Minneapolis and the tragedy of the situation

“No Americans should fear enmity and harm from those sworn to protect us. The death of George Floyd must not be in vain: Our shock and outrage must grow into collective determination to extinguish forever such racist abuse.” – Mitt Romney

Once again RINO Romney has a half a thought… it was a start but it ended there.

First, I want to start by saying what happened to George Floyd is reprehensible. The officers involved should prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

So, let me say this as respectfully as I can, as long as human beings roam the planet there will continue to be racists of all colors. Racism can not be eliminated completely through “collective determination” simply because it can never be completely eliminated due to the “human factor”. That said, as a society we can continue to work on the cultural issues that fuel racism and cut it off any place we find it has been institutionalized.

But first we must focus, on the perpetrators and the facts around each situation, then address the root cause of each. The knee jerk and divisive reactions we regularly see compliments of the media and lousy politicians, constantly sets our society and any gains we have made back.

The media rationalization of the “protestors” behavior only emboldens the troublemakers. Also, I think we all know that all of these people are not local protestors but rather some are political operatives sent there to cause chaos. They don’t care about George Floyd, they only care about furthering their own agenda.

All cops are not bad so when a precinct is burned down let’s not pretend it is some how justified. Why does Target deserves to be looted? Why do local businesses deserve to be burned? How does destroying your own neighborhood, local businesses, people’s personal property or your community fix the problem?

Please don’t talk to me about pent up anger… if you are pissed at a friend and you go kick his ass, despite your pent up anger, you will be arrested and put in jail. Memorial services, candle light vigils and peaceful protests are every Americans right and should not be interfered with as long as they don’t infringe on the rights of others or the community as a whole.

Society must hold all players in these dramas accountable for their actions. The 4 cops should have been arrested the minute that video was validated and held while the DA decided on the appropriate charges. That alone would have taken some of the emotions down a notch or two. When these incidents occur we must move swiftly to defuse them.

But back to my original point, fixing these problems has more to due with holding the perpetrators responsible for their actions in a swift and decisive manner rather than allowing them to be used as politial fodder to be used to drive unrest. Perpetrators of this behavior should be made examples of, so it is understood it will not be tolerated. If this is really about George Floyd and justice, everything else must to stop so we can focus on that.

My prayers are with the Floyd family and all my friends in the Twin Cities, this is so hard to watch happen to a place where I spent 28 happy years of my life.

America, we are teetering on the brink. It is time to heal our country before it is lost and our freedoms with it. Let’s not let the politicians win. God bless America and help us before it’s too late.

You are an American, embrace it!

You are an American, embrace it! You have freedom here like no other country in the world. Yes, we are not perfect, but what country is? We are the most caring and giving nation in history despite our flaws. Love your country! Recognize that only in America do you have the freedom to be individuals, to protest anything you want and to choose your own path. If you disagree, then why are so many people still trying to get here anyway they can? It is time for the citizens of this great nation to work together to restore us to our former glory. Stop acting like petulant children, finding fault with each other and bickering like spoiled siblings. The media has everyone whipped into a frenzy about things that really don’t matter like gay marriage, confederate flags, a fake “war” on women and over exaggerated claims of serial police brutality. When I say they don’t matter I mean in the context of the real problems facing our country – unemployment, spiraling out of control debt, a crumbling infrastructure and unsecured borders. Social issues should and can be resolved at the state level. They are not the business of the federal government. I support individual rights and would not take away someone else’s because their beliefs don’t agree with mine unless they are harming someone. While these issue should not be ignored it is time to prioritize our agenda to ensure the survival of our nation as well as the liberties and freedom that have made us great. Be proud of your country, resolve to help restore our greatness and enjoy another 239 years of freedom for our children’s sake. As Ronald Reagan said, “If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth.” God Bless America and a happy 4th to you and yours! 

 

Open Letter about Political Posts on FB and Twitter

I am growing weary of all the political BS flowing through my Facebook and Twitter pages. I don’t want to offend my friends or anyone else with what I say next but sometimes the truth is hard. Most people (not all) are uninformed, don’t get half of what they hear on the news and are too lazy to research things they don’t understand. Instead, most just settle for sound bites and base their opinions on what they are being fed by the media.

