Cutting the deficit

Take a look at this video.  It really highlights how ridiculous it is to think that we are making progress when we cut $100 million of spending.  Come on!  It's time to get serious about cutting spending and we need to cut all spending -- from medicare to social security to defense to welfare to education to everything.  It needs to begin with downsizing government and getting government pay and benefits on par with the private sector.

This is a quick video that clearly illustrates how small a $100million cut is:

http://www.wimp.com/budgetcuts/

Education Problem

The following is a great article in the Washington Post.  It really points out the issues of our educational system.  This same article could be written about our government unions.  The time for unions has passed because they didn't stay relevant.  I believe that unions were one of the reasons that this country became so great, but they are now one of the reasons that we are in major trouble.  In Rockford, we have a huge deficit that our government officials are trying to tackle.  They went to the fire department and asked for wage concessions.  The fire union said no.  They then tried to reduce the number of fire personnel on a truck from 4 to 3 and the union managed to block the move in court. 

Now, the government has gone to the police union because we need their approval to change insurance providers and save $800,000 per year.  The police union isn't sure even though benefits and coverage doesn't change.  Come on!  If I had to get every decision approved in my business, I would have been forced out of business years ago.  This is what is happening to our government.

It's time that the unions in this country become relevant again by actively participating in the business of solving problems and keeping businesses (education or government) profitable and viable.  If they are not willing or able to become relevant, we the people (sound familiar) need to take our government back.

Do take the time to read this.  This is really a great ariticle written by educators:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/07/AR2010100705078.html

The War on Terror

OK -- let me say first that I am basically a wimp like most of our politicians who are afraid to say what they really think.  So, I would never write or say what was said by a British housewife in a letter to the editor that she sent...... but, I do think that she make some excellent points and that too often we are so concerned about saying something that won't offend anyone that we don't say anything.

If we are a society with no dissenting opinions or who only say things that won't offend anyone, will we become bland?   I don't know.

Read and judge for yourself -- please do add your positive and negative comments.

http://www.arguewitheveryone.com/war-iraq/141553-letter-british-housewife-newspaper.html

By the way, this article wasn't written by a British housewife, but she is the one who forwarded it to her nephew and it started circulating back in 2005. 

Tony Blair on Clinton, Bush and the American Character

Check out this article by Tony Blair. It is really interesting how he describes our leaders. He gives a short, but good perspective on our past three Presidents. I think it is easy for us to think that if the President is a Republican and we are a Republican, than he must be good. It would be just as easy for that same Republican to assume that the Democrat Presidents are not good. When I say good, I don't mean good Presidents. I mean that they are truly trying to do what is best for our country. I haven't read Mr. Blair's book, but I bet he makes a strong case that each of the Presidents he has known are good men and that they care about our country. Finally, he reminds us that we should carry our heads high and be proud of the country we have. It is often forgotten that people still risk their lives every day to get into the United States of America. Read the last paragraph in the article. We take our citizenship and the freedoms we have for granted.

Tony Blair on Clinton, Bush and the American Character

More Mosque Thoughts

I have not been able to confirm the "facts" in the following statements from Newt Gingrich.  I don't think I agree that we should wait to have a Mosque here until we have a Christian or Jewish Church in Saudi Arabia.  We are a country that is PROUD of our Freedom of Religion rights that we give all citizens.  This is just one of the many things that make America so much better than Saudi Arabia and other countries where they don't practice the basic freedoms we enjoy.

Please note that this is Newt's take and I don't necessarily agree with everything he has said in here.  I do agree that naming it something like Cordoba is an insult and I believe it is insulting to build it so close to the 9/11 attacks. 

Newt Gingrich


"July 21, 2010 6pm

There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia . The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over.

The proposed "Cordoba House" overlooking the World Trade Center site –where a group of jihadists killed over 3000 Americans and destroyed one of our most famous landmarks - is a test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites. For example, most of them don’t understand that “Cordoba House” is a deliberately insulting term. It refers to Cordoba , Spain – the capital of Muslim conquerors who symbolized their victory over the Christian Spaniards by transforming a church there into the world’s third-largest mosque complex.

Today, some of the Mosque’s backers insist this term is being used to "symbolize interfaith cooperation" when, in fact, every Islamist in the world recognizes Cordoba as a symbol of Islamic conquest. It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way.

Those Islamists and their apologists who argue for "religious toleration" are arrogantly dishonest. They ignore the fact that more than 100 mosques already exist in New York City . Meanwhile, there are no churches or synagogues in all of Saudi Arabia . In fact no Christian or Jew can even enter Mecca . And they lecture us about tolerance.

If the people behind the Cordoba House were serious about religious toleration, they would be imploring the Saudis, as fellow Muslims, to immediately open up Mecca to all and immediately announce their intention to allow non-Muslim houses of worship in the Kingdom. They should be asked by the news media if they would be willing to lead such a campaign.

