symbol across America as people rise up and stand up instead of roll over. Here is an article that does a fantastic job of telling it the way it should be.

RINOing Republicans In Name Only

Posted by Chuck Muth
February 12, 2009 at 11:23 am

In the Catholic and Mormon churches they call it excommunication. The Amish refer to it as shunning. The Klingons call it discommendation. In each case, it’s a process by which an individual who has committed an egregious offense so serious they are literally kicked out of the organization.

In Tennessee, Republicans have invented a new term for this action: disassociation. I like “RINOing” better, but what the heck. Here’s what it’s all about…

“In November, the GOP won control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction,” reports Brendan Miniter in Political Diary on February 11th. “That victory was one of the few bright spots for Republicans across the country in 2008 and seemed to set the stage for a GOP resurgence and possible capture of the governor's mansion in 2010.

“Then, on Jan. 13, the wheels started to come off.

“Republicans had rallied behind Rep. Jason Mumpower for House Speaker, and he appeared to be a lock as late as the morning of the vote, when every House Republican prayed together. When it came time to vote, however, it became clear that GOP Rep. Kent Williams had cut a secret deal with Democrats to elevate himself with unanimous support from across the aisle to the Speaker's chair.

“Mr. Williams was booed in the process, with at least one person shouting out ‘Judas,’ but he was unfazed, telling a reporter that he had ‘been booed before.’ He went ahead and organized the House chamber, splitting committee chairmanships between Democrats and Republicans.”

So what did the Tennessee Republican Party do?

Go Read The Rest.

There is hope.

Dodge Ball Extreme - Tax Evasion

Remember when you were a kid and you played dodge ball. They had these dark red rubber balls about eight inches in diameter that seemed to come at you at incredible speeds. If they hit you on exposed skin, they would sting and throb for a long time. In our youthful insanity we did this for fun. We would gleefully inflict pain on our fellow participants and them on us.

The game has taken on a new twist in DC. Everywhere you look someone is dodging taxes and trying to avoid the sting. Obama's cabinet seems to be really bad at this game or everyone in DC is a tax cheat, both are clear possibilities. I am beginning to wonder if Obama knows anyone who isn't a tax cheat or some other anti-American. I could make a list but, why do what has been done thousands of times already. From the moment Obama took on the campaign of running for president we have been introduced to his friends, aquantences and family members.

I am sure he had a couple of good ones but I can't remember any. It seems the bad ones stood our huge. Terrorists, hate mongers, liars, cheats, money launderers, how can one man surround himself with this much filth and still walk unscathed. At least that is how it is being portrayed everywhere.

Now he gets into office and we find that everyone is either a tax cheat or a money schemer. I won’t make a list here either but, you have got to wonder what we got ourselves into. From Obama’s chief of staff to the lowliest appointee will we find any reputable character? Perhaps we should apply the, “It takes one to know one.” adage?

How will we restore our rightful place in the world when all of those who stand as the symbols of our nation are so badly tarnished? Obama promised to restore our image and rebuild our friendships with other nations. I don’t think we are getting our monies worth on this part of the deal folks.

This is going to be a very long and hard four years for America. Here we are at four weeks and we are already going south fast.

We the people still have the power to lift this nation up and carry her forward. You see built right into our constitution is the power of the people. We exercise this power through letter writing, blogging, phone calls and word of mouth presentations to all we come in contact with. We need to turn this nation around even if we have to do it one person at a time. It has been estimated that 65% of this nation is still conservative and believe in the founding principles and direction of this nation. If every one of us focused on turning two people back to the foundation in the next two years, we could save America.

More than likely, you wouldn’t be doing it alone. It is probably safe to say someone else is working on the same people you are. You don’t have to know them. You only have to do your part. The liberal anti-American crowd has control of the media. They will be pounding their propaganda from every source. They will be working to win the hearts and minds so they can fully take over and destroy what makes this nation great. They have a huge weakness though. The liberal is all about them. What can they get out of you and everyone else. We have the advantage of outreach and support. While they are thinking how they can take advantage of you, you can come along side and change their entire view of the world. You can turn that selfishness against them. You don’t need any special tools.