“The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”  – Thomas Jefferson; June 6, 1807

Many others are driven by a single issue or interest or just so caught up in their own lives they are oblivious to what is happening around them. I am offended that things are posted as factual that are clearly designed with sensationalism in mind. False and misleading posts undermine your position regardless of which side you support. We seem to have lost the ability to have factual debates and instead seem to prefer emotional, fact less or lie filled diatribes. Our discussions have been reduced to calculated sound bites designed to manipulate or incite overreaction. Clearly, we have lost our way. Our country is in the worst shape in our history.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

I keep seeing pro-democrat or pro republican/conservative posts asking for likes or shares, extolling their respective virtues. News flash – they both suck! How about firing ALL of them as both parties have become jokes! By the way, when you look past the rhetoric it is hard to tell them apart. Let’s start over in 2016 and replace them all with leaders that will put government back in its place… which is out of our daily lives, period! The federal government was intended for defense, infrastructure and managing foreign affairs not deciding issues of marriage, diet or healthcare. Let the states govern (per the 10th Amendment) to the needs of their constituents. We need to start over with leaders who will follow the constitutional roles for each branch of government. It will take years to unwind the massive bureaucracy that is in place but that and a strong economy with jobs to make people self sufficient are required for the country to survive. Unfortunately, our country is overrun with people who want the government to take care of them rather than an opportunity to take care of themselves. Today, 44% of the country’s federal income supports entitlements. On top of that our infrastructure is crumbling and we keep handing out foreign aid, often to our enemies while borrowing money at a rate that is unsustainable.

“Nothing is so well calculated to produce a death-like torpor (lethargy) in the country as an extended system of taxation and a great national debt.” – William Cobbett; Feb. 10,1804

There is no such thing as “social justice” or “free stuff” – everything the government hands out has to be paid for by someone. Even in socialist countries there is a class system with “haves” and “have nots”. It is just in those places there are more “have nots” and less even less “haves” with little opportunity to change status.

Finally, if you want to participate in the conversation, please do it in a meaningful way. Be thoughtful rather than a bomb thrower. Research the things that fire you up. Don’t trust a single source for your news or facts. Fox News, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and the rest all have an agenda. Use all of these resources as well as the international press to study the issues and form your opinions. If we stay on the current path we will destroy ourselves as Lincoln suggested. We need common sense and an informed public to fix the problems we face. I still believe most Americans want a strong country, a strong economy and a shot at the American Dream. It is time to get informed, think for yourself and align your positions with your values not a political party.

Paul Harvey, 1965: describes America in 2015

This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on April 3, 1965:

If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine yound intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild. I would designate an athiest to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.” With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And then, my police state would force everybody back to work. Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day.

Hollywood Gun Hypocrisy

Love this remake of a recent anti -gun ad by a bunch of Hollywood hypocrites. Guns are less of a problem than the people who glorify murder and violence through movies, TV, video games and music. However we dont like to talk about the country’s morale deacay, its easier to blame it on the guns. What should really gall us is the fact that the very group making a fortune off this culture of violence are the ones lecturing us. Our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is being threatened by the very same people who would use the 1st Amendment for freedom of speech to defend their right to produce a violent, drug and sex filled movie. They are all a bunch of shameless hypocrites!! Maybe it’s time consider whose “art” we want to support in the future. After all if they won’t support our rights maybe it’s time to quit “supporting” theirs.

Wake up, America! Reject the Progressive Left!

The Ad Romney Should be Running

If the Romney campaign wants to blow Obama out of the water the simplest way to do it might be to simply take these two videos, edit them together and run it over and over in prime time followed by a simple question: “What Does He Mean?”

Wake Up, America! 4 more years of this type of fundamental change and you will no longer recognize your country.

Restore the Republic! Reject Socialism while there is still time.

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” – Patrick Henry

Obama… the numbers don’t Lie!

