I have just about had it with American Companies sending their jobs overseas. If you cannot compete because of quality and long company reputation, and have to have labor that is paid slave wages, just shut down.
It is unbelievable the junk, poison, and poor quality that China produces and yet there are still companies that have to shove the company reputation in the dumpster. Who am I talking about now?
CARHART!!!
Yes the company that cowboys, farmers, oil field hands, and many other real American workers have relied on for generations for toughness, quality, and functionality. In doing research on American made products, I have run into several companies that specialize in American made products. The story is the same. They are selling the American made Carharts until the supply is gone. The production of the Carhart products is going overseas. I have yet to find a news story about it.
It is time for AMERICANS to step up and tell these companies to go to hell! We won't buy crap made overseas as long as Americans are out of work. If it is because of Union Labor then treat your employees well enough that they don't need to collective bargan!
If we want to put America back on track then quit patronizing companies that sell the quality of our products for 30 pieces of silver!!!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
I HATE POLITICS
I have before stated that I have not gotten to vote for my candidate for President of the United States since Ronald Regan. My pick long before the political season started was Herman Cain. The man is the most qualified of the entire Republican field running. But, as usual, the election is being bought and controlled by unseen forces.
A man that worked for the fire department I retired from was interested in running for County Commission after he retired. He had a backer, money promised, and lots of support. He knew where all the incompetance and, most likly, graft was located in that county.
A man from the party he belonged to came to him and stated," If you run you should know you are not the one that the party is supporting. You should visit with your wife and family and make sure that they are ready for what will be thrown at you. There will be a woman come from nowhere that will accuse you of sexual mis-conduct. No matter how it happens are you and your wife strong enough to withstand the controversy?"
Of course he was shocked and decided that he could not expose his wife and children to allegations in the press. This was only at a county level in a state that has always been strong Republican and very conservative. Any false accusations would never have too be proven and in politics you cannot sue for libel or slander.
It will come out eventually that the big money behind the current administration bought and paid for these women to come out against Herman Cain. And none of this has anything to do with the issues. We have proven socialists and communists in control of the government and any opposition will be met with inuendo and lies.
Herman was the first real leader to go after the scandulous tax system that we have and there are too many accountants, tax lawyers, lobbyists, and special interests that cannot afford to have any common sense enter Washington. Power is all consuming and we are in danger of losing the greatest country that has ever been in history.
How ironic that Burhma is being tutored by our Secretary of State about creating a free society. As they have thrown off a totalitarian government and seek to create a republic, the same group advising them are moving us away from the fundamentals of the constitution and the republic, to a socialist state with government intrusian into everyones lives.
A man that worked for the fire department I retired from was interested in running for County Commission after he retired. He had a backer, money promised, and lots of support. He knew where all the incompetance and, most likly, graft was located in that county.
A man from the party he belonged to came to him and stated," If you run you should know you are not the one that the party is supporting. You should visit with your wife and family and make sure that they are ready for what will be thrown at you. There will be a woman come from nowhere that will accuse you of sexual mis-conduct. No matter how it happens are you and your wife strong enough to withstand the controversy?"
Of course he was shocked and decided that he could not expose his wife and children to allegations in the press. This was only at a county level in a state that has always been strong Republican and very conservative. Any false accusations would never have too be proven and in politics you cannot sue for libel or slander.
It will come out eventually that the big money behind the current administration bought and paid for these women to come out against Herman Cain. And none of this has anything to do with the issues. We have proven socialists and communists in control of the government and any opposition will be met with inuendo and lies.
Herman was the first real leader to go after the scandulous tax system that we have and there are too many accountants, tax lawyers, lobbyists, and special interests that cannot afford to have any common sense enter Washington. Power is all consuming and we are in danger of losing the greatest country that has ever been in history.
How ironic that Burhma is being tutored by our Secretary of State about creating a free society. As they have thrown off a totalitarian government and seek to create a republic, the same group advising them are moving us away from the fundamentals of the constitution and the republic, to a socialist state with government intrusian into everyones lives.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
SPELL S-T-U-P-I-D
At a time when unemployment is at stupid levels, when rural areas are threatened with loss of people, jobs, incentives, and the government is in a turmoil over it, what would you think stupid is? Close down post offices and lay off the workers!
Small towns have enough against them as it is. There are high numbers of elderly, low numbers of job opportunities, and the cost of traveling is prohibitive in these areas.
The Postal Department in their rupture of money picks on an area that only constitues .9% of their budget to cut. Even though there is a congressinal mandate to provide the service. Senators and Representatives are being bombarded with angry citizens concerns and what do they do to respond? Well lets see, as I write this on 11-8-11, on 11-9-11 the Coats, Kansas post office closes, and soon it's neighbor Sawyer. Then of course Isabel and Nashville. These residents will be forced to have service out of Spivey between 30 & 70 miles away. Yet there is enough business to keep most of these going.
Of course the mis-management of the service is always compensated not where the problems lie but where there is no way to effectivly fight back. And the job loss continues. Where is the lip service that the president, congress, and both parties at? There you go again, STUPID!
A large company that auctions livestock on line and TV has announced to their customers to send the deposits to them by FED EX or UPS because the Postal Service sometimes takes two weeks to get the deposits to them. What a state of affairs we have come to.
WASHINGTON WAKE UP instead of extending un-employment try keeping jobs active, cut rediculous interference with job creation, and keep the mandates that have been set down by congress. Cutting a little waste would help also but this requires intelligence and initiative.
I fully expect Webster to add new definitions for the word STUPID soon. Like USPS, Washington, Buraucrat, Government Intelligence.
Small towns have enough against them as it is. There are high numbers of elderly, low numbers of job opportunities, and the cost of traveling is prohibitive in these areas.
The Postal Department in their rupture of money picks on an area that only constitues .9% of their budget to cut. Even though there is a congressinal mandate to provide the service. Senators and Representatives are being bombarded with angry citizens concerns and what do they do to respond? Well lets see, as I write this on 11-8-11, on 11-9-11 the Coats, Kansas post office closes, and soon it's neighbor Sawyer. Then of course Isabel and Nashville. These residents will be forced to have service out of Spivey between 30 & 70 miles away. Yet there is enough business to keep most of these going.
Of course the mis-management of the service is always compensated not where the problems lie but where there is no way to effectivly fight back. And the job loss continues. Where is the lip service that the president, congress, and both parties at? There you go again, STUPID!
A large company that auctions livestock on line and TV has announced to their customers to send the deposits to them by FED EX or UPS because the Postal Service sometimes takes two weeks to get the deposits to them. What a state of affairs we have come to.
WASHINGTON WAKE UP instead of extending un-employment try keeping jobs active, cut rediculous interference with job creation, and keep the mandates that have been set down by congress. Cutting a little waste would help also but this requires intelligence and initiative.
I fully expect Webster to add new definitions for the word STUPID soon. Like USPS, Washington, Buraucrat, Government Intelligence.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
COURAGE
COURAGE: THE QUALITY OF BEING BRAVE, VALOR. Webster
The ability to be scared to death and yet still act is one of the other definitions of courage. Courage is often ridiculed today in a world of parties, unions, pop culture. Those that dare to do the right thing or go against the popular trend of the day are often thought of as odd.
Yet we have young people that join up to serve the nation no matter where or when or the reason. To serve in a military where the Comander in Chief shows little respect other than the minimum necesary.
We have men and women that join religious organizations as clergy, teachers, lay service, and service work when the courts and ACLU claim that they cannot be proactive in their churchs or synagogues in the public view. Concepts of religion cannot be studied in schools yet paganizm, mythology, and humanism can be.
The founders of the Republic clearly stated in the Constitution that mixing church and state would not be acceptable because of choosing a state religion. There is the clause freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
In being involved in boards, organizations, and agencies over the years it always amazed me how hard it is for them to do the right thing. Right is ignored for popular reasons, expiedient reasons, or just because that is always the way it has been done.
In todays economy there is so much talk of creating jobs and improving the economy that the fundamentals that make it work are shackled by regulation, politics, and bureaucracy.
