In one of the most shocking revelations I have ever heard, AP reported that, according to White House estimates, the United States will rack up Nine Trillion Dollars in federal deficit in the next One Decade.
That is more debt than has been recorded since 1776, i.e., in 233 years or 23.3 decades.
And even though the Congressional Budget Office predicts only a Seven Trillion shortfall by 2019, there is nothing in the way of good news on this front.
How do we make up such a deficit?
Quite simply by raising taxes, adding many more consumption taxes and cutting government programs.
There is no other way.
Main Street USA needs to get more vocal, more visible.
Earmarks and pork included in ANY legislation must be eliminated, period.
Federal Grant programs need to be reviewed. How many times (and how much money has been spent) by the government via grants to various persons, groups, and organizations, where those who benefitted from the grant went on to make money?
I would bet my bottom dollar that the amount would be shocking.
With the news of this projected deficit, the mortgaging of America as we know it, it is hoped that Main Street USA now understands why there must not be a One Trillion Dollar-plus national healthcare reform bill passed.
This country cannot sustain itself where the WH projected national debt will equal 75% of the entire national economy.
Once again, keep in mind how big these numbers are that are being tossed around.
One Trillion Dollars is the equivalent of YOU spending One Million Dollars a day, each and every day for about 2,740 years.
That means that Nine Trillion is, yes, nine times that amount.
These numbers are extremely hard to fathom.
How anyone could issue statements about a Federal Deficit of this magnitude with a straight face is beyond me.
And as Main Street USA is mortgaged away there will be repercussions.
Keep in mind the very wise words from our Founding Fathers:
"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases." And, "Most bad government has grown out of too much government." Thomas Jefferson
"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
Those citizens of Main Street USA who would like to approve national healthcare reform as it has been presented in the House and Senate, with its One Trillion Dollar (minimum) price tag (to be paid by we taxpayers) and a government-run plan, may want to look at a couple of other sectors of government before casting their final ballot.
It was just over four weeks ago that the Social Security Administration threw a weekend bash (excuse me, their motivational management conference) at a plush Arizona resort costing we, the taxpayer, a cool $700,000.
This in the midst of the, as has been described by the media, worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
And, yes, the Social Security Commissioner did know of and approve this lavish meeting even though the SSA is, itself, bankrupt.
Back when that story broke I made mention of the fact that it would be nice to hear about other areas of government and what they are doing with OUR hard-earned dollars.
Next up, the Veteran's Administration.
According to the Associated Press, over the past two years (2007 and 2008) more than $24 Million has been paid in bonuses to people who work in the VA.
I do not have anything against people working anywhere earning bonuses, as long as they are based upon actual production of that individual. And, as long as everything else has been taken care of first.
Yet, it seems bonuses were being paid even though there were U.S. Veterans who had been waiting for their first disability check during that same time. Some have tried to blame this problem on the transition of records between the VA and the Pentagon.
That does not add up.
However, there has been more than just bonuses being paid when business at hand was not under control.
The VA Inspector General evidently uncovered some very damaging internal dirt.
There have been improprieties such as relatives paying additional money (bonuses) to relatives (i.e., nepotism) within the VA and managers inappropriately paying for college tuition for many family members.
As well, one lower level VA employee was having an affair with a higher level VA official and we, Main Street USA, paid $37,000 for 22 flights to and from, for their lover's tryst.
The list goes on.
And the main response to this outrage thus far has been the top Republican on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Steve Buyer (IN), who had this to say, The "VA must appoint honorable individuals to these critical positions."
Profound, truly profound.
So, I ask you, Main Street USA…how is it that you want the government to set up and administer broad national health care, those who are chastising and tearing apart financial, commercial and industrial America, when they cannot, under any circumstances, it seems, keep their own house in order?
Whether an elected political figure is Democrat or Republican, I do not trust too many these days. Too many scandals, too much bribery, too little ethics for my taste.
That said, it makes me wonder what is going on when President Obama can make such a drastic claim, one that has eluded politicians for decades. To refresh, his words were, "I guarantee you ... we are going to get health care reform done."
That is a very bold statement. That is why I wonder what is going on…what deals are being made behind closed doors, what additional earmarks must Main Street USA have to pay to buy some votes in the House and/or Senate?
The questions that statement brings to mind are endless.