So here are some stats to help you when you are discussing the election with your undecided friends. These are the facts and the numbers don’t lie. It doesn’t take a CPA to figure out if something doesn’t change quickly we are headed for an economic collapse. The tipping point is already on the horizon…

The Economy, Jobs & Taxes:

America’s Rank in Global Business Competitiveness: Before BO #1 Currently #7 (Source: US News & World Report)

Current National Debt – $16.2 Trillion   (Source: US Treasury)

New Debt Added Since Obama was elected – $5.5 Trillion  (Source: US Treasury)

Your share of the National Debt – $51,419 (Source: US Treasury)

Increase in your share since Obama took office – $17,554 (Source: US Treasury)

Federal Budget Deficits – 2 highest in history: 2009 – $1.416 Trillion & 2011 – $1.298 Trillion respectively (Source: CBO)

Proposed Tax Increases in Obama’s Proposed Budget – $1.9 Trillion (Source: OMB)

New Taxes Hidden in Obamacare – $810 Billion (Source: CBO)

Medicare cuts in Obamacare: $716 Billion (Source: CBO)

# of people Officially Unemployed: 12.014 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

# of people Unemployed, Underemployed or have given up – 22.728 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

The real Unemployment Rate: 14.7% (Source: US Labor Dept.)

# of people Unemployed More than 27 weeks: 5.0 Million (Source: US Labor Dept.)

Consecutive Months of Unemployment over 8% – 43 (Source: US Labor Dept.)

Pages of new Federal Regulations since Obama took office: 11,327 (Source: Federal Register)

Healthcare, Food, Gas & Education:

Avg. Increase in the cost of a family health plan since Obama took office: $3,065 or 24.2%  (Source: The Kaiser Foundation)

# of people on Food Stamps: 47,025,030 (Source: US Dept. of Agriculture)

Avg. increase in cost of Groceries for a family of 4: 5.15%  (Source: US Dept. of Agriculture)

Increase in the price of gas: 106%  up from $1.89 to $3.89 per gallon (Source: US Dept. of Transportation)

Avg. Increase for In-State Tuition since Obama took office: 25% (Source: The college Board)

So there you have it. The numbers speak for themselves. We can’t afford to keep spending at these levels and increasing taxes stunts growth while killing jobs. We saw the same trends during the Carter Administration. Reagan corrected the problem by managing down the size of government and cutting taxes to stimulate growth. We rode that wave all the way through the Clinton Administration. We can do it again but not with a president that is more interested in “redistribution” than growth and creating opportunity.

Wake up, America! Reject Socialism and Restore the Republic!

“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy” – Thomas Jefferson

Change the Conversation… it’s the wasteful spending, stupid!

“We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much.” – Ronald Reagan

Truer words have never been spoken. Why is this so hard for politicians to understand? Probably because they are politicians not businessmen. It is time for America to look itself in the mirror and decide what kind of country we want to have – a government run “nanny state” where individual freedom and success is “sacrificed” for the “greater good” or an America that allows individual success to be rewarded and a government that follows its’ constitutional role?

The ongoing debate between the Republicans and Democrats has become exhausting. The never ending media coverage of the bickering is enough to disenfranchise most Americans but what is worse is the out of touch tone of the debate. Republicans want to reduce taxes and cut spending. The Democrats want to keep spending and raise taxes on the “rich”.

Also let’s not forget those “Patriotic Millionaires” they want their taxes raised – I guess they feel guilty about their success. But why do we need to raise their taxes? They can give as much as they want – just add a check box to the tax form for anyone who wants to pay more just like we have for the presidential campaign fund.

Here is the real bottom line – everyone is missing the real opportunity. Before we even start worrying about what programs to change, eliminate or whose benefits to cut, let’s first focus on the waste from inefficiency and fraud that we know exists at every level of the federal government. Too simple? Maybe but remember there probably hasn’t been a serious attempt at operational efficiency or cost control in Washington in the last 100 years. In business this is part of a never ending cycle to stay competitive or perish. However, the government has no competition so there is no imperative to be financially prudent. We have all heard the stories of agencies spending their full budget every year to avoid having it reduced.

Is there anyone out there that doubts that in a bureaucracy the size of the federal government there is not significant waste that could be reduced WITHOUT cutting into the core entitlements and services currently being offered? But do you hear politicians or bureaucrats talking about this – of course not!

So let’s try a little math. Let’s assume an annual federal budget of $3.7 trillion and for sake of argument, let’s say we could find 15% waste due to operating inefficiency, sloppy procurement practices and fraud. This hardly seems like a reach but the result would be a spending reduction of $555 billion off the original $3.7 trillion. The President could make such a demand of all government agencies by simply telling his cabinet that he is holding them responsible for the performance of their departments. After all aren’t government employees supposed to be professionals in their various fields of employment? Shouldn’t they be held accountable to a standard of performance similar to that of employees in private industry? If these workers would like to change the stereotype of government employees, one would think that they would embrace this challenge! Also this should become an annual challenge just like in private business, every year we build additional cost reduction and efficiency gains into our operating budgets, why shouldn’t the government do the same?