The big banks that were infused with bailout money now set on the money and find new ways to add fees. Small banks do not seriously try to loan money without a government agency. And then the smaller banks who used to recirculate the money thru the community sell bundles of loans to the big banks.
Imagine the terror of starting a new business today. Yet 60% of new jobs come from the small business person. The risk of losing anything that you might have acumulated for a new veture is paralyising. Yet the government can go after companies who back the wrong party and cause jobs to be lost and pushed overseas.
Small town America is hurting because of the buy in too the lie of drawing talent and labor away to large urban centers just to leave them high and dry when the job goes overseas.
To continue with a tax code, that not even those who enforce it can understand. Is it any wonder that corporations move their offices to a freindly country? Everyone knows that the tax code needs to be scrapped for fairness and simpicity. Attention is focused on the top end of the economy even though they pay most of the taxes. Yet the bottom 40% pay nothing and get money from the government. They are as opposed to anything fair as the tax attorneys who would have to get a real job if the tax code is done away with.
The people who propose fairness are attacked because they are with the wrong party. Yet both parties created the mess to begin with.
I sat in on an economic meeting recently and yet thru all the mess of today, there are still those who have an idea and will create their own job in spite of what is stacked against them.
Courage comes in many sizes and shapes. Some are life threatening, some threaten livings. I always go to my favorite saying from a famous president, Teddy Roosevelt:
IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOT THE ONES WHO POINT OUT HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLED, OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO'S ACTUALLY IN THE AREANA, WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD; WHO STRIVES VALIENTLY; WHO ERRS AND COMES UP SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHO KNOWS GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTION AND SPENDS HIMSELF IN A WORTHY CAUSE; WHO AT BEST KNOWS AT THE END TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHEIVEMNT, AND WHO AT WORST IF HE FAILS, AT LEAST FAILS WHILE DARING GREATLY. SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO KNOW NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.....
The ability to be scared to death and yet still act is one of the other definitions of courage. Courage is often ridiculed today in a world of parties, unions, pop culture. Those that dare to do the right thing or go against the popular trend of the day are often thought of as odd.
Yet we have young people that join up to serve the nation no matter where or when or the reason. To serve in a military where the Comander in Chief shows little respect other than the minimum necesary.
We have men and women that join religious organizations as clergy, teachers, lay service, and service work when the courts and ACLU claim that they cannot be proactive in their churchs or synagogues in the public view. Concepts of religion cannot be studied in schools yet paganizm, mythology, and humanism can be.
The founders of the Republic clearly stated in the Constitution that mixing church and state would not be acceptable because of choosing a state religion. There is the clause freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
In being involved in boards, organizations, and agencies over the years it always amazed me how hard it is for them to do the right thing. Right is ignored for popular reasons, expiedient reasons, or just because that is always the way it has been done.
In todays economy there is so much talk of creating jobs and improving the economy that the fundamentals that make it work are shackled by regulation, politics, and bureaucracy.
The big banks that were infused with bailout money now set on the money and find new ways to add fees. Small banks do not seriously try to loan money without a government agency. And then the smaller banks who used to recirculate the money thru the community sell bundles of loans to the big banks.
Imagine the terror of starting a new business today. Yet 60% of new jobs come from the small business person. The risk of losing anything that you might have acumulated for a new veture is paralyising. Yet the government can go after companies who back the wrong party and cause jobs to be lost and pushed overseas.
Small town America is hurting because of the buy in too the lie of drawing talent and labor away to large urban centers just to leave them high and dry when the job goes overseas.
To continue with a tax code, that not even those who enforce it can understand. Is it any wonder that corporations move their offices to a freindly country? Everyone knows that the tax code needs to be scrapped for fairness and simpicity. Attention is focused on the top end of the economy even though they pay most of the taxes. Yet the bottom 40% pay nothing and get money from the government. They are as opposed to anything fair as the tax attorneys who would have to get a real job if the tax code is done away with.
The people who propose fairness are attacked because they are with the wrong party. Yet both parties created the mess to begin with.
I sat in on an economic meeting recently and yet thru all the mess of today, there are still those who have an idea and will create their own job in spite of what is stacked against them.
Courage comes in many sizes and shapes. Some are life threatening, some threaten livings. I always go to my favorite saying from a famous president, Teddy Roosevelt:
IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOT THE ONES WHO POINT OUT HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLED, OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO'S ACTUALLY IN THE AREANA, WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD; WHO STRIVES VALIENTLY; WHO ERRS AND COMES UP SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHO KNOWS GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTION AND SPENDS HIMSELF IN A WORTHY CAUSE; WHO AT BEST KNOWS AT THE END TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHEIVEMNT, AND WHO AT WORST IF HE FAILS, AT LEAST FAILS WHILE DARING GREATLY. SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO KNOW NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.....
Friday, October 14, 2011
WESTERN MUSIC
I am a Western Music singer and have had the great satisfaction of just participating in a program I originated. The Western Music Association - Kansas Chapter has now put it on twice. KANSAS-HOME ON THE RANGE is the story of Kansas in song, poetry, narration, and video celebrating Kansas 150th year of statehood. All participants were Kansans, some coming back from out of state to participate. The Governor, Wichita Mayor, and 4th district Congressman were on hand to greet the crowd and kick off the show. It was evident that they all enjoyed the show. We have also gotten a lot of good comments about it.
There was a symphony that was hand picked by the conductor of the Hutchinson Symphony that provide support and a wonderful sound. At the city's request we added a group of drummers and dancers from the All American Indian Center. We also added the African American group Arise, Mexican youth Charro trick ropers, and the Asian Dance group to round out the story of immigration and the diversity of our culture.
The western artists in combination with the diverse talent created an educational and enjoyable afternoon. So now I get back to the point of this blog.
Western Music was once a part of the Nashville Country & Western. When the music industry was bought by the Japanese and Dutch they asked how we can make the most money from this industry. The answer was the pop music model from the west coast. Western, acoustic, and the other genre' that fall under the 'Western' catagory were dismissed from the major labels and modern 'country' radio.
Western and all it's components are truely the music of the people, the people of the land and the western experience. It can incorporate Bluegrass, Western Swing, Classic Country, Folk, Ethnic, Big Band, Broadway, and the traditional songs of the west. Even the movie cowboy songs are an important part of Western.
So what happened to Western? It is alive and well. There are hundreds of artists many belonging to the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists. How come you don't hear them? You generally have to be at a live concert, festival, or purchase independent produced CD's and downloads.
There are two universal things that every artist hears after a show. One is, we brought our (daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson, neice, nephew, ect.) kicking and screaming to this show and when they heard the music, they loved it.
The second thing that is said is "this is the music I always loved and just forgot about". People are dictated to everytime they turn on the radio, TV, or read an industry magazine about the offerings of the mainstream industry and tell them that this is what they love. In the 50's music and radio people went to court over the paying to play certain music. This is still happening legally today because of the interdependence of the two. Is money changing hands? You bet but it goes around the law and is now 'just business'. Sounds familiar, oh yes it is from the Godfather as a person is about to be whacked they always say "it is just business not personal".
What can you do to bring back the music you love and wrestle control from the industry bosses? First you quit buying music from acts that are no more than bad rock and roll.
Second - you find artists that you love in Western and other independents and buy it.
Third - go to the shows and support Western when you can.
Fourth - and most important, call in requests for your favorite artist to the radio stations and have your friends call and create the demand that the radio will have to find the music and put it on the air.
Another thing is to tell the advertisers that you are not happy with the mix at the stations they do business with.
And the most effective with all these combined, start a petition to the radio stations, their ownership group, and the TV programs that ignore the artists for the 'Hat Acts'.
Send copies of the petitions to the Grand Ole Opry, RFD TV, CMT Network, PBS, and other networks and producers that exclude the Americana mix of Western artists.
You know there is no more effective way to affect change than with your pocket book. Money is the universal language that all those involved understand.
This is my View From the Hill.