Anytime an elected politician states that they will guarantee something will happen, mark my words, Main Street USA; deals are being made behind closed doors.
And deals are not always in the best interest of taxpayers; they are in the interest of self-preservation of those who have been elected…those elected to serve in the best interest of taxpayers.
As the national healthcare reform debate trudges on and the left accuses the right of lying and the right accuses the left of lying, somewhere there is truth.
The truth lies in the 1,100-odd page proposed bills sitting in the House and Senate that not one of our elected officals has read in its entirety. At least, not one that I have heard or read about.
That function they leave to their hired or appointed staff.
However, there are a few things that are true or not true.
It is simply not true that our financial well-being depends on healthcare reform. That is, quite simply, glowing rhetoric, taking a bad situation (i.e., the recession) and using it to one's advantage (i.e., trying to sell a bill-of-goods).
It is true that the Congressional Budget Office did not offer any guarantees about being able to hold the line on costs. If I recall, the CBO stated that costs would be unsustainable in the long run.
Those costs, mind you, come out of our collective pockets.
One Trillion-plus Dollars…the equivalent of spending one million dollars a day, each and every day, for one million years (or about 2,740 years).
I am still curious as to who is going to be covered…does coverage extend to non-citizens? Why would Main Street USA pay for them? Why don't they become citizens in order to qualify for such a wonder thing as healthcare coverage?
Another issue that has me wondering what is going on is when on Sunday, one of the president's staff states that a public option is not mandatory and the next day, amid backlash from the most liberal, another emissary basically recants that statement, without fully saying those words.
Appeasement.
Negotiation.
Don't upset the apple cart.
Unfortunately, because of some bad eggs in private business, all business is becoming over-scrutinized and may, possibly, become over-regulated, or, even worse, have the "government" as a competitor.
All the while, those corrupt or less-than-ethical elected officials continue to get away with their shenanigans.
Just to name one example, why is Governor Mark Sanford, who went AWOL, committed dereliction of duty, and used public money for private affairs and purposes still in office?
What happened to ethics in government?
What about their own self-regulation?
When an elected official breaks the laws of the land, why is it that they can continue to function as if nothing happened?
And, how can it be that even those who are busted, plead guilty and are sentenced to time in prison, such as Duke Cunningham, can still collect their cherished (and lucrative) retirement?
Where is the justice?
Those two small examples (as we know, there are many to choose from) do not show equal protection under the law…they show favoritism to people sworn to uphold the law, the Constitution, and to the rights of the people that elected them into office.
Keep our Founding Fathers words in mind, Main Street USA, when deciding what you wish to happen here in America:
"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases." Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." Benjamin Franklin
"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." John Adams
"Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people, by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations." James Madison
"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
If every one's little toddler is so "smart" then what happens when the "smart" kid hits middle school, high school, college, or jail, and so on when they magically become mediocre and/or do really, really stupid things, get a "D" on a math test, get college rejection letters, get an STD, etc? What happens?
Everyone seems to have the smartest kid, way beyond grade level or the aptitude of his/her peers. Some of us may have even been guilty of this borderline child-idolatry.
He got some interesting answers, some of which I'll share below, but I thought my answer noteworthy as well. I immediately thought of the heredity vs. environment argument.
"I'm sure most parents will switch from seeing smarts as hereditary to being a product of environment as their children age and are impacted by the environment."
In other words, they attribute their toddlers' intelligence to their good genetics, but it must be the environment that sucks away their inherited smarts. Surely, it can't be that they are average, like everybody else.
Some other responses Anthony Bradley got:
"Isn't a lot of it how we do schooling in the west?"
"Then they are like the rest of us, normal."
"Then hopefully they will finally embrace the reality that they missed when their child was born. They are a depraved sinner, an enemy of God who needs the saving grace of God through Christ."
"The vaccinations suck the intelligence right out of them, once the government chip is implanted and activated."
"I'm not sure I understand the question. I haven't really known that many smart toddlers, except mine."
"Clearly, this is a side effect of all the hormones we put in our food these days. Kids are actually smarter at the age of 2 than they are at the age of 22; somethings we may never know."
"What happens is that it is all becomes 'somebody else's fault' ... and usually somebody dumb."
We continue with our series based on The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do, by Mark Atteberry. The following are some notes from the Sunday school lesson at Providence Church.