“Government does not have a revenue problem; government has a spending problem. Government does not have a revenue problem; government has a priority problem. It is time that we begin to fine tune our focus and decide what the priority of government ought to be.” – Marsha Blackburn

Unfortunately, part of the problem with this is it would result in a reduction of the federal workforce. This would be fought tooth and nail by the various unions that represent government employees. It would take courage and leadership for our senior leaders (both Democrats and Republicans) to go after these savings because there would be negative political consequences. But the truth is they are not in office to protect government jobs. By the way these jobs are a drag on the federal budget not a revenue generator so our leaders should be driving efficient operations to free up money for meeting our national needs. This approach doesn’t even begin to address other opportunities such as consolidation of redundant services, elimination of programs that are no longer valid or reform of entitlement programs and the tax code.

“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!” – Ronald Reagan

So before we start talking about which programs to eliminate, whose benefits to reduce or whose taxes to raise, let’s start with the most basic of fiscal responsibilities; let’s manage the beast that is the federal budget just like a successful private company would. Let’s focus on operating efficiency, good procurement practices and reducing fraud. After all, this seems like a $555 billion opportunity that all sides should be able to agree on.

Wake up, America! We are being scammed by the politicians. It is time to hold them accountable. They must eliminate waste, inefficiency and fraud before they cut benefits or raise taxes. Let’s change the conversation – contact your representatives and let them know we are on to them. We want accountable action and we want it now.

Restore the Republic, Reject politics as usual!

“Governments don’t reduce deficits by raising taxes on the people; governments reduce deficits by controlling spending and stimulating new wealth.” – Ronald Reagan

To see more specifics on ways to attack the deficit, see my earlier blog – How to Balance the Federal Budget, http://wp.me/pv8jP-mQ

The Conservative Revolution: The Truth about the Real America

 Since early 2009 a conservative backlash has been brewing in America. It started slowly with a few small local Tea Party rallies, mostly focused on the impact of high income tax and excessive government spending on families, the economy and America. Tax Day (April 15^th) 2008 marked a turning point as rallies large and small were held across the nation. Suddenly conservatives realized two things – there were a lot more of us than we realized and we could loosely organize to make a difference.

 The nationwide Tax Day rallies were the result of a grassroots internet campaign. These rallies were self funded and run almost exclusively at the local level. I know – I was one of the organizers of the St. Paul MN rally held on the steps of the state capitol building. Our rally drew over 7,000 attendees that day. Even in liberal Minnesota there were signs of the coming backlash.

 So here we are nearly two years later and halfway through the first term of the Obama presidency. Obama was swept into office with a message of “Hope and Change”. Many of those who voted for him bought into the slick marketing of his campaign. They believed that this president would right the wrongs and end government as usual. He promised fairness as well as a new prosperity that would make America a better place and people bought it. His campaign positioned him as “the post racial president”, a healer and center left moderate but in reality he is a progressive.  As people began to realize who they had elected the euphoria which reined after his election quickly turned to discontentment.

The mood of America is now colored with grim concern. The independents and blue dog democrats that helped elect Obama have come to realize that he does not share their values or belief in the American way of life. In fact, they finally understand what Obama meant when he said that “we are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America” in an Oct. 31, 2008 speech in Missouri. Obama and his cohorts would like to create a new foundation for America, a foundation based on progressive values which have their roots in socialism/communism.

Their idea of government would be more of the European model of a socialist democracy with over reaching government controls, entitlements and heavy taxes to support a “nanny state” approach to “social justice”. There are two major problems with this model. First, it doesn’t work. It has not worked anywhere it was tried. It’s already falling apart in the liberals current favorite example of social democracy, Venezuela.  Second, Europe is an economic disaster. Its’ citizens are rioting in the streets as their governments try to figure out how to make good on all the entitlements they promised as their economies tank. (See Greece, France and Portugal for examples) To add additional salt to the wound, European society has begun to spiral out of control as years of “open borders and society” has resulted in a Muslim occupation in some areas of Europe leading to bitter fights over the secular rule of law versus Sharia law. These are all consequences of a social democracy.