There was a symphony that was hand picked by the conductor of the Hutchinson Symphony that provide support and a wonderful sound. At the city's request we added a group of drummers and dancers from the All American Indian Center. We also added the African American group Arise, Mexican youth Charro trick ropers, and the Asian Dance group to round out the story of immigration and the diversity of our culture.
The western artists in combination with the diverse talent created an educational and enjoyable afternoon. So now I get back to the point of this blog.
Western Music was once a part of the Nashville Country & Western. When the music industry was bought by the Japanese and Dutch they asked how we can make the most money from this industry. The answer was the pop music model from the west coast. Western, acoustic, and the other genre' that fall under the 'Western' catagory were dismissed from the major labels and modern 'country' radio.
Western and all it's components are truely the music of the people, the people of the land and the western experience. It can incorporate Bluegrass, Western Swing, Classic Country, Folk, Ethnic, Big Band, Broadway, and the traditional songs of the west. Even the movie cowboy songs are an important part of Western.
So what happened to Western? It is alive and well. There are hundreds of artists many belonging to the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists. How come you don't hear them? You generally have to be at a live concert, festival, or purchase independent produced CD's and downloads.
There are two universal things that every artist hears after a show. One is, we brought our (daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson, neice, nephew, ect.) kicking and screaming to this show and when they heard the music, they loved it.
The second thing that is said is "this is the music I always loved and just forgot about". People are dictated to everytime they turn on the radio, TV, or read an industry magazine about the offerings of the mainstream industry and tell them that this is what they love. In the 50's music and radio people went to court over the paying to play certain music. This is still happening legally today because of the interdependence of the two. Is money changing hands? You bet but it goes around the law and is now 'just business'. Sounds familiar, oh yes it is from the Godfather as a person is about to be whacked they always say "it is just business not personal".
What can you do to bring back the music you love and wrestle control from the industry bosses? First you quit buying music from acts that are no more than bad rock and roll.
Second - you find artists that you love in Western and other independents and buy it.
Third - go to the shows and support Western when you can.
Fourth - and most important, call in requests for your favorite artist to the radio stations and have your friends call and create the demand that the radio will have to find the music and put it on the air.
Another thing is to tell the advertisers that you are not happy with the mix at the stations they do business with.
And the most effective with all these combined, start a petition to the radio stations, their ownership group, and the TV programs that ignore the artists for the 'Hat Acts'.
Send copies of the petitions to the Grand Ole Opry, RFD TV, CMT Network, PBS, and other networks and producers that exclude the Americana mix of Western artists.
You know there is no more effective way to affect change than with your pocket book. Money is the universal language that all those involved understand.
This is my View From the Hill.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
WHAT WE LEARN OR FAIL TO LEARN
As a self styled historian(I have had a lettered historian tell me to claim the title), I have always used as my motto 'THOSE WHO IGNORE HISTORY ARE CONDEMED TO RE-LIVE IT'. As a former commisioned law enforcement officer and a private detective, I have always subscribed to the fight against illegal drugs. But time and history are slowly changing my mind.
There is probably very few who are as conservative as me but facts are facts. There has always been a small fringe group that has advocated the legalization of Marajuana. As a student of the prohibition era I have long wanted to write a book on the Kansas moonshine business, and have had encouragement. But, there are too many families and participants still alive that have discuraged me. See in Kansas we started the prohibition movement in 1880 and did not leave it until the 1950's and actually we still have remnants of it left today.
I am looking forward to Ken Burns new documentary PROHIBITION. It takes an indepth look at the whole era of National Prohibition. Are we going to learn that Prohibition gave rise to the transformation of small time criminals into huge organized crime syndicates. We learned a hard lesson too late and still have these organizations with us today. Many have actually gone mainstream and have legitimate business.
So what is the link to the drug business? We have to take all the hype and lies away from the argument and talk real results. Not one death has been attributed to using marijuana in the 70 some years of illegal status. There is an amazingly large amount of people who have used or do use in the country today. A related crop in the same genus as marijuana, Hemp, has been banned from commercial production even though it has none of the chemicals that make the illegal plant a asource of getting high. Commercial hemp has as many uses and products that can be made from it as soybeans and peanuts. But it is totally opposed by DEA for production. There is an alternative crop here that our farmers do not get to grow because of demonization and lies.
Over one third of of our prison population and court cases have to do with marijuana. We have seen millions of untaxed dollars funding the same type of organizations that rose during the prohibition period. And the really big problem is that they are worse than any group from that period.
The sad fact is that the cartels that have terrorized Mexico are here in Kansas now. Why do I say that? Common sense. Every year in late summer and fall there are pot patch raids all over the state. In the past it has been the moonshiner type of grower that is generally caught. In the raids this year there is evidence in every case that there are illegals tending the patches. There is one thing that is eirily common, no one is caught.
It has long been the disdain of the American people of the corrupt officials that permiate the Mexican governmental culture. Now there is evidence of that corruption here in our own state. It is no coincidence that no one is every arrested at the time of seizure of this years pot patches. Someone that knows what is going on is tipping off whoever is responsible for them. It remains unsaid in the media (which is real unusual) but it is evident that there is someone paid off somewhere. This is what is so alarming.
After the lessons of prohibition I am finally persuaded that you cannot legislate morals and it is high time to make the pot business controlable by legalization and taxation. I don't have to like it but there are more pressing problems today. And we don't need anymore crooked officials.
There is probably very few who are as conservative as me but facts are facts. There has always been a small fringe group that has advocated the legalization of Marajuana. As a student of the prohibition era I have long wanted to write a book on the Kansas moonshine business, and have had encouragement. But, there are too many families and participants still alive that have discuraged me. See in Kansas we started the prohibition movement in 1880 and did not leave it until the 1950's and actually we still have remnants of it left today.
I am looking forward to Ken Burns new documentary PROHIBITION. It takes an indepth look at the whole era of National Prohibition. Are we going to learn that Prohibition gave rise to the transformation of small time criminals into huge organized crime syndicates. We learned a hard lesson too late and still have these organizations with us today. Many have actually gone mainstream and have legitimate business.
So what is the link to the drug business? We have to take all the hype and lies away from the argument and talk real results. Not one death has been attributed to using marijuana in the 70 some years of illegal status. There is an amazingly large amount of people who have used or do use in the country today. A related crop in the same genus as marijuana, Hemp, has been banned from commercial production even though it has none of the chemicals that make the illegal plant a asource of getting high. Commercial hemp has as many uses and products that can be made from it as soybeans and peanuts. But it is totally opposed by DEA for production. There is an alternative crop here that our farmers do not get to grow because of demonization and lies.
Over one third of of our prison population and court cases have to do with marijuana. We have seen millions of untaxed dollars funding the same type of organizations that rose during the prohibition period. And the really big problem is that they are worse than any group from that period.
The sad fact is that the cartels that have terrorized Mexico are here in Kansas now. Why do I say that? Common sense. Every year in late summer and fall there are pot patch raids all over the state. In the past it has been the moonshiner type of grower that is generally caught. In the raids this year there is evidence in every case that there are illegals tending the patches. There is one thing that is eirily common, no one is caught.
It has long been the disdain of the American people of the corrupt officials that permiate the Mexican governmental culture. Now there is evidence of that corruption here in our own state. It is no coincidence that no one is every arrested at the time of seizure of this years pot patches. Someone that knows what is going on is tipping off whoever is responsible for them. It remains unsaid in the media (which is real unusual) but it is evident that there is someone paid off somewhere. This is what is so alarming.
After the lessons of prohibition I am finally persuaded that you cannot legislate morals and it is high time to make the pot business controlable by legalization and taxation. I don't have to like it but there are more pressing problems today. And we don't need anymore crooked officials.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
ON AND ON AND ON
It is a never ending supply of garbage. Watching TV the politics just goes on. It is maddening to watch the news media trying to manipulate the politics of this nation to their liking. It amazes me how admitted left wing commentators,(I can not call them journalists), try to push one Republican after another changing from week to week as if they know what is best for the other party and America. They had their way the last time, don't you think they would go OOPS!!!