DUMB MOVE #9: Allowing Wolves to Live Among the Sheep
6 facts drawn from biblical warning passages concerning wolves among the sheep:
Fact #1: Spiritual wolves are masters of deception.
4 Reasons We’re Hesitant to Remove Spiritual Wolves:
We foolishly believe people will change without discipline.
The intermingling of personal relationships
We’re afraid of collateral damage.
We don’t know what to do.
6 Basic Conclusions Drawn from Biblical Passages Addressing Church Discipline:
Conclusion #1: No one should get a free pass when it comes to bad behavior.
Conclusion #2: Not all bad behavior makes a person deserving of confrontation or removal from church.
Conclusion #3: Biblical church discipline is a process, not an act.
Conclusion #4: Biblical church discipline should be carried out with patience.
Conclusion #5: The removal of a person from the church’s fellowship should be the last resort.
Conclusion #6: There should be no guilty feelings on the part of church leaders who exercise church discipline … and no animosity directed toward them by members of the congregation.
Discussion Questions:
“The Bible tells us not to judge, but it also tells us to confront troublemakers in church. How would you resolve what some people say is a conflict between these two commands? At what point does a person’s behavior ‘cross the line’ and become worthy of discipline?
What are the risks involved in church discipline? What are the risks of a lack of discipline?
Dagg said, “When discipline leaves a church, Christ goes with it.” Why might he be right?
As reported by the Associated Press, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday, "What I am saying is the bottom line for this for the president is, what we have to have is choice and competition in the insurance market." I was not aware that there were no choices existing at present.
Nor was I aware that there was no competition.
As I search the web there are a vast number of insurance companies and when one looks through the healthcare plans offered it seems there are many from which to choose.
What I do understand is that the cost of insurance is becoming higher and higher.
And what I also understand is that there are no elected representatives willing to tackle Tort Reform in an attempt to curtail the rising cost of insurance.
Why is it that people, speaking particularly of politicians at this point, have to make things overly complex and employ smoke and mirrors.
An example of overly complex is that reforming the healthcare system requires that government must enter that field (which, perhaps, may not now be the case, unless, of course, that portion of reform is tacked back into the bill at actual voting time) to ensure people have a choice.
And the smoke and mirrors utilized in this endeavor are ample. One of the best is stating that healthcare reform is necessary for our economic recovery. That is such a blatant lie it is laughable, except that we are dealing with taxing, literally, the resources of every taxpaying citizen of Main Street USA.
It is also worthy of note that AP describes the Obama administration "embrace insurance cooperatives over a government-run plan" decision as "Bowing to Republican pressure and offering political cover to fiscally conservative Democrats."
Bowing to the other political party…offering cover to your own party?
What ever happened to what the people (those residents Main Street USA) want and do not want? Those who do not want more government, do not want to end up paying for every little thing some politician wants to get in his/her district (i.e., earmarks), do not want government to make decisions for us, etcetera?
What ever happened to the people in the "of the people, by the people, and for the people" equation?
While it is true that our Founding Fathers could not have envisioned life and all of its intricacies in the 21st Century, they did certainly have a handle on people and government and what people in government could attempt.
One example of this knowledge of humankind is from John Adams, "There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."
Another, from James Madison: "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people, by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."
Perhaps each and every one of our elected officials (and their appointed and hired staff) should be required to do a refresher course in Government 101, as taught by our Founding Fathers, prior to accepting their post, their post of public trust.
In an Associated Press report today from Montana, President Obama is quoted as saying, "I know that in a time of economic upheaval, the idea of change can be unsettling, and I know that there are folks who believe that government should have no role at all in solving our problems."
That is not what this is about, government solving problems.
Our government has stepped in many times to solve problems and voters most generally do not mind, and, in fact, at times have welcomed it.
And isn't this economic upheaval that we are experiencing quite a change itself?
Saying "…there are folks who believe that government should have no role at all in solving our problems" is a complete and total misdirection of the issues at hand.
The President's PR people, while they have decided to change tactics and get Obama tackling this issue the way that he campaigned, are doing him/have done him a disservice preparing a statement for him that is not the issue.
Do they really believe that people cannot think, that they do not hear what is being said?