Here’s all you need to do. Reach out. Don’t draw back and exclude yourself. Reach out farther and open up so that the light of truth can chase away the cockroaches of liberalism. Be kind and let them know you care and what the truth is. Your touch and your words are all they need. Don’t apologize for right thinking. Remember you still have a right to your opinion and it is of high value. Share. We have a nation to reclaim from the edge of destruction and you have the power to save it. You only need to convince a couple of people.

I’ll do my part. I hope you will do yours.

Letter To My Congressman

I am so disappointed that you chose to vote for this vast spending bill. It has always been true that the government does not create jobs as the private sector does. You see, whenever the government creates a job it takes money from others who would have created far more jobs at less cost. How could this be?

You see the government is an organization of many hands. Each hand takes a small token from the pot as it passes by. The taxing authority assesses a tax and then collects it. This effort is at a cost reducing what has been taken. The accounting office records the income and takes a share for the effort. We then have the various bodies of distribution and decision. The list goes on and on before a single job is made. While vast sums of money have already been filtered off to pay for the vast bureaucracy that it took to create this job.

The public sector on the other hand can create a job on a whim or an idea. It takes but a drop of the vast resources that must be brought to bare to create a government job. For that reason one government job is the absence of hundreds if not thousands of public jobs.

You have chosen to employ the fewest at the greatest cost and then call it a stimulus package. The future of the citizens of the United States have been set back by your lack of understanding of these basic facts. I truly hope you can live with the devastation of your decision and the suffering that you will witness over the next couple of years. It could have all been avoided.

Thank you for emailing me and letting me know how you voted. I will hold this email and have it ready at your next election cycle. I will happily forward it to all my friends and neighbors so they can make an informed decision when election day comes.

Good News

The Economy has gotten so bad lawyers are being laid off and offices are closing. You want the full scoop on the positive side of this down economy then you need to read Dan Kennedy's article Finally, Good News About The Economy
Economic natural selection would doom lawyers, Congress and other 'non-essential' entities.

The January 26^th issue of “The Wall Street Journal” finally provided some really cheery news about the economy with the joyful headline: “Recession Batters Law Firms, Triggering Layoffs, Closings.”

I’ve long advocated a government imposed one- to two-generation moratorium on lawyers breeding. It would certainly have the support of the vast majority of Americans, but it would raise some thorny ethical and legal issues. So this is the next best thing: a Darwinian thinning of the one herd that probably takes more from the economy than any other, and contributes little. Cannibals even refuse to eat lawyers. It leaves a bad taste in their mouths.

The article says layoffs at law firms are now “commonplace.” Wonderful. Is there any other population of workers in this economy that could be furloughed en-masse and do less harm by its shrinkage?

Yes, actually there is – Congress, which, not coincidentally, has a lot of lawyers in its ranks. If only we could lay off Congress for two or three years. If they’re all home collecting extended unemployment compensation, doing nothing, none of their legislation – or the president’s – can move. And the country will be better off.

After all, most of the blowhards now arguing over how to best spend a trillion or more to solve our economy’s ills are the same incompetents and bought-and-owned toadies who drove it off the cliff in the first place. Having Barney Frank and Chris Dodd engineering the repair of the banking system is like putting the navigator from the Titanic in charge of your cruise.

GO READ THE REST.

There are some layoffs I would love to see. Dan has got my top two pegged.

We Need A Real Stimulus Plan

The one they are currently offering will do more harm then good. We need real solutions!



You can go here and read all 12. These are real solutions to a real problem. These are American Solutions for real Americans.

We don't need more bloated government taking more money from hard working Americans. We need to give Americans back their money and allow them to invest in our future. Remember, we are in charge of America. Our constitution says that we the People have the final word. Why not give us the power to make the decision.
Tell them to get there hands off our money and our children's money and let us make the decision. When really big decisions need to be made, let those who are in charge make them not our representative.

See the plan in detail here.

Knowing When to Say When

Have you ever owned an older car that really isn't worth anything except to you. You know, it has been there for you for a long time. You have always taken the best care of it. At least, as good as you could because it got you through those hard times as well.
Suddenly out of the blue, the dreaded event happened. The engine went, the transmission went, the whatever and it was going to cost you big. The mechanic tells you it is going to cost several thousand dollars to fix it. He also tells you that it really isn't worth anything, but if you want it fixed he is willing to take it on. It might take a little longer because they don't make most of the parts any more. It may even cost more to get some of them so you may need to be a little flexible on the end cost as well. Then he tosses in the final dagger, if I can't find the parts it may simply not be fixable and you could be out a lot for time and materials. Do you still want to move ahead?