My opinion is getting to be the rest of America's, throw the whole bunch out lock, stock, and barrel. There is never going to be any representation of the people by those who have the power to feather their own nests.
I keep getting e-mails on the 28th Ammendment. By which the pork barrel lid is nailed on. All special benefits, retirements, exemptions, and term limits apply. No special golden parachute for one term crooks who call themselves the guardians of society. Acording to Snopes this movement is a myth. WELL IT IS TIME TO MAKE IT REAL.
Our founding fathers had it right when they wanted no professional politicians. Our leaders were to be citizen legislators, serve a specified period of time, then go back to their jobs. It is high time.
When the 18 year olds were given the right to vote it only took 18 months to ammend the Constitution. The states are the only ones that can clean the mess up in Washington. Pass the 28th ammendment in 35 states and ratify and we throw the bums out with the mandate to clean up the mess.
Until the Progressives changed the law our Senators were elected by the State Legislators. We need to take back what our founders intended and what our forefathers, sons, and daughters have (and are still) dying for.
My opinion is getting to be the rest of America's, throw the whole bunch out lock, stock, and barrel. There is never going to be any representation of the people by those who have the power to feather their own nests.
I keep getting e-mails on the 28th Ammendment. By which the pork barrel lid is nailed on. All special benefits, retirements, exemptions, and term limits apply. No special golden parachute for one term crooks who call themselves the guardians of society. Acording to Snopes this movement is a myth. WELL IT IS TIME TO MAKE IT REAL.
Our founding fathers had it right when they wanted no professional politicians. Our leaders were to be citizen legislators, serve a specified period of time, then go back to their jobs. It is high time.
When the 18 year olds were given the right to vote it only took 18 months to ammend the Constitution. The states are the only ones that can clean the mess up in Washington. Pass the 28th ammendment in 35 states and ratify and we throw the bums out with the mandate to clean up the mess.
Until the Progressives changed the law our Senators were elected by the State Legislators. We need to take back what our founders intended and what our forefathers, sons, and daughters have (and are still) dying for.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
IT'S ABOUT TIME
I was delighted at the report on the national news about a businessman who is getting tired of the inferior work and materials that his Chinese factory is producing. Going to inspect the plant, which is in the largest manufacturing area of the country, he pointed out the problems to his Chinese manager. The response was that the cost of labor was rising at a rapid rate and also the cost of materials. Kind of a familiar excuse, huh?
The major attraction to overseas manufacturers is for the most part that you still can get sweatshop conditions and if not slave labor, indentured servants. Is it the greed of the corpiorations? That would be the knee jerk reaction that I would expect of the typical liberal reaction.
Although it is pointed out over and over again that the consumer dictates the market, it is largely ignored. The number one rule of business is provide what the customer will buy. Number two is, that to survive, there has to be a return to the stockholder and owners or there is no business at all.
I am no lover of Wal-Mart but if droves of people were not buying what is there, they would not be in the position they are today. The consumer has to make a concerted effort to not buy the inferior products from overseas. I have learned to read labels and make it known that I will not buy cheap foreign goods. If everyone would do that we would be putting people back to work.
There is a joker in the deck, the Federal Government. Besides the rediculous attempts to regulate and control everything in the economy, by the way that is called Facisim, the politicians from the top down believe they can create jobs. Balderdash!!!!! The only thing that the government does is kill jobs and seize assets. If there is any job created by politicians and bureaucrats, it is more government jobs. This only takes from the private sector.
Everytime our fearless leader opens his mouth we in Kansas lose jobs. The Liberal Mob in Washington is waging class warfare in this country for votes. Our second largest industry is Aircraft and everything that relates to it. 50% of the worlds aircraft and components are made in Kansas. When the assualt on the auto industry was undertaken by the president one entire factory, that ribbon cutting was about to take place, in Wichita was canceled. And entire production line of the most modern business class jet and all the jobs (over 600) went away.
Even this company, which is no longer local owned, has not learned the lessons themselves. In a plant in Mexico where the company sent American jobs to, the workmanship was so bad on the wings they produced, that when the FAA was testing the plane a 7 foot section of the wing fell off. In the 80 some years that this company has been in business I have never heard of a failure like that.
Back to the company in China. The owner is moving his equipment back to the USA and is going to employ Americans. Other companies are considering the same thing. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!
I was at the State Fair the other day and was delighted at the booths that proudly proclaimed that their products were all American made. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!
I was delighted when watching a congressional panel when the senator told the agency spokesperson that the American people are tired of the government telling them what light bulb to buy, what toilet to buy, and causing people to use poisonous and dangerous products made in other countries that have no controls or standards. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!!
I have been trying to start a retail store in our local town and when I ask friends who are in business why an all American Made Store would not be a great draw, they say if you can find the products it would be great. It is sad that these friends go to the major markets in Las Vegas and have no American made products to choose from. Well I have been looking and guess what? There are hundreds of American companies still out there and thousands of products, you just have to look.
We have become a society that takes no responsibility for anything. We can have jobs, we can have a good economy, we can put America back on solid footing again. We simply have to choose to.
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN DO IT! Forget the government, read labels and refuse to buy overseas goods. There are still solid qualilty products that can be bought from overseas but if we shift our buying habits to only buy American and top quality, we can put America back into it's position as that shining light on the hill. A great man said that once and we were and are.
WILL YOU TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY? IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!
The major attraction to overseas manufacturers is for the most part that you still can get sweatshop conditions and if not slave labor, indentured servants. Is it the greed of the corpiorations? That would be the knee jerk reaction that I would expect of the typical liberal reaction.
Although it is pointed out over and over again that the consumer dictates the market, it is largely ignored. The number one rule of business is provide what the customer will buy. Number two is, that to survive, there has to be a return to the stockholder and owners or there is no business at all.
I am no lover of Wal-Mart but if droves of people were not buying what is there, they would not be in the position they are today. The consumer has to make a concerted effort to not buy the inferior products from overseas. I have learned to read labels and make it known that I will not buy cheap foreign goods. If everyone would do that we would be putting people back to work.
There is a joker in the deck, the Federal Government. Besides the rediculous attempts to regulate and control everything in the economy, by the way that is called Facisim, the politicians from the top down believe they can create jobs. Balderdash!!!!! The only thing that the government does is kill jobs and seize assets. If there is any job created by politicians and bureaucrats, it is more government jobs. This only takes from the private sector.
Everytime our fearless leader opens his mouth we in Kansas lose jobs. The Liberal Mob in Washington is waging class warfare in this country for votes. Our second largest industry is Aircraft and everything that relates to it. 50% of the worlds aircraft and components are made in Kansas. When the assualt on the auto industry was undertaken by the president one entire factory, that ribbon cutting was about to take place, in Wichita was canceled. And entire production line of the most modern business class jet and all the jobs (over 600) went away.
Even this company, which is no longer local owned, has not learned the lessons themselves. In a plant in Mexico where the company sent American jobs to, the workmanship was so bad on the wings they produced, that when the FAA was testing the plane a 7 foot section of the wing fell off. In the 80 some years that this company has been in business I have never heard of a failure like that.
Back to the company in China. The owner is moving his equipment back to the USA and is going to employ Americans. Other companies are considering the same thing. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!
I was at the State Fair the other day and was delighted at the booths that proudly proclaimed that their products were all American made. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!
I was delighted when watching a congressional panel when the senator told the agency spokesperson that the American people are tired of the government telling them what light bulb to buy, what toilet to buy, and causing people to use poisonous and dangerous products made in other countries that have no controls or standards. IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!!
I have been trying to start a retail store in our local town and when I ask friends who are in business why an all American Made Store would not be a great draw, they say if you can find the products it would be great. It is sad that these friends go to the major markets in Las Vegas and have no American made products to choose from. Well I have been looking and guess what? There are hundreds of American companies still out there and thousands of products, you just have to look.
We have become a society that takes no responsibility for anything. We can have jobs, we can have a good economy, we can put America back on solid footing again. We simply have to choose to.