Main Street USA is saying that they do not want: 1) a more than One Trillion Dollar debt that they have to pay, 2) government involved in the life insurance business, 3) a very complicated health reform bill, 4) higher taxes and more consumption taxes, 5) earmarks that do not have facts to back up why and how all of America should pay for walking trails and park street lights in select communities (among many others).
Those items have nothing to do, specifically, with the government solving problems.
How our elected government officials go about solving the problems that face all of us is what this is all about.
Nothing more, nothing less.
That skilled politicians and advisors who attempt to divert attention to issues that have nothing to do with what is in front of us is, in a word, shameful.
Many people I speak with are curious to know why no one, especially Democrats who are heavily pushing the reform, proposes Tort Reform.
Just because Lawyers and Law Firms are among the highest contributors to Democrats and spend heavily in lobbying efforts AND they derive untold millions with huge tort awards should not determine whether or not Tort Reform occurs.
Of course, that is in a perfect world.
Isn't there one politician that has the strength of character to propose and fight for Tort Reform as part of Healthcare Reform (i.e., fight for Main Street USA)?
Wouldn't it be nice if one or a dozen or scores of them really listened to Main Street USA and took a stand and fought for what is best for us in every way possible?
I wonder if it is possible that our elected officials feel a bit like this . . . they work really hard to clean things up and get them presentable only to find out they were working on the wrong thing...
I've already made an impenetrable case as to why he's the best NBA player of all time, so I'll just stop down here to wish Lansing's favorite son a happy 50th birthday.
3 cheers and a big slice of cake for Earvin "Magic" Johnson, born on August 14, 1959. With 9 brothers and sisters, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some birthdays where he never got a piece of cake.
"Few athletes are truly unique, changing the way their sport is played with their singular skills. Earvin "Magic" Johnson was one of them." (Read more of his NBA.com biography)
Some interesting trivia about Magic:
Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, thought his nickname was blasphemous.
Magic was the first overall draft pick in 1979.
Magic is the youngest player to ever be named the NBA Finals MVP and was the first rookie to win the award.
Magic was the head coach of the Mighty Lakers for the final 16 games of the 93-94 season.
Magic holds the NBA record for blocked shots by a point guard (374).
Magic Johnson Quotes:
"Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates." (now you know where Kennedy got that line)
"When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are."
"Standing on that platform, I said a silent prayer. I thanked God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to come back, to play basketball again, and to be part of that whole magnificent Olympic experience. It's a memory I will always cherish."
"My father is my idol, so I always did everything like him. He used to work two jobs and still come home happy every night. He didn't do drugs or drink, and he wouldn't let anyone smoke in his house. Those are rules I adopted, too."
"I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here. And I want to walk my daughter down the aisle and give her away to somebody some day. I want to make sure I am still here to make sure my two young sons become men."
"My diet is mostly chicken and fish. I make sure I get a lot of vegetables, a lot of fruit. I am a big fruit man, I am a vegetable man anyway. And I also get a lot of rest. That's the key I may be up early, but I'm in bed early too."
National Healthcare Reform. Do we need it? Yes. The way it is currently being presented by the Senate and House? No.
Our elected officials are basically refusing to listen to their constituents.
National polls show people, in the majority, are against the reform as it is currently being presented.
However, our leaders continue to push it and push it, telling us that it must be done for our financial turnaround.
Rubbish.
Our recession was not caused by unreformed insurance.
Our recession is, however, being used as a platform by politicians in an attempt to get massive legislation through both houses for the "good" of Main Street USA.
I see no good coming from a One Trillion Dollar (plus) deficit.
But our elected representatives, those who are supposed to be watching out for OUR best interests, know that if the revenue projections are short or the expenses are higher than they counted upon, they simply raise our taxes, start more consumption taxes or borrow the money from the Central Bank (costing Main Street USA loads of interest).
Nevertheless, as more and more of the various items that are contained in the proposed bill are revealed (including the billions for earmarks) more and more Americans have decided that they do not want this kind of reform.
To counter this act of "uprising," i.e., people speaking their minds, events are staged, er, held and, lo and behold, catastrophes occur.
People like Senator Arlen Spector say the vocal people at his rally are not representative of America. Really? What polls are you reading, Senator?
A step further with the shenanigans, Democrats and Republicans, alike, take it to the extreme with ringers at events.
Yes, both sides do when attempting to get their story across.