We have not been able to rebuild the World Trade Center in nine years. Now we are being told a 13 story, $100 million megamosque will be built within a year overlooking the site of the most devastating surprise attack in American history.

Finally where is the money coming from? The people behind the Cordoba House refuse to reveal all their funding sources.  America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could.

No mosque.
No self deception.
No surrender.

The time to take a stand is now - at this site on this issue.
"

Profiling

The major argument against the Arizona law is that it will encourage racial profiling.  In other words, a Latino would be much more likely to be asked for proof of citizenship than a white male or female.

Granted, I truly can never understand how it would feel to be a minority because I am a white male.  However, profiling is used in every part of what we do except to fight crime seemingly and I don't get it.  I remember when I got my driver's license at 16 and my insurance was more expensive than a girl's simply because I was a guy.  Is that fair?  No.  Is it profiling?  Absolutely.  Is it necessary in order for the insurance company to successfully underwrite the business and return a fair profit?  YES

When someone sees me, they prejudge me based on my appearance all of the time.  If I am a bit overweight and short, I will be assumed to be a non-athlete.  While if I was 6'8", everyone would assume I was a basketball player and assume I was good.  If I wear a suit and tie, I am assumed to be a business person.  If I wear have dirty finger nails, one may think I am a laborer.  My point is that we are profiled all of the time.

I don't think any of it is fair.  I don't think it is fair that I pay more insurance because I am a guy.  I don't think it is fair that someone isn't hired because they are a certain color.  I don't think it is fair that someone may get asked for proof of citizenship because they are profiled to be a likely illegal immigrant. 

But, what is the alternative?  This small right that people are screaming about giving up is absolutely nothing compared to the rights we will be giving up in the coming years as our baby boomers and their pensions and health care cost more and we are saddled with a debt load that is incomprehensible.  Get ready.

Good Perspective on the Arizona Immigration Law

This is a great post on why this issue is so ridiculous.  If you think the Arizona law is unfair, think of it in terms of something you own. 

Here is a great article from the Phoenix Examiner:

"Governor Brewer vs Phoenix Suns


Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has been in the news a great deal, due to her attempts to secure the Arizona border. Many have voiced their opinions for and against the controversial SB1070 immigration bill.

With celebrities and others jumping on this issue, even Phoenix Suns owner, Robert Sarver, has voiced a strong opinion against SB1070. Governor Brewer sent a great note to Sarver, which clearly illustrates the current situation in a way he can surely appreciate. The following is her explanation.

What if the owners of the Suns discovered that hordes of people were sneaking into games without paying? What if they had a good idea who the gate-crashers are, but the ushers and security personnel were not allowed to ask these folks to produce their ticket stubs, thus non-paying attendees couldn’t be ejected. Furthermore, what if Suns’ ownership was expected to provide those who sneaked in with complimentary eats and drink? And what if, on those days when a gate-crasher became ill or injured, the Suns had to provide free medical care and shelter? -Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer"


Governor Brewer vs Phoenix Suns - Phoenix Family Examiner.com

If the above still doesn't hit home for you, think of your own house that you live in.  Like most hard working people, you probably have a mortgage that you pay each month, you may have a family, and you work to pay the mortgage, health insurance, food, and the many other things that you need and want to have in your life.  But, you come home one day and there are an extra 10 people living in your house.  You don't have the right to ask them if they are your family.  You suspect they aren't, but you can't ask them for proof.  Instead, you have to make room for them, pay for their food, and when they get sick, you have to pay for their medical bills.  I think you get the point.

Yes, this sounds ridiculous, but allowing people to break the law and not doing anything about it is more ridiculous.

Let's start using common sense.

Immigration Law -- I don't get it

Let's start by understanding what our current immigration law states.  As a country, we have always been a refuge for the weak --"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." so we have always been a country that welcomed newcomers.  This is a foundational strength of the United States of America that we are made up of millions of dissimilar people who share fundamental beliefs (let's just assume that we still share fundamental beliefs).