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN DO IT! Forget the government, read labels and refuse to buy overseas goods. There are still solid qualilty products that can be bought from overseas but if we shift our buying habits to only buy American and top quality, we can put America back into it's position as that shining light on the hill. A great man said that once and we were and are.
WILL YOU TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY? IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
OF BROTHERHOOD AND EMOTIONS
As the anniversary of 9/11 comes it always brings a flood of emotions. Even though my life has been the love of the farm & ranch life I have had the opportunity to have the three greatest jobs that anyone can have in life. I have spent many hours on a tractor and in the saddle and know the wonder and quiet of the country. I have been on stage and have people clap for the things that I sing, recite, or talk about, and I have been a firefighter/emt.
In two of the three vocations there is a lot of reality and you have to seperate out feelings in order to sometimes get the job done. In the other you have to bare your soul and release emotion to do justice to the material and the expectations of those you entertain.
On the fire department I found that helping people was a particularly sticky job at times because you deal with people at their best and worst. Things you see are like the soldier, things that no human should see. You deal with emotions by building baracades and developing goofy senses of humor. The one thing that you find on the inside of the service is the brotherhood. It is something that is there no matter what happens. Even after moving on to other things it is still there. There is no such thing as a retired or former firefighter we are just off duty.
Even after health problems stop me from even the concept of picking up a hose and going after the flames the urge is still there. When there is smoke in these hills, which is generally not a good thing, the desire is to jump in the truck and go towards it. Seeing a fire truck or an old fire truck turns my head as quick as an attractive woman.
I was watching the Today Show on September 11, 2001. The word came in that something was happening at the World Trade Center and they turned on the roof camera. As the seeming accident was attracting so much attention I watched the second plane, live, crash into the second tower. And then the reports of the Pentagon and another airline crash. It was no leap to assume that we were under attack.
It takes me back to the same program a few years earlier when the Today Show mentioned that something happened in Oklahoma City. As the unknown explosion turned into a massive incident I was watching live. The call went out for assistance from medical and fire personnel from anywhere remotely close. I almost packed up my kit and went there, that same pull.
Though not superstitous there is on thing that haunts me to this day. As the buildings came crashing down and I yelled that the firefighters are still in there, the eventual number chills my spine. I lived on 343rd street west for 32 years, the number of firefighters killed was 343. Some coincidences bother you wether they should or not.
I have had other people say in the past that they cannot understand the instinct of a firefighter to run into or upon something that everyone else, or anyone in their right mind, runs away from. I cannot explain it, it is just a part of what we are.
As long as I live the haunting of watching 343 brothers perish will always affect me. Luckily I have been able to let emotions do what they are intended to do. And the brotherhood is still as real to me as the day I recieved the badge and threw my coat, boots, and helmet on the fire engine.
In two of the three vocations there is a lot of reality and you have to seperate out feelings in order to sometimes get the job done. In the other you have to bare your soul and release emotion to do justice to the material and the expectations of those you entertain.
On the fire department I found that helping people was a particularly sticky job at times because you deal with people at their best and worst. Things you see are like the soldier, things that no human should see. You deal with emotions by building baracades and developing goofy senses of humor. The one thing that you find on the inside of the service is the brotherhood. It is something that is there no matter what happens. Even after moving on to other things it is still there. There is no such thing as a retired or former firefighter we are just off duty.
Even after health problems stop me from even the concept of picking up a hose and going after the flames the urge is still there. When there is smoke in these hills, which is generally not a good thing, the desire is to jump in the truck and go towards it. Seeing a fire truck or an old fire truck turns my head as quick as an attractive woman.
I was watching the Today Show on September 11, 2001. The word came in that something was happening at the World Trade Center and they turned on the roof camera. As the seeming accident was attracting so much attention I watched the second plane, live, crash into the second tower. And then the reports of the Pentagon and another airline crash. It was no leap to assume that we were under attack.
It takes me back to the same program a few years earlier when the Today Show mentioned that something happened in Oklahoma City. As the unknown explosion turned into a massive incident I was watching live. The call went out for assistance from medical and fire personnel from anywhere remotely close. I almost packed up my kit and went there, that same pull.
Though not superstitous there is on thing that haunts me to this day. As the buildings came crashing down and I yelled that the firefighters are still in there, the eventual number chills my spine. I lived on 343rd street west for 32 years, the number of firefighters killed was 343. Some coincidences bother you wether they should or not.
I have had other people say in the past that they cannot understand the instinct of a firefighter to run into or upon something that everyone else, or anyone in their right mind, runs away from. I cannot explain it, it is just a part of what we are.
As long as I live the haunting of watching 343 brothers perish will always affect me. Luckily I have been able to let emotions do what they are intended to do. And the brotherhood is still as real to me as the day I recieved the badge and threw my coat, boots, and helmet on the fire engine.
Monday, September 5, 2011
AMAZING, THE HUMAN MIND
It is amazing the human mind. It can do wonderous things, given the right incentives. It can make giant strides forwards and backwards. Thus the truism 'if history is ignored you are condemed to relive it'. It also can take fiction and make it the future. One hundred years ago the automobile was a fad that would surely fade away. Electricity in the country, unthinkable! 25 bushel wheat was a good crop now is considered a crop failure. To fly 2-3-4 times the speed of sound, Buck Roger's fiction! A computer? Cell phone? Digital TV? Space Station?
Looking back at how our forefathers made it, without everything we take for granted, is nothing short of amazing. But our rural areas are now shrinking because one man can farm the same as 12-15. You can speed to a big city center in an hour or two and buy groceries at giant warehouses or elegant stores where your can buy groceries, eat a meal, buy a diamond and a couch, plus take flowers and your perscription with you.
A defeatist attitude can color the most positive person and difficulties are easy to give in to today because failure is expected. Personal responsibility is a thing of the past let alone the responsibility to carry on traditions that have made it thru 5 generations.
We have a community celebration that is put on in the hills every 3 to 5 years. It is based on the historical signing of a peace treaty with 5 plains indian tribes. It has been a tradition since 1927 and is the trademark of our community. 5 generations have participated in it and it is a terribly hard and expensive thing to continue. But it has always been continued by pride, a responsibility to the past, and a hope for the future.
As our area shrinks and people die or move on it is an even bigger burden to those that remain. But the rest of the world takes for granted that such a grand production will continue on into the 6th, 7th, and 8th generations. It is so great a burden that it is felt by many that they cannot continue it and they use the line "this may be the last one" as a desperate hope that enough people will come to make it worthwhile.
I cannot imagine what the feeling will be when the next generation will ask why did you let it die? The excuses are all reasonable and valid but the question remains that when these people are sitting in a coffee shop, with their walkers and memories, will they be proud, ashamed, or indifferent that the great pageant was closed on their watch.
Lets hope that the ones that have had enough will step aside gracefully and cheer on the next generation that will put it on again.
Looking back at how our forefathers made it, without everything we take for granted, is nothing short of amazing. But our rural areas are now shrinking because one man can farm the same as 12-15. You can speed to a big city center in an hour or two and buy groceries at giant warehouses or elegant stores where your can buy groceries, eat a meal, buy a diamond and a couch, plus take flowers and your perscription with you.
A defeatist attitude can color the most positive person and difficulties are easy to give in to today because failure is expected. Personal responsibility is a thing of the past let alone the responsibility to carry on traditions that have made it thru 5 generations.
We have a community celebration that is put on in the hills every 3 to 5 years. It is based on the historical signing of a peace treaty with 5 plains indian tribes. It has been a tradition since 1927 and is the trademark of our community. 5 generations have participated in it and it is a terribly hard and expensive thing to continue. But it has always been continued by pride, a responsibility to the past, and a hope for the future.
As our area shrinks and people die or move on it is an even bigger burden to those that remain. But the rest of the world takes for granted that such a grand production will continue on into the 6th, 7th, and 8th generations. It is so great a burden that it is felt by many that they cannot continue it and they use the line "this may be the last one" as a desperate hope that enough people will come to make it worthwhile.