Your probably already in a fair amount of debt. Are you willing to take out a major loan to fix your car? You may have to one of those high cost credit places........ How will you make the payments?

It's your decision...........

What if someone was willing to make the decision for you at no cost to them and stick you with this huge debt for a small additional fee. Does that make it any easier? They give you the paperwork to sign and you notice the fees and interest raise the price to almost five times what the mechanic quoted you but you have over 30 years to pay it off. You can even pass the debt on to your children.

If you like this method then your going to love the Stimulus plan in Congress right now.

Stimulating Anger

Everyone keeps talking about it but how about a list of pointed programs you can hate. Here is a article that gives you 50 reasons to hate the stimulus bill they are trying to force on America.

50 De-Stimulating Facts
Chapter and verse on a bad bill.
By Stephen Spruiell & Kevin Williamson

Senate Democrats acknowledged Wednesday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill in its current form. This is unexpected good news. The House passed the stimulus package with zero Republican votes (and even a few Democratic defections), but few expected Senate Republicans (of whom there are only 41) to present a unified front. A few moderate Democrats have reportedly joined them.

The idea that the government can spend the economy out of a recession is highly questionable, and even with Senate moderates pushing for changes, the current package is unlikely to see much improvement. Nevertheless, this presents an opportunity to remove some of the most egregious spending, to shrink some programs, and to add guidelines where the initial bill called for a blank check. Here are 50 of the most outrageous items in the stimulus package:

$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
$380 million in the Senate bill for the Women, Infants and Children program
$300 million for grants to combat violence against women
$2 billion for federal child-care block grants
$6 billion for university building projects
$15 billion for boosting Pell Grant college scholarships
$4 billion for job-training programs, including
$1.2 billion for “youths” up to the age of 24
$1 billion for community-development block grants
$4.2 billion for “neighborhood stabilization activities”
$650 million for digital-TV coupons;
$90 million to educate “vulnerable populations”
$15 billion for business-loss carry-backs
$145 billion for “Making Work Pay” tax credits
$83 billion for the earned income credit
$150 million for the Smithsonian
$34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce headquarters
$500 million for improvement projects for National Institutes of Health facilities
$44 million for repairs to Department of Agriculture headquarters
$350 million for Agriculture Department computers
$88 million to help move the Public Health Service into a new building
$448 million for constructing a new Homeland Security Department headquarters
$600 million to convert the federal auto fleet to hybrids
$450 million for NASA (carve-out for “climate-research missions”)
$600 million for NOAA (carve-out for “climate modeling”)
$1 billion for the Census Bureau
$89 billion for Medicaid
$30 billion for COBRA insurance extension
$36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits
$20 billion for food stamps
$4.5 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
$850 million for Amtrak
$87 million for a polar ice-breaking ship
$1.7 billion for the National Park System
$55 million for Historic Preservation Fund
$7.6 billion for “rural community advancement programs”
$150 million for agricultural-commodity purchases
$150 million for “producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish”
$2 billion for renewable-energy research ($400 million for global-warming research)
$2 billion for a “clean coal” power plant in Illinois
$6.2 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program
$3.5 billion for energy-efficiency and conservation block grants
$3.4 billion for the State Energy Program
$200 million for state and local electric-transport projects
$300 million for energy-efficient-appliance rebate programs
$400 million for hybrid cars for state and local governments
$1 billion for the manufacturing of advanced batteries
$1.5 billion for green-technology loan guarantees
$8 billion for innovative-technology loan-guarantee program
$2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects
$4.5 billion for electricity grid
$79 billion for State Fiscal Stabilization Fund

The article gives you the nasty little details about each of these programs. Read it all don't let the anger pass.

Let me add that up for you.