But both have been caught red-handed with ringers going either direction, those in favor or those opposed. Ample blogs exist pointing out these humorous tales of attempting to pull the wool over the collective eyes of Main Street USA.
Elected and appointed officials even get into public name-calling of each other, making this "debate" over healthcare reform quite a three-ring circus.
All of this is interesting, to say the least.
Also, it is quite worrisome.
I used to think, and I was taught, that honesty is the best policy, and that diplomacy and statesmanship are superior tools in negotiations and settlements.
Let us hope that those on Capitol Hill listen to the people without the added diatribe added by ringers from both parties.
Healthcare reform, sure, but DO NOT sell us down the river in the meantime and DO keep government out of the healthcare business. That is NOT what government here in the Good Ole USA is supposed to be doing.
University of Congress, Political Science, Legislation 101: The most reliable method to attain enough votes to ensure that a piece of potentially volatile legislation passes is to add earmarks requested by members of Congress.
Democrats and Republicans alike have learned this basic political law of supply and demand for votes.
Why is it that our elected officials think that all of Main Street USA should contribute to the following earmarks, all of which were attached to much larger pieces of financial legislation during the past couple of years:
- $583,000 for the Montana World Trade Center (run by the University of Montana)
- $98,000 to develop a Walking Tour of Boydton, Virginia (2000 population = 454)
- $1.9 Million for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service located at the City College of New York
- $188,000 for the Lobster Institute, located at the University of Maine
- $460,752 for the beer ingredient, hops, mostly given to the Northwest Hops Research Program, allowing experts to investigate "critical issues" in the industry
While these few examples do not look like much, it is worth noting that they are items that every American should not have been forced to contribute to simply by virtue of the fact that some Senators and/or House members wanted to get these funds paid by Main Street USA for their zone of constituents.
Yet when people examine earmarks more closely they will find that there was approximately $16.1 Billion allocated for 2,627 different earmarks that were approved in September 2008 (conveniently, while everyone’s attention was riveted to the economic collapse).
This was done in one fell swoop, in the form of a Continuing Resolution that would fund government operations until March 2009.
That is, unfortunately, just a part of the story.
The $16.1 Billion was more than double the previous year.
Yes, America, earmarks are getting (have gotten) totally out of control.
Each and every one of us must contact our elected representatives by phone, email and letter and demand that such fiscal irresponsibility cease and desist immediately, starting with those pieces of pork that are being tagged to the healthcare reform presently in front of both the Senate and the House.
The following are some quotes and points made from Sunday's sermon at Providence Church on Matthew 6:9b, part of the Sermon on the Mount series.
"hallowed be your name"(ESV)
Click to listen:
“God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of Another having borne his punishment.” - Arthur W. Pink, Attributes of God, 46
“All contempt for his glory is duly punished, either on the cross, where the wrath of God is propitiated for those who believe, or in hell, where the wrath of God is poured out on those who don’t.” - John Piper, Desiring God, 296, n.7
“God’s holiness is manifested at the cross. Wondrously and yet most solemnly does the atonement display God’s infinite holiness and abhorrence of sin. How hateful sin must be to God for Him to punish it to its utmost deserts when it was imputed to His Son!” - Arthur W. Pink, Attributes of God, 46
HOW IS GOD’S NAME HALLOWED?
A. When sinners repent of their sins and honor the Holy One with their faith and obedience.
B. When God’s people respond rightly to Him.
1. in Worship – Responding to who He REALLY is, ascribing worth to Him (worship = Worthship). We must never forget worship is about God, not us.
2. in Prayer – We must balance “Our Father” with “Hallowed by Thy Name” - We could use a little less “What I’d really like dad is to borrow the car keys. See you later, can I have them please?”
3. in Evangelism – We’re telling everyone how special God is and what He’s graciously done for a rebellious world. It’s not that we’re so enamored with humanity, but we're consumed with extolling His greatness, regardless of whether seeds planted or watered bear fruit in our presence.
4. by Holy living ... and not our lips only. Jesus in Matt 15:8-9 (quoting Is 29:13) ... “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Luther’s catechism: Q: How is God’s name hallowed among us? A: When both our doctrine and our life are truly Christian
“for God’s name to be hallowed means a burning desire that the whole world may bow before God in adoration, in reverence, in praise, in worship, in honour and in thanksgiving. Is that the thing that is always uppermost in our minds whenever we pray to God?” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
*See also "The Holiness of God and His People," which I presented at the 3rd Annual Fellowship of Reformed Churches’ conference: 'The Character of God in Everyday Life,' 11/2007, Fort Worth, TX. Click to listen:
Speaking openly and quite candidly about the House Democrat Blue Dogs, House Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman was quoted in U.S. News & World Report as saying, "I won't allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans," because the 52-member group is not toeing the healthcare reform party line.