I cannot imagine what the feeling will be when the next generation will ask why did you let it die? The excuses are all reasonable and valid but the question remains that when these people are sitting in a coffee shop, with their walkers and memories, will they be proud, ashamed, or indifferent that the great pageant was closed on their watch.
Lets hope that the ones that have had enough will step aside gracefully and cheer on the next generation that will put it on again.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
SETTING SOME THINGS STRAIGHT
It is fascinating the mind of the liberal. When confronted with facts go to name calling and insults. This seems to be a pattern. There is a difference when I write about "environmental whako's" and when you set down to discuss issues and ideas in a civilized manor. Seems I upset one reader and this is good. If you go back to my introduction I promised to get readers worked up. I am not politically correct and I do not apologize about it.
When I raise the ire of someone it is because they are forced to think and that is what I am here for. I have been called in by our local chamber of commerce for attitude adjustment, and you can figure how that went. There was no screaming and shouting and we walked away, with my attitude intact however.
I have a problem with what is called pop science and the use or misuse of it by groups with alterior motives. We are going thru a rash of forest fires in the west because of a culture of 'saving' everything. There is a culture of put out every fire that we are paying for now. There is also great outcrys against logging forests. Even the spirit that the forest service and our great protection of natural places has been subverted. Teddy Roosevelt advocated multiple use. Now emotions and politics override solid research.
The beetle killed forests that environmentalists have been stopping, or slowing down logging of dead timber, have set the stage for even worse fires. Even in the most liberal areas of Colorado there is going to be clear cutting of areas to protect the Watersheds from fire damage. Because the fires that will start in the dead timber can stop the useage of water in communities such as Breckenridge and Boseman, MT. there would be bottled water use for 6 months after a major burn of the watershed.
Research by the most knoledgable scientist Dr. Mark Finney of the Forest Service Missoula Fire Lab has published several studies over the last 10 years on the subject. Selective clearcut logging slows catastrophic burns and hampers Crown Fires. A study of the Great Yellowstone Fire cites more catastophic damage from mature forests burning than younger growth. But where is the study when environmentalists are pushing their agenda.
Now I am not a technical genius and I do good to get in here and do my blogs. I have not figured out how to answer criticism from readers so do not expect me to waste my time battleing opinions. If you are forced to think, good. If you want to battle wits, you waste your time. If we were to sit down face to face and had facts and figures on problems we face today we can have civil discourse. When it is one sided and I call a spade a spade, that is an entirely different thing.
When I raise the ire of someone it is because they are forced to think and that is what I am here for. I have been called in by our local chamber of commerce for attitude adjustment, and you can figure how that went. There was no screaming and shouting and we walked away, with my attitude intact however.
I have a problem with what is called pop science and the use or misuse of it by groups with alterior motives. We are going thru a rash of forest fires in the west because of a culture of 'saving' everything. There is a culture of put out every fire that we are paying for now. There is also great outcrys against logging forests. Even the spirit that the forest service and our great protection of natural places has been subverted. Teddy Roosevelt advocated multiple use. Now emotions and politics override solid research.
The beetle killed forests that environmentalists have been stopping, or slowing down logging of dead timber, have set the stage for even worse fires. Even in the most liberal areas of Colorado there is going to be clear cutting of areas to protect the Watersheds from fire damage. Because the fires that will start in the dead timber can stop the useage of water in communities such as Breckenridge and Boseman, MT. there would be bottled water use for 6 months after a major burn of the watershed.
Research by the most knoledgable scientist Dr. Mark Finney of the Forest Service Missoula Fire Lab has published several studies over the last 10 years on the subject. Selective clearcut logging slows catastrophic burns and hampers Crown Fires. A study of the Great Yellowstone Fire cites more catastophic damage from mature forests burning than younger growth. But where is the study when environmentalists are pushing their agenda.
Now I am not a technical genius and I do good to get in here and do my blogs. I have not figured out how to answer criticism from readers so do not expect me to waste my time battleing opinions. If you are forced to think, good. If you want to battle wits, you waste your time. If we were to sit down face to face and had facts and figures on problems we face today we can have civil discourse. When it is one sided and I call a spade a spade, that is an entirely different thing.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
SAVING RURAL AMERICA
As if rural America does not have enough things to add to it's decline here comes the US Postal Service. It is amazing that a supposed independent agency, who has brought businessmen into management in the past, has to ask congress politely if they can do anything. The congress who has spent this country into bankruptcy!
Now in a cost cutting move there is going to be the elimination of Post Offices all over the country. Most all in rural communities. Can the Post Office become more efficient? YES. Will they? NO. The deterioration of service to the majority of the country is a poor way to "improve".
And the congress seems to be the only way to save the losses. OK, they are still going to close offices and they have come up with things for service centers and what not. I am going to ask for all of you to contact your Representative, Senator, and Party area chair people. Also ask your neighbors, County Commisioners, and City councils to issue letters of support. We have to create a storm to get attention!
THIS IS THE IDEA: When a community loses their zip code they lose identity. ASK CONGRESS to pass a bill to require all zip codes to be retained. Automation will have no problem routing mail to the new regional offices. Ask all you Governing bodies from the State to the local to issue proclamations supporting saving the zip code.
This is very simple and we all can do this. Write, E-mail, and Call. Talk to your friends and neighbors. LET'S SAVE OUR RURAL IDENTITIES - SAVE OUR ZIP CODES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now in a cost cutting move there is going to be the elimination of Post Offices all over the country. Most all in rural communities. Can the Post Office become more efficient? YES. Will they? NO. The deterioration of service to the majority of the country is a poor way to "improve".
And the congress seems to be the only way to save the losses. OK, they are still going to close offices and they have come up with things for service centers and what not. I am going to ask for all of you to contact your Representative, Senator, and Party area chair people. Also ask your neighbors, County Commisioners, and City councils to issue letters of support. We have to create a storm to get attention!
THIS IS THE IDEA: When a community loses their zip code they lose identity. ASK CONGRESS to pass a bill to require all zip codes to be retained. Automation will have no problem routing mail to the new regional offices. Ask all you Governing bodies from the State to the local to issue proclamations supporting saving the zip code.
This is very simple and we all can do this. Write, E-mail, and Call. Talk to your friends and neighbors. LET'S SAVE OUR RURAL IDENTITIES - SAVE OUR ZIP CODES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 22, 2011
CIVIL DISCOURSE
It seems to be a trend in today's world that civil discourse is almost a thing of the past. Politics have made things worse as the best thing for the country is sacrificed for the best thing for the party, philosophy, planned restructuring of a system that has worked fairly well for over two hundred years. There seems to be no room left to quietly discuss a topic and agree to either disagree, partially agree, or completely agree. Also the national press seem to take sides and truth takes a hike.
Getting along has taken the road of agree with me and you are reasonable or disagree with me or (pick one) you are a racist, ignorant, unwilling to comprimise, bigoted, homo phobe, religious nut, you get the point.
Try to dispute global warming and you are bent on destroying the earth, inviting aliens to attack, a capitalist pig, or any other insult that can be hurled including rocks now.
I just attended a gathering of people from all walks of life, religious views, political views, urban, rural, suburban. They were public employees, professionals, artists, retired, university presidents and professors, community activists, entertainers, farmers, ranchers, journalists, newspaper owners, and the list goes on.
We spent a weekend discussing topics at random and chosen, and had a frankly, productive and enjoyable time. Politness was the order of the day, nothing was off limits except an attitude and argument. It was wonderful! This very eclectic group came away as friends and may take a different viewpoint home with them, and all looking forward to next year.
I am not going to name the group because the whole idea is complete freedom to speak. Everything is off the record and there is no recordings, pictures or interviews. It was so refreshing to discuss calmly the good, the bad, and the ugly without the shouts of radicalism appearing.
It is a shame that the parents who grew up in the 60's and 70's have forgotten to instill simple politness into their children who are now raising children. The actions we see on the news all over the world would cause most peoples grandparents to wash their mouths out with soap and take a hickory switch to them behind the barn. It is good to know that there are still people in the world that can come together and discuss topics and part as friends.