50,000,000.00
380,000,000.00
300,000,000.00
2,000,000,000.00
6,000,000,000.00
15,000,000,000.00
4,000,000,000.00
1,200,000,000.00
1,000,000,000.00
4,200,000,000.00
650,000,000.00
90,000,000.00
15,000,000,000.00
145,000,000,000.00
83,000,000,000.00
150,000,000.00
34,000,000.00
500,000,000.00
44,000,000.00
350,000,000.00
88,000,000.00
448,000,000.00
600,000,000.00
450,000,000.00
600,000,000.00
1,000,000,000.00
89,000,000,000.00
30,000,000,000.00
36,000,000,000.00
20,000,000,000.00
4,500,000,000.00
850,000,000.00
87,000,000.00
1,700,000,000.00
55,000,000.00
7,600,000,000.00
150,000,000.00
150,000,000.00
2,000,000,000.00
2,000,000,000.00
6,200,000,000.00
3,500,000,000.00
3,400,000,000.00
200,000,000.00
300,000,000.00
400,000,000.00
1,000,000,000.00
1,500,000,000.00
8,000,000,000.00
2,400,000,000.00
4,500,000,000.00
79,000,000,000.00

= $586,626,000,000.00
Have you ever seen so many zeros? Over two thirds of this bill is this stuff. None of it will produce immediate jobs or turn our economy around.
Some of these expenses may have some value worth arguing on the congressional floor but to place them in a emergency stimulus bill. This combined list cost every man, woman and child in the United States over $1900 each. Don't forget to add on the finance charges and miscellaneous cost over runs.

I'm still angry. What about you?

Impeach Barney Frank

Will the people of Massachusetts stand up and clean house? The man responsible for our current condition continues to destroy our nation and you sit back and do nothing.

Barney Frank’s hypocrisy

Ah, the dirty little secret is out. That $700 billion TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) bill was in part simply a variation on congressional pork - except this time the recipients were banks with friends in high places.

One of those powerful friends was Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. And one of the recipients of a $12 million infusion of federal cash was the troubled OneUnited Bank in Boston - a bank that had already been accused of “unsafe and unsound banking practices.” Its CEO, Kevin Cohee had also been criticized by regulators for “excessive” pay that included a Porsche.

Frank admits he included language in the TARP legislation specifically designed to bail out OneUnited. He also acknowledges contacting officials at the Treasury Department about the bank’s bailout application.



Reading the comments attached to the Boston Herald article give me hope for the state. Now they need to put the words into action.

Have You Ever Lost Your Luggage?

I couldn't breath after watching that. I have been there. My luggage has far more airline milage then I do. I have had my own experience with lost luggage. Getting it back wasn't easy either.

You Need To Know

I sure could use the tax break. I know each of you could do more with the money to improve America and help this nation then our government will ever be able to do.

Doubts from The Congressional Budget Office

The Congressional Budget Office has words of warning about the stimulus plans both house and senate versions.

CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul

President Obama's economic recovery package will actually hurt the economy more in the long run than if he were to do nothing, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.
CBO, the official scorekeepers for legislation, said the House and Senate bills will help in the short term but result in so much government debt that within a few years they would crowd out private investment, actually leading to a lower Gross Domestic Product over the next 10 years than if the government had done nothing.

There you go. Plain and simple stuff. Go read the rest. It says a bit more about the whole thing.
We are actually looking at doing more harm to our economy then good, especially over the long haul. We need to start thinking long term. Short sightedness got us here. Let us look at consequences and make a decision that will strengthen our nation. I ask other countries to do the same thing. Swelling the debt will not save us.
We can have a great party in the short term but who will pay the bill and clean up the mess when it is all over?

The Sky Is Falling

Chicken Little was out today singing the doom and gloom story that has congress all in an uproar.
Obama warns of need for stimulus bill right away

We have been told that this vast spending spree will have almost no immediate effect. Less then 25% of the money is even put to use in the first year. Most of the money will take years if not a decade before it will show any benefit. How will this help with the immediate need? They are so busy arguing the plan that they have failed to see the point of the argument.
I don't think we need it, nor do I think it will help but if you are going to do it, make sure it fits the problem. You can't get immediate help out of a future solution. The longer it is debated the less it will help and the worse the economy will become.
Right now there is no reason for a business on a down hill slide to make serious changes because the government may come through with a bailout that will allow them to do business as usual. It really doesn't matter that business as usual is filled with bad ideas and failed management decisions.
We need a complete redo for most of the major businesses and financial institutions. They have lost their way. No longer do most serve the key purpose to which they were originally birthed. The small business that grew to enormity has left many of its keys to success behind. The very things that made it big and successful have been tossed on the scrape heap as old and worn out.
It is okay for a business to die and for new businesses to spring up. Everything has a life cycle and death is okay. How long can we afford the bill for life support? Our debt load is getting out of control and may soon take us all down.
Let it go.