In any case, part of the sharing is that each person who comes to this country must abide by a certain set of rules that we call laws.  Some of those are things like you should pay taxes, others are things like you can't murder your enemy, and still others are things like you have to seek approval to be accepted into the country.  Once you are accepted into the country, we welcome you with open arms and give you access to freedoms and a lifestyle unparalled in this world.  You do, however, have to be accepted.  We can argue whether we should accept all people or if we should be selective, but for now the law is that we have to accept you.  In fact, here is a quick quote on the law:

"Unlawful Entry

In addition to facilitating the lawful admission of both immigrants and nonimmigrants, U.S. policy addresses the issue of unauthorized aliens in the United States. According to the Census Bureau and the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, about 7 million unauthorized aliens were in the United States in 2000. Other researchers have estimated that number at roughly 10 million in early 2004. Although such estimates convey the population of unauthorized aliens living in the United States in a given year, the other statistics presented in this paper represent annual inflows of people into the United States, unless otherwise indicated. Aliens found to be in violation of U.S. immigration laws may be removed from the country through a formal process (which can include penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or prohibition against future entry) or may be offered the chance to depart voluntarily (which does not preclude future entry). In 2004, about 203,000 people were formally removed, and about 1 million others departed voluntarily (some people may have done so more than once). Of the 203,000 formal removals, 42,000 unauthorized aliens were subject to expedited removals, a process designed to speed up the removal of aliens seeking to enter the country illegally."

This was taken from http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/70xx/doc7051/02-28-Immigration.pdf

So what is all of the noise about the Arizona law that is designed to enforce this law.  Let's look at how ridiculous the arguments are against this law.

As a person, I have to prove who I am all of the time.  I have to prove who I am when I go to the doctor's office, when I go on an airplane, and many other times.  Here is a picture someone put together that highlights how often we, as American citizens, have to prove who we are:

Mosque Near Ground Zero

What do you think of having a Mosque near Ground Zero.  I really don't know what I think.  On one hand, I believe that the freedom to have a Mosque near Ground Zero is one of the principle freedoms we have successfully fought for since we became a nation.  On the other hand, it seems incredibly disrespectful that there would be a Mosque where so many people were killed. 

I guess I believe very strongly that they should have the right to build a Mosque anywhere, but that the persons building the Mosque should have the decent human courtesy to not build it where it would cause so much controversy.  What are they hoping to accomplish?  Do we as a nation need another reason to be afraid or disrespectful to Muslims?

What do you think?

Federal Pay is Out of Control!

I posted on Facebook that we are becoming a nation of haves and have-nots where the haves are the Government workers and the have-nots is everyone else paying taxes so the haves can have better jobs and benefits.  I knew the problem was huge and getting worse, but today USA Today published a report showing that the average pay of a Government worker is double that of a Private Sector job.  The reports is unbelievable.

Click here for a video from CNBC.
Click here to read about this.

Here's more from December of 2009 talking about the number of Government workers making over $100k.

Before you get all worked up and blame Obama and the Democrats, this is a problem that has been ongoing through Republican and Democrat Presidencies.  Both parties need to belly up and fix this by starting with their own pay and benefits.

That's it for now.

ConcernedTimA

Tim's Blog Description

I have badly needed an outlet for my random thoughts and frustrations for awhile and decided to finally put finger to keyboard. 

The purpose of this blog will be to detail my frustration and concern over what has and is happening to our great country.  We have become a nation of people who believe we are entitled to certain things.  This entitlement attitude permeates our society and affects each and every American, including yours truly.  It starts with our kids who believe they are entitled to a phone, gameboy, freedom from chores, and respect.  Unfortunately, many kids don't outgrow this feeling of entitlement and soon transfer that entitlement from their parents to their communities and government when they believe that they are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, a cell phone, and discretionary spending money to be provided by other people.

Our country was founded on a couple of principles that are very well articulated in our Declaration of Independence.  Click here to read this great document.  Most of us don't know the entire Declaration but remember the following line:  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

This simple statement is so beautifully written and so captures the essence of the original American spirit.  It starts by saying all men are created equal.  We have had our bad moments as a Country when we didn't follow this, but we have done a pretty good job of providing opportunities for all men (and women) in the past 50 years.  "That they are endowed by their Creator" has somehow been forgotten.  We have become so focused on separation of Church and State that we don't have room for God.  We are too concerned with the one person who may be offended by the idea of a Creator that we have trampled the rights of the other 99.  According to this great document, our Creator gave us certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  Let's look at this closely.

Our forefathers founded this country on the belief that our Creator (God) gave All Men the right to life and the right to freedom.  We certainly strugged with this during parts of our history and we should all be ashamed of that part which didn't guarantee every human the right to life and freedom.  The sentence goes on to say that we shall all have the right to PURSUE Happiness, not get happiness.  It is up to us to find happiness.  It doesn't say we have the right to an easy life, the right to not work, the right to great medical care, the right to have a cell phone, the right to have two cars, a home, and three TV sets with Cable.  How have we forgotten this?  And what can be done.

I profess to be mostly a Capitalist so that will seem more Republican than Democrat, but I hope to be a voice of reason through this blog where I HOPE to not unfairly criticize one party over the other.  I frankly believe that there is enough to blame on both parties and on us, the citizens. 

As I complete this preamble to my blogging, I'd like to quote President John F. Kennedy when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country."  Listen here for the short 30 second version of this or click here for the 5 minute version.

Thank you for caring.