If we are not careful we will end up in the same place. Just this year, the Congressional Budget Office said that our national debt as a percentage of GDP will triple by 2035 which would be 185% of GDP. This represents nothing short of an economic train wreck.

To stay on a path that leads to a social democracy would be a fundamental transformation of America! As it turns out though this is not what most Americans want. Most Americans (75% overall) still believe in the American Dream and traditional American values according to recent surveys. Here are some other findings of recent polls that indicate that America is still a Christian leaning, patriotic, capitalist, center right country with traditional values:

• The majority of Americans in every age group still believe that America is the land of opportunity.
• 75% of Americans still believe “America is the greatest country in the world”.
• 80% of Americans claim Christianity as their religion and 50% of Americans believe life in the United States would be better if more people lived Christian values
• 64% of voters say the country is on the wrong track and this number is steadily increasing.
• 90% of Mainstream voters favor a free market economy. 75% of likely voters overall believe in a free market economy rather than one controlled by the government.
• 58% of all voters favor increased competition over increased government regulation as the best way to hold big business accountable.
• 65% of voters overall, prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes rather than one with more services and higher taxes. Even 32% of Democrats now prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes.
• 83% of Americans believe it is somewhat likely that the federal government will have to cut government spending in the next 10 years.
• 53% of likely U.S. voters favor repeal of the health care law, including 43% who Strongly Favor repeal.
• 51% of Americans believe the healthcare law will increase the federal deficit. Only 30% believe it will reduce it.

Data sources: Rasmussen Reports, Real Clear Politics, ABC News, The Arizona Republic

It appears that Americans are reconnecting with their values. Sometimes it takes hardship to reawaken our spirits. I believe that recent times have taught us to value our freedom and our way of life. So now that we have the momentum to change the direction of our country and return to our core values, what’s our next move?

First, we must remember that the Republican Party has been a part of the problem as much as the Democrats for the past 20 years. Many moderate Republicans are progressives, too.

If we give the Republicans our votes – it should be done with this clear message – you work for us and from now on you will be held accountable for each and every vote you cast. No more back room deals, no more compromising. You campaigned on a platform that earned our votes, in return you need to vote the agenda that got you elected. If you don’t there won’t be another term.

This is the message that needs to be sent. No more politics as usual. There are many new faces on the political scene this year – most are riding the resurgent conservative wave. Hopefully they are who they say they are. Republicans, Independents and Tea Party candidates need to now do what is necessary to put America back on the right track. It’s time.

Restore the Republic, Reject the Agenda of the Progressive Left!

 “If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control”.  – Martin Luther King

Gimme Back My Bullets

Working through the backdoor, radical leftist groups, the administration, the EPA and Regulatory Czar Cass Sunstein are carefully designing regulations to control the use of lead in products. While we all recognize the dangers associated with the use of lead in some products there is a hidden agenda in this effort.

The real target in this effort maybe unlegislated gun control. Using environmental concerns as their launching pad several environmental groups are asking the EPA to ban bullets, lead shot and even fishing sinkers claiming they contaminate the environment. The proposal relies on support from studies which claim that lead shot, ammo, sinkers, etc are killing animals that eat the lead fragments or other animals that were shot and contaminated by the ammo that killed them. These groups are citing the Toxic Substances Control Act as the vehicle to create these regulations. 

The proposed regulations are a stretch and conflict with existing language within the act. There also is no precedent for the EPA to involve itself in regulations that interfere with second amendment gun rights. The NRA has already weighed in on this sending the EPA a letter pointing out that they are overstepping their authority. 

You have to give these guys credit for creativity. If you can’t implement gun control legislation due to a lack of support then go after the ammunition on the basis of lead and render the guns useless. While there maybe alternatives to lead most would fall into the category of military grade ammunition such as the armor piercing variety which would create safety issues for law enforcement so that would also be shot down (no pun intended). 

Fundamental transformation is underway! It is time to stop it in its tracks! 

Restore the Republic, Reject the Agenda of the Progressive Left! 

“The maintenance of the right to bear arms is a most essential one to every free people and should not be whittled down by technical constructions”. — North Carolina Supreme Court, State v. Kerner (1921) 

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyrany in government”. — Thomas Jefferson 

“Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant”.  — James Madison