Getting along has taken the road of agree with me and you are reasonable or disagree with me or (pick one) you are a racist, ignorant, unwilling to comprimise, bigoted, homo phobe, religious nut, you get the point.
Try to dispute global warming and you are bent on destroying the earth, inviting aliens to attack, a capitalist pig, or any other insult that can be hurled including rocks now.
I just attended a gathering of people from all walks of life, religious views, political views, urban, rural, suburban. They were public employees, professionals, artists, retired, university presidents and professors, community activists, entertainers, farmers, ranchers, journalists, newspaper owners, and the list goes on.
We spent a weekend discussing topics at random and chosen, and had a frankly, productive and enjoyable time. Politness was the order of the day, nothing was off limits except an attitude and argument. It was wonderful! This very eclectic group came away as friends and may take a different viewpoint home with them, and all looking forward to next year.
I am not going to name the group because the whole idea is complete freedom to speak. Everything is off the record and there is no recordings, pictures or interviews. It was so refreshing to discuss calmly the good, the bad, and the ugly without the shouts of radicalism appearing.
It is a shame that the parents who grew up in the 60's and 70's have forgotten to instill simple politness into their children who are now raising children. The actions we see on the news all over the world would cause most peoples grandparents to wash their mouths out with soap and take a hickory switch to them behind the barn. It is good to know that there are still people in the world that can come together and discuss topics and part as friends.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
What in the world?
As I look at the 'breaking news' this morning my heart just sank. The news from Afganistan is that a helicopter was shot down by the Taliban and it was one of our giant Chinooks. 38 men were killed 25 of them Navy Seals. I have waited for the day to pass some so my initial reaction would not be so emotional. The question always is why are we there? In a country whose major crop is poppies for the Heroin trade, a religion that has sworn to kill Americans, Jews and destroy the countries. And our "allies" in Packistan allow the homade IUD's to be produced there and brought across the border to kill and maim our troops.
Maybe I am tired of the blood being spilled by our troops for a Government who uses their salaries as hostage for political debate. Lives and families are affected forever by a cause we all forget now.
There is a saying that war is hell. It is more than true. But I am tired of playing by a set of rules with an 8th century people who worship the 2nd Moon god of Arabia. We have the firepower to take out our enemies and will not use it. But we will continue to sacrifice our sons and daughters on the alter of civilized behavior.
I do not care what the world thinks of us, they should know that the penalty they pay for being an active enemy is way beyond the price they are willing to pay. And if they insist on being martyers they we should arrange the trip. This was the startegy of the Cold War and no nukes were ever dropped.
One Navy Seal that we lost today is worth more than the entire congress and executive branch that sends them there. I am not distinguishing parties this is my blanket feeling.
I believe it was John Adams who said, "one fool is a shame, two fools is a law firm, and more than that is a congress". AMEN!
Maybe I am tired of the blood being spilled by our troops for a Government who uses their salaries as hostage for political debate. Lives and families are affected forever by a cause we all forget now.
There is a saying that war is hell. It is more than true. But I am tired of playing by a set of rules with an 8th century people who worship the 2nd Moon god of Arabia. We have the firepower to take out our enemies and will not use it. But we will continue to sacrifice our sons and daughters on the alter of civilized behavior.
I do not care what the world thinks of us, they should know that the penalty they pay for being an active enemy is way beyond the price they are willing to pay. And if they insist on being martyers they we should arrange the trip. This was the startegy of the Cold War and no nukes were ever dropped.
One Navy Seal that we lost today is worth more than the entire congress and executive branch that sends them there. I am not distinguishing parties this is my blanket feeling.
I believe it was John Adams who said, "one fool is a shame, two fools is a law firm, and more than that is a congress". AMEN!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Oh the politics!
I recieved a poll from my representative in Washington about the goings on with the current battle over spending. He is a Tea Party candidate elected to clean up the Washington mess. I replied in long hand rather than the poll.
I reminded him that he was sent to stop the ridculous spending of our country into bancruptcy, which is where we are at. I not only encouraged him to stay the course I went on to say what I think has to be done.
There should be an immediate 10% cut back on all agencies except Social Security and Medicare. These programs have been bought and paid for by those who are on them. The money has been stolen by both parties since the 1960's and it should be paid back with interest.
All foreign aid should be stopped except for humanitarian needs and any country, that recieves other, has to be a proven friend.
The financial support for the United Nations will end now. Only humanitarian causes will be supported and only when the directors of the agencies are not making 6&7 figure salaries, have limos, and drivers.
The 28th amendment to the constitution passed and the fair tax initiated. All congress will be subject to term limits. The founding fathers intended citizen legislators not professional politicians. Congress will immediatly be stripped of their retirement program, be required to abide by all laws passed, and participate in social security.
I would love to run for office myself but the system has been perverted for those who have access to funding and backing the common man does not.
When one man (George Soros) plans the taking of the government and placing everyone into the administration and effecting state and local office holders we are on borrowed time to keep our republic.
It is up to every voting person to throw the socialists out and put God and Citizens back into our system.
I reminded him that he was sent to stop the ridculous spending of our country into bancruptcy, which is where we are at. I not only encouraged him to stay the course I went on to say what I think has to be done.
There should be an immediate 10% cut back on all agencies except Social Security and Medicare. These programs have been bought and paid for by those who are on them. The money has been stolen by both parties since the 1960's and it should be paid back with interest.
All foreign aid should be stopped except for humanitarian needs and any country, that recieves other, has to be a proven friend.
The financial support for the United Nations will end now. Only humanitarian causes will be supported and only when the directors of the agencies are not making 6&7 figure salaries, have limos, and drivers.
The 28th amendment to the constitution passed and the fair tax initiated. All congress will be subject to term limits. The founding fathers intended citizen legislators not professional politicians. Congress will immediatly be stripped of their retirement program, be required to abide by all laws passed, and participate in social security.
I would love to run for office myself but the system has been perverted for those who have access to funding and backing the common man does not.
When one man (George Soros) plans the taking of the government and placing everyone into the administration and effecting state and local office holders we are on borrowed time to keep our republic.
It is up to every voting person to throw the socialists out and put God and Citizens back into our system.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Hotter than What
Well we are have set the new record for over 100 degree days and with each day we are shattering the record more. And with the hot weather and a drougth that is 20 years over due you would know that the Global Warming idiots start coming out of the woodwork. I have not heard of any acid rain lately and the politically correct crowd has change the terminology to climate change.
Well thank God for climate change! Without it we would still have a glacier over a portion of Kansas and everything North of here. Climate change has been the story of the earth for it's entire exhistance. And if man thinks he can affect it in any major way it is pure huberis.
How soon is forgotten by the mainstream press and every green lunatic out there that the United Nations statistics for the Global Warning Emergency were fabricated and a hoax. Yet they still are determined to transfer all our 'wealth' to underdeveloped countries. Next year our president is in the position to sign a UN treaty that will facilitate this and neuter our Constitution.
There is no green lunatic that can deny that the water, air, roadsides, and major contamination areas have not been immensley improved since the 1970's. Big surprise that cars are getting milege upwards of 30 to 50 mpg. Even pick ups that we owners of are getting 20mpg or better. We have been demanding them for years.
There are many 'green' things that are common sense and should be done because it is just the right thing to do. I am incensed at groups and individuales that use lies, pop science, and scare tactics to effect political change.
Some people get radical the opposite way and are against many good things because they are green. For the first time our importage of oil from foreign sources is below 50%. Bio fuels have affected the overall picture of our energy scene and without it there is extimated that we would be paying $1.00 or more per gallon of gas without alternative fuels.
Were are in the start of a oil and gas boom in these hills and the discovery of more and more energy deposits in our country puts us at the point of considering any unreasonable limits on production as just treasonous.
Well that is my rant from the hills for now. It took me a long time to get back into the blog. I am not very techi you know.