Must we remind Mr. Waxman that healthcare reform is NOT about a party but about MAIN STREET USA!
That he would threaten to have the bill bypass the committee he chairs because his democrats are being fiscally restrained about spending One Trillion Dollars that we do not (and will not) have in the next decade is ludicrous, at best.
Waxman reiterated his point stating that, "I don't see what other alternative we have, because we're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee."
Empower Republicans?
Please, Mr. Waxman, even Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi doesn't support your stance.
And, speaking of healthcare reform, President Obama continues his rhetoric that we must have his plan pass in order to create a healthy economy.
Even though healthcare is NOT the reason for the current state of the economy and that private economists, as reported this morning by USA Today, state that they see the recession ending in the 3rd Quarter this year (which is coming up mighty soon), and without healthcare reform having passed.
I am not saying that we do not need some form of healthcare reform.
I am saying that the reform should not - and cannot - cost Main Street USA One Trillion Dollars we do not and will not have. (Remember folks, that sum of money is the equivalent of spending One Million Dollars a day, each and every day, for about 2,740 years.)
I am also advocating Tort Reform as a means of getting healthcare costs (especially the cost of insurance) under control. But, with attorneys and lawyer firms being among the biggest political contributors and lobbying spenders, perhaps that is an unreasonable request on my part. Afterall, don't attorneys earn quite a sum when huge tort decisions are rendered?
And that we need to ensure that only U.S. Citizens are covered under any plan that is implemented. This is imperative and non-negotiable.
Another point is that the government should not, under any circumstances, be involved in providing a national healthcare insurance, competing, as it were, against traditional insurance companies. Our government, unfortunately, does not possess a good track record of keeping costs under control, nor of achieving revenue projections.
As well, there cannot be any pork in the bill because some various elected representatives want lamps in their parks and others want walking trails, etc., etc. Didn't President Obama promise, while campaigning, that there would be no earmarks in legislation under his watch?
Communities, if they really want such things, will find a way to get them built themselves, without having every tax-paying American contribute to their city beautification.
And, as I have stated previously, no one can say with any certainty that spending billions on such earmarks will increase the health of the Nation.
How about getting physical education back in school as a mandatory activity, along with health-related classroom teaching and activities? What's that wise old saying, something about it being better to teach someone to fish than to fish for them…
Read about the benefits of starting Sunday school on time.
Read about elephants being among the few animals to pass the self-awareness test.
Read (Part 1 - Part 2) Chris Brauns' answer to the question, "Can someone be a believer yet not be committed to a local church?"
Read about the parents having a public brawl over which gang their TODDLER should join.
Read this sobering health article, "How to Get Cancer: Move to the United States."
Check out the 14,641 Gatorade bottles used to make a huge Michael Jordan mosaic.
Read about the Marines banning Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.
Check out this church sign appealing to the Facebook savy with the ultimate Friend Request.
Read about the naked homeowner who gave a burglar a broken jaw with a baseball bat to send him on his merry way.
Read about the interesting experiences of a Korean immigrant named "John Doe."
Scope out this video clip tribute to recently deceased director John Hughes, chronicling his use of music to propel the plot and subsequent music careers.
Read about 10 reasons director John Hughes will be missed.
Read James Galyon's post on George Whitefield and the New Birth (i.e., regeneration).
Check out this CNN video story about the enforcing of Burger King's "No shirt, no shoes, no service" policy ... on a 6 month old baby.
Read, if you dare, about the 10 year old little girl in Yemen who demanded a divorce after being repeatedly raped and beaten by her husband. (HT Jade) Sadly, she's not that rare as a child bride.
Read about the rape of a girl in Arizona shedding light on the problem of rape in Liberia.
Check out this great dog costume, dog being eaten by alligator.
Read about 10 things that can (and will) spoil your vacation.
Read Randy Alcorn's thoughts on taking charge of the TV. (HT Joshua Harris)
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Manson "family" murders, including 8 months pregnant Sharon Tate.