Kill This Porkosaurus

Ted Nugent has hit another homerun with Kill this Porkosaurus. I will give you a small taste but you will have to go and read the rest.


I’m a hunter, and proud of it. Most of my best hours are spent in the field, sometimes chasing dangerous game. I’m on the track of one, a bigger more dangerous critter than I’ve ever hunted before: the Obama-Pelosi Porkosaurus.

The Porkosaurus is plenty dangerous by itself. It subsidizes unemployment by increasing unemployment benefits. And, as the man said, when you subsidize something you get more of it. It doesn’t spend anything -- not one thin dime -- on the one thing that economists say is guaranteed to stimulate the economy, defense spending. And its whole purpose is to feed Fedzilla and make it grow even bigger, swallowing our economy whole.

In a crisis, hysterical, wrongheaded, ignorant people will squall and holler to "do something." Reasonable people with a modicum of intellect know that throwing a cinder block to a drowning person qualifies as "something", but surely it is the wrong something.

Go Read More Of Ted's Article.

Wake up America! It wont be long before America as we know it will be gone.

Heavy-Handed Politics: A Great Analogy

Heavy-Handed Politics: A Great Analogy

We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream."

From a teacher in Nashville;

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year. The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest. I decided we would have an election for a class president. We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.

To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members. We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have. We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids. I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support. I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches, Jamie went first. He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best. Every one applauded. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium. Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down. The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."

She surely would say more. She did not have to. A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure. Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it. She didn't know. The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream.

Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a land slide.Every time politicians open their mouths and offer ice cream, the majority of the people react like nine year olds. They want the ice cream.

The remainder know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.


Hat tip to HH. This is Fantastic.

My Pledge

Make This Your Pledge too. Go here and enjoy the video and sign the pledge.

When It Is Said So Well

I got an email that needs to be shared. It is real, and confirmed. Our Bail Out crazy federal government needs to hear it loud and clear. This guy does it the best.
First, read the letter he is responding to, and then the response. This guy should be leading our nation. He knows what needs to be done.

Dear Employees & Suppliers,
Congress and the current Administration will soon determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior to the global financial crisis......... As an employee or supplier, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your voice heard. Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support.

Troy Clarke President General Motors North America

Response from:
Gregory Knox, Pres.
Knox Machinery Company
Franklin , Ohio


Gentlemen:

In response to your request to contact legislators and ask for a bailout for the Big Three automakers please consider the following, and please pass my thoughts on to Troy Clark, President of General Motors North America.

Politicians and Management of the Big 3 are both infected with the same entitlement mentality that has spread like cancerous germs in UAW halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping this nation, awaiting our new "messiah", Pres-elect Obama, to wave his magic wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing our once great nation to keep "living the dream"… Believe me folks, The dream is over!

This dream where we can ignore the consumer for years while management myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid, arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded "laborers" without paying the price for these atrocities… this dream where you still think the masses will line up to buy our products for ever and ever.

Don't even think about telling me I'm wrong. Don't accuse me of not knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW, Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM's throughout the Midwest during the past 30 years and what I've seen over those years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting.

Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America, states: "There is widespread sentiment throughout this country, and our government, and especially via the news media, that the current crisis is completely the result of bad management which it certainly is not."

You're right Mr. Clarke, it's not JUST management… how about the electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times, making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass… so they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time… for a job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour work week. How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare tactics… for putting out too many parts on a shift… and for being too productive. (We certainly must not expose those lazy bums who have been getting overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?)

Do you folks really not know about this stuff?!? How about this great sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke's sad plea: "over the last few years… we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors." What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!? Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto vs. the Civic?!? Do I need to go on? What a joke!