Well thank God for climate change! Without it we would still have a glacier over a portion of Kansas and everything North of here. Climate change has been the story of the earth for it's entire exhistance. And if man thinks he can affect it in any major way it is pure huberis.
How soon is forgotten by the mainstream press and every green lunatic out there that the United Nations statistics for the Global Warning Emergency were fabricated and a hoax. Yet they still are determined to transfer all our 'wealth' to underdeveloped countries. Next year our president is in the position to sign a UN treaty that will facilitate this and neuter our Constitution.
There is no green lunatic that can deny that the water, air, roadsides, and major contamination areas have not been immensley improved since the 1970's. Big surprise that cars are getting milege upwards of 30 to 50 mpg. Even pick ups that we owners of are getting 20mpg or better. We have been demanding them for years.
There are many 'green' things that are common sense and should be done because it is just the right thing to do. I am incensed at groups and individuales that use lies, pop science, and scare tactics to effect political change.
Some people get radical the opposite way and are against many good things because they are green. For the first time our importage of oil from foreign sources is below 50%. Bio fuels have affected the overall picture of our energy scene and without it there is extimated that we would be paying $1.00 or more per gallon of gas without alternative fuels.
Were are in the start of a oil and gas boom in these hills and the discovery of more and more energy deposits in our country puts us at the point of considering any unreasonable limits on production as just treasonous.
Well that is my rant from the hills for now. It took me a long time to get back into the blog. I am not very techi you know.
Monday, July 11, 2011
howdy
Well the hottest that I have seen my thermometer has been 121. Now that is hottern hell. Our firefighters in the region have been out fighting fires in this heat. It is just inhuman. Most of the fires are started by dry lightning that we have had with some fake cool fronts that pop thru. I visited with the local county fire chief and expressed my concern with the personal turnout gear that they have to wear. When I was on the floor I was disgusted with the department not allowing the use of forestry gear which is lightweight and still gives protection. When you add 75 pounds in hot clothing and boots to a person and let him hike several miles pulling hose up and down hills it will drain your energy and moisture in no time. Luckily the chief said they were going to go to the forestry gear.
Volunteer departments which are 75% of the nations firefighters have a tendency to be in poorer health than full time departments. That is because the age and availability for manpower for the rural areas is critical. These ranks are why the full time departments started hiring women. Not because of the equal rights clause but that they have proven they can do the job.
Heart and health problems are not automatic disqualifiers for rural departments. The need for manpower is just too great. I know one little town, pop. 7. The only man left in town had open heart surgery and he would pull the truck out to the road and wait on the first cowboy to come by and comandeer him to go on to the fires. This is no joke it is real life in the country.
I am hoping to start a partnership with a fire equipment manufacturer to produce a radical new fire attack vehical to give the rural departments a fighting chance. Wish me luck. And remember the firefighters and EMT's in your prayers.
Volunteer departments which are 75% of the nations firefighters have a tendency to be in poorer health than full time departments. That is because the age and availability for manpower for the rural areas is critical. These ranks are why the full time departments started hiring women. Not because of the equal rights clause but that they have proven they can do the job.
Heart and health problems are not automatic disqualifiers for rural departments. The need for manpower is just too great. I know one little town, pop. 7. The only man left in town had open heart surgery and he would pull the truck out to the road and wait on the first cowboy to come by and comandeer him to go on to the fires. This is no joke it is real life in the country.
I am hoping to start a partnership with a fire equipment manufacturer to produce a radical new fire attack vehical to give the rural departments a fighting chance. Wish me luck. And remember the firefighters and EMT's in your prayers.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Hello
This is my first posting on a blog of my own. Let me introduce myself. I am Roger and I live in the Gypsum Hills of Kansas. I am 3rd generation rural Sedgwick County resident and 3rd Generation Graduate from Goddard High School. I have spent my whole life in the country and have been involved in farming and cowboying all my life. I also have had the privelage of being a firefighter/EMT which I am retired from. I also have had a wealth of experience in many fields including, welding, woodworking, auctioneering, real estate, heavy equipment, deputy sheriff's commision, fire inspector, safety consultant, businessman and township official. I have one published book of cowboy and country poetry, one CD of Western music, am a member of the Western Music Association, and freelance writer.
Having an ancestry of German and Scotish I naturally have an opinion on just about every subject. If you read me for political correctness you will be very sorry for I don't believe in it. I love my country, my God, and the people who defend it. I believe everyone has the chance to chase a dream as long as it does not take anyone else's away.
Although registered as a Republican I am more Libertarian in my views. I think everyone in Washington is either a crook, traitor, or will be one. I believe in the 28th Ammendment and until we restore honesty and intelligence to Washington that we are endanger of losing our Republic. And if you call it a democracy you are not intelligent enough to know the history of this country.
I believe in giving a helping hand to those in need but not a handout. If I were in the White House I would deploy the military to our southern border, create a workable guest worker program and path to citizenship, and cut off all support of the UN and Forgeign aid accept humanitarian.
I believe in your right to speak, own a gun, and participate in the process of governing. The tax system is an unworkable maze of special interests and should be scrapped and the Fair Tax adopted. If you have not read the provisions of the Fair Tax don't exhibit your ignorance by arguing.
I believe that you and I do not have to agree on anything but if you have to resort to name calling and yelling you have displayed your contempt for this principle. And if you have to resort to calling me or anyone a racist because you are in disagreement You should not be talking you should be studying.
I believe that Junk Science and theories has no place in policy decisions and resorting to emotion is the crutch of the uninformed.
I eat meat and if you don't that is your business. Do not tell me how to live.
And if the fact that children commiting crime or going on rampages bothers you what did you expect when God and his principles have been removed from school and everything else. Schools that don't teach, have discipline, or cheat on tests is the result of removing the basis of ethics, the 10 Commandments.
We have killed a generation by having the 'right to abortion' and wonder why life is cheap.
We have the power to make the world a better place but when our electorate expects government to take care of it we are lost. There are many that are willing to rule with an iron fist. Your 'rights' will mean nothing to them.
Now there you know where I am coming from. If I made you mad, good! Maybe you will think. Otherwise have a good day.
Roger
Having an ancestry of German and Scotish I naturally have an opinion on just about every subject. If you read me for political correctness you will be very sorry for I don't believe in it. I love my country, my God, and the people who defend it. I believe everyone has the chance to chase a dream as long as it does not take anyone else's away.
Although registered as a Republican I am more Libertarian in my views. I think everyone in Washington is either a crook, traitor, or will be one. I believe in the 28th Ammendment and until we restore honesty and intelligence to Washington that we are endanger of losing our Republic. And if you call it a democracy you are not intelligent enough to know the history of this country.
I believe in giving a helping hand to those in need but not a handout. If I were in the White House I would deploy the military to our southern border, create a workable guest worker program and path to citizenship, and cut off all support of the UN and Forgeign aid accept humanitarian.
I believe in your right to speak, own a gun, and participate in the process of governing. The tax system is an unworkable maze of special interests and should be scrapped and the Fair Tax adopted. If you have not read the provisions of the Fair Tax don't exhibit your ignorance by arguing.
I believe that you and I do not have to agree on anything but if you have to resort to name calling and yelling you have displayed your contempt for this principle. And if you have to resort to calling me or anyone a racist because you are in disagreement You should not be talking you should be studying.
I believe that Junk Science and theories has no place in policy decisions and resorting to emotion is the crutch of the uninformed.
I eat meat and if you don't that is your business. Do not tell me how to live.
And if the fact that children commiting crime or going on rampages bothers you what did you expect when God and his principles have been removed from school and everything else. Schools that don't teach, have discipline, or cheat on tests is the result of removing the basis of ethics, the 10 Commandments.
We have killed a generation by having the 'right to abortion' and wonder why life is cheap.
We have the power to make the world a better place but when our electorate expects government to take care of it we are lost. There are many that are willing to rule with an iron fist. Your 'rights' will mean nothing to them.
Now there you know where I am coming from. If I made you mad, good! Maybe you will think. Otherwise have a good day.
Roger
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)