It occurred to me that it's likely quite a few may be unfamiliar with Vincent Bugliosi's book Helter Skelter or the movie of the same name. You're probably fortunate, for Steve Railsback's portrayal of Charles Manson still gives me the heebie geebies.
Included, for educational purposes only, is a current picture of Charlie, at age 74. (HT Lance)
He's been denied parole 11 times, but is eligible again in 2012.
Read Friday's story about Susan Atkins (aka Sadie Mae Gluts) having brain cancer and desiring to be released after nearly 40 years of a 7 years to life sentence, which she received after California did away with the death penalty shortly after the family was so sentenced.
Atkins held Sharon Tate while she was stabbed 16 times.
"She asked me to let her baby live," Atkins said. " I told her I didn't have mercy for her."
Reportedly, Atkins, like other "family" members have experienced the mercy of God through the cross of Christ. I hope so and I know that He is mighty to save.
But, should she be paroled? She's reportedly no longer a threat to society and her advocates say she's a drain on the economy of California. (Last year she cost the state$865,000 in medical expenses.)
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, the Manson family member notorious for trying to kill President Ford, is being paroled on August 16th, after 34 years of her life sentence, at age 60.
Will she be the first in a trend? Should any of them be paroled?
The White House, under their very vocal spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, emphatically stated that Former President Bill Clinton was not sanctioned by the US Government when he flew to North Korea to negotiate with Kim Jong II the pardon of two Americans senteced to 12 years of hard labor.
Gibbs even, while the discussions were in progress and was asked about Clinton delivering a message from President Obama, flatly denied it, claiming that Clinton had no message to deliver.
So, how is it that Obama allows North Korea to save face?
How does the WH claim this "victory" when they denied Clinton was acting on their behalf?
Even lying to Main Street USA about what was going on.
At this point, I must agree with a couple of analysts that I have heard saying that the WH was going to use this in an attempt to stop, and hopefully reverse, Obama's falling favorable opinion status.
Our politicians, and their appointed cronies, seem to think that they can say whatever they please, to whomever they please.
Maybe that is a lesson for Main Street USA to learn.
Speaking of lessons, watch out about this national health reform.
From what I hear, not one person in Congress has read the entire bill, all 1,100-plus pages.
So, why to they then get a recess? They only work, what, 184 days a year anyway. That means that have 181 days off a year.
Demand that your ELECTED representative READ the legislation themselves (not one of their people). Then have them tell you what you can expect. And, then ask them what the difference is between how it will affect you and how it will affect them, sitting in their plush DC office, with their staff, their (virtually unmonitored) expense accounts, etc.
I dare say not one of them can guarantee that you will not see your taxes raised when the anticipated revenues fall short and expenses end up higher than projected.
I know this started off about North Korea, but this is the direction my mind went and I let it go.
In 1945, why did the US drop atomic bombs on Japan?
[Hiroshima (August 6th) and Nagasaki (August 9th) on August 6th and 9th, killing approximately 140,000 and 39,000 respectively]
The Battle of Okinawa earlier that summer resulted in the loss of over 85,000 US military lives and over 140,000 Japanese lives. Approximately a quarter of the Japanese civilian population died resisting US invasion.
July 29, 1945 Japan rejected terms of surrender known as the Potsdam Declaration, which included Truman's ultimatum: "Surrender or suffer prompt and utter destruction."
Invasion of Japan to bring about surrender was daunting and would be costly to say the least, expected to last at least until 1947. Approximately 500,000 Purple Heart medals were made in anticipation of invasion of Japan.
However, with the hastened Japanese surrender, the vast majority of those medals were not needed. In fact, as of 2003 there were still some 120,000 of those WWII Purple Hearts on hand, despite the conflicts the 60+ years that followed (including the Korean and Vietnam Wars).
That gives you some idea of the anticipated carnage (on both sides) that was avoided by the dropping of the two atomic bombs. Could it be that such a grotesque weapon actually saves lives ? (cf. the Cold War)
It was nice to see Former President Bill Clinton at work with North Korea securing a special pardon for our two captive Americans.
Of course, the first thought that popped in my mind when I heard that he was traveling across the globe was about how Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had botched her communications with Pyongyang a couple of weeks ago in what ended up as an argument conducted through the media.