We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the United States auto industry for decades. It's time to pay for your sins, Detroit.

I attended an economic summit last week where brilliant economist, Alan Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research, surprised the crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of "bailout money". "Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems," but despite what people like politicians and corporate magnates would have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next day… and the following very important thing would happen…where there had been greedy and sloppy banks, new efficient ones would pop up… that is how a free market system works… it does work… if we would only let it work…"

But for some nondescript reason we are now deciding that the rest of the world is right and that capitalism doesn't work - that we need the government to step in and "save us"… Save us my ass, Hell - we're nationalizing… and unfortunately too many of our once fine nation's citizens don't even have a clue that this is what is really happening… But, they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite sports teams… yeah - THAT'S really important, isn't it…

Does it ever occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades in this country?... How can that be??? Let's see… Fuel efficient… Listening to customers… Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul …

Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards Deming four decades ago when he taught that by adopting appropriate principles of management, organizations could increase quality and simultaneously reduce costs. Ever increased productivity through quality and intelligent planning… Treating vendors like strategic partners, rather than like "the enemy"… Efficient front and back offices… Non union environment…

Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone anything they really don't already know down deep in their hearts.

I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into - my children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did when I was their age. I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way) - I make them stand on their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and work through it. Radical concept, huh… Am I there for them in the wings? Of course - but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as adults.

I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly are unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting and government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins. Bad news people - it's coming whether we like it or not. The newly elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to "make it all go away." I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back in" almost immediately after the final vote count was tallied…"we really might not do it in a year…or in four…" Where the Hell was that kind of talk when he was RUNNING for office.

Stop trying to put off the inevitable folks … That house in Florida really isn't worth $750,000… People who jump across a border really don't deserve free health care benefits… That job driving that forklift for the Big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year… We really shouldn't allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the most atrocious human rights infractions on the face of the globe…

That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn't be living in that $485,000 home… Let the market correct itself folks - it will. Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna be painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it all, is a nation that appreciates what it has…and doesn't live beyond its means…and gets back to basics…and redevelops the patriotic work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world…and probably turns back to God.

Sorry - don't cut my head off, I'm just the messenger sharing with you the "bad news". I hope you take it to heart.

Gregory J. Knox, President
Knox Machinery, Inc.
Franklin , Ohio 45005

Finally, Some Clear Thinking

Everywhere you turn you read or hear about the stimulus package being pushed on capital hill. The bill in its current state is 1/3 stimulus and 2/3 pork or pet projects. This $1 trillion slush fund of goodies needs to be looked at by serious people who have America as their number one interest.
Florida Sen. Mel Martinez seems to be this guy. He found a few other fellow GOP members to join him. His plan cuts the bill back to $713 billion and distributes out like this; $430 billion in tax cuts, $114 billion for infrastructure projects, $138 billion for extending unemployment insurance, food stamps and other provisions to help those in need and $31 billion to address the housing crisis.
Now this is a bill we need to get behind. Call/write your senators and tell them to join Mel in getting this bill passed in the senate. We don't need honey bee insurance and STD programs. We don't need new sod in the capital mall. We don't need to give tax breaks to Hollywood. We don't need to buy top of the line furniture for DHS.
Let's get some input form economists:
Michael Cannon, Cato Institute: "The only way Congress can spend money is to extract it from the private sector – either by taxing it, borrowing it, or seignorage. The question then becomes: will Congress spend that money more wisely than the private sector would have spent it? The answer appears to be no. Congress typically spends according to its political priorities, not economic priorities."
Antony Davies, Associate Professor of Economics, Duquesne University: "It is time for voters to wake up to the fact that government cannot create jobs. It can only shift jobs from one part of the economy to the other. It is entrepreneurs who create jobs, and it is consumers who judge whether those jobs are the best jobs to be created. The government contributes best by establishing a rule of law and protection of property rights that allows entrepreneurs and consumers to act in their best interests."
Joseph Zoric , Associate Professor of Economics, Franciscan University of Steubenville: "The stimulus plan will most probably turn quickly into pork spending. Marginal rate tax cuts would be a much more effective way to stimulate demand along with cuts in the capital gains and corporate tax rates. Evidence shows that marginal tax cut multipliers are much higher than spending multipliers. In addition the Fed is still not out of ammunition."
Edward Lopez, Associate Professor of Law and Economics, San Jose State University: "Fiscal stimulus may have symbolic value and certainly does provide an expedient for distributive politics, but there is NO evidence that it contributes to GDP or economic growth more broadly."
Justin Ross, Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University: "Empirical evidence overwhelmingly rejects federal government deficit spending as the best method for stimulating the economy, and is generally unsupportive of it having any stimulus effect at all."
Richard Wagner, Professor of Economics, George Mason University: "Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently. Whether government finances its added spending by increasing taxes, by borrowing, or by inflating the currency, the added spending will be offset by reduced private spending. Furthermore, private spending is generally more efficient than the government spending that would replace it because people act more carefully when they spend their own money than when they spend other people's money."
Stephen Entin, President & Executive Director, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation: "Want to grow the economy without inflation? Cut marginal tax rates, slash the corporate rate, expense investment in the first year (instead of depreciation), keep tax rates low on dividends and capital gains, and repeal the death tax. Have the Federal Reserve focus on price stability and a sound dollar, and on not generating a monetary roller coaster. (That, in part, is what caused the housing and commodities bubbles.) Rein in government spending to pay for the tax cuts, and trim senseless regulation."
Gary Wolfram, William Simon Professor of Economics, Hillsdale College: "Rather than old style Keynesianism we should reduce the corporate income tax substantially. The problem is not lack of demand, but rather a lack of investment. By reducing the corporate income tax, among the highest in the industrialized world, we will increase the incentive for companies to invest in new equipment, technology, research and development, and buildings. This will increase productivity in the long run, leading to higher GDP and higher wages.”
Lawrence Franko, Retired Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston, College of Management: "Government ‘infrastructure spending stimulus’ programs in Japan during the 1990s produced no stimulus, but rather a vast overhang of government debt. Bridges, tunnels, roads, and trains to nowhere stimulate nothing. It is productivity growth that counts, and that comes mainly from the private sector – which is why tax cuts have always been a surer way to economic recovery.
Michael Sykuta, Associate Professor, University of Missouri – Columbia: "Government intervention and ‘stimulus’ in the housing market is largely responsible for the current economic crisis. History has shown that the Obama team’s proposed ‘stimulus’ is not only going to have little to no effect in the short run, but will create a larger bureaucratic structure, lead to tremendous investments in unproductive political lobbying among ‘stimulus project’ wannabes, and dissuade/delay private investment, recovery and growth."
David Laband, Professor of Economics and Policy, Auburn University: "Our economy as a whole will [no] benefit from taking money from current or future taxpayers to support a government spending spree. No doubt, certain interest groups will gain from feeding at the public sector trough. But losers surely will outnumber winners by a large margin. Our economy as a whole will benefit from Congress lowering taxes and letting Americans decide for themselves what is worth spending their hard-earned dollars on."
Howard Baetjer, Lecturer, Dept. of Economics, Towson University: "A government-spending ‘stimulus’ is a very bad idea. Because government can spend only what it has taxed or borrowed away from the public, it creates no new demand but merely redirects it. Recovery depends on profit and loss discipline and public confidence that the basic rules underlying free markets will be followed. The latter is hurt by government interventions such as ‘stimulus.’"
Henry Thompson, Professor, Auburn University: "The current recession was caused by government fiddling with the mortgage market and the moral hazard created by the illusion of government monitoring of financial markets. Increased government involvement in the economy is not the solution."
Gene Smiley, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Marquette University: "An ‘economic stimulus’ program will do nothing to correct the serious price and resource misallocations that currently exist and are stopping the economy from moving back toward ‘full-employment.’ In fact, they will likely retard the recovery. They will divert resources from the private sector to the government sector moving us further away from a free-enterprise economy.
Stacie Beck, Professor, University of Delaware: "A spending stimulus will only delay the needed restructuring of the U.S. economy to remain internationally competitive. Tax cuts will facilitate that restructuring far better than spending and job creation by the government."

It seems pretty clear how to stimulate the economy. Now all we need is some leaders to step forward and do it. Looks like Florida Sen. Mel Martinez has a plan that would make sense.