In my opinion, the exchange between the Secretary and North Korea bordered on the childish.
And the State Department is supposed to conduct foreign affairs, generally through statesman-like conduct.
That aside, it was a great effort by President Bill and it was nice to hear a few minutes ago that he, Laura Lynn and Euna Lee are heading back to the United States. I could not imagine 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.
One thing that I certainly did not understand was when, while the negotiations were still on-going, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced to the media (which was immediately reported and, I am sure, read by people in North Korea) that Clinton did not take a message from President Obama to Kim Jong II.
Even if it was not true, I doubt that the former President would have made it a very long comment and would absolutely have been something that Obama would have said.
Thus, for Gibbs to shoot off that comment while Clinton and Jong were still in the midst of their talks, was ill-advised, to say the least.
To coin a phrase, Gibbs "acted stupidly."
Why?
Because that comment could have cast a deep shadow on Clinton's trip and his overall credibility as someone negotiating "in good faith." Fortunately, it did not affect the pardon. But, it certainly could have knocked the train off the tracks.
Take a lesson, here, Mr. Gibbs, watch what you say in the future.
While President Obama continues to say that national healthcare reform will not put Main Street USA further into debt, the bi-partisan Congressional Budget Office says otherwise.
Even though the president campaigned with the promise that "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime," those making over one quarter of a million a year most likely would be shouldering a large chunk of the burden.
Plus, if projections are not on target in two years, there will be an automatic tax increase for those folks.
And even President Obama's Chief Economic Advisor, Larry Summers, is not ready to rule out higher taxes for middle class America.
I, for one, cannot recall a major government program that did not end up costing all Americans (other than those who are not working) more in taxes and other forms of taking-away-our-earnings, such as the proposed sugary drink consumption tax.
On another front, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is telling her Democrats to inform their constituents what's in it for us and we will support it.
The problem with that is anything can sound good presented in the right way. That does not make it right.
Why not explain to everyone the elusive concept of one trillion dollars…spending one million dollars a day, each and every day, for over 2,700 years.
That is a whole lot of money, of national debt.
Senate Democrat John Rockefeller doesn't want to support something that "sounds user-friendly" like a public co-op and espouses that a co-op cannot take on the "gigantic insurance" companies.
Senator Rockefeller, how big are your family holdings in oil and banking (and other things we don't even know about)?
Besides, this isn't about anyone "taking on" the insurance companies, least of all our government, because if we are to do that, we are surely doomed. The "government" (i.e., Main Street USA taxpayers) will subsidize lower and lower insurance costs in order to "compete."
When there are so many disagreements about what this healthcare reform is really going to cost I think it is time to put on the brakes.
You cannot project revenue on assumptions and goals. You must have realistic figures; otherwise it all becomes pie in the sky.
And, I continue to state, not one of our elected officials are talking about Tort Reform as a way to reduce insurance costs, which it absolutely would accomplish. Perhaps that is because attorneys and law firms are one of the major lobbying blocks and that sector earns substantial fees for tremendous tort verdicts.
As a matter of fact, I have not counted them up, but I'd venture to say that a large percentage of Senators and House members came from those very ranks.
Coincidence, I suppose.
What Main Street USA must must must demand is accountability from our elected officials.
What if they take a pay cut, or don't take a vacation, or take a cut in their hefty pension plan if they can't balance a budget, or enact some legislation that doesn't earn the revenue they plan on or costs go over the allotted amounts.
Read some VERY interesting thoughts from Pope/Saint Pius X. For example ...
32 Q. What should a Christian do who has been given a Bible by a Protestant or by an agent of the Protestants? A. A Christian to whom a Bible has been offered by a Protestant or an agent of the Protestants should reject it with disgust, because it is forbidden by the Church. If it was accepted by inadvertence, it must be burnt as soon as possible or handed in to the Parish Priest.
Read "Reversing the Curse: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Bringing Sinners to Faith in Christ," an excerpt of John Owen's Holy Spirit.
Read about Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign for governor website getting her in trouble for having "rick perry gay" in the source code.
Read about a grandfather and pregnant mother tasered by police at a child's backyard baptism party."Read not to contradict and confute, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider." -Sir Francis Bacon
The question will at times come up regarding Christian music as to what inherently makes it "Christian." Is it the lyrics or the style or both?
