Insensate People

Pro Choice is a complete fallacy

2008-09-24T12:30:00.001-04:00

Groups claiming to be Pro-Choice are made up of two types of people, liars and fools. The claim that they're Pro-Choice is a complete fallacy. The liars know better, but continue to perpetrate the fallacy. The fools believe the liars, failing to think for themselves. Let's look at the facts.

People claiming to be Pro-Choice are really Pro-Abortion and there is a huge difference between the two. Pro-Abortion sounds negative and the supporters, understandably, don't like the moniker. Really being Pro-Choice means you support the choices people make regarding this issue. The Pro-Abortion advocates cry louder than anyone when the choice made is to not have an abortion. When Sarah Palin made the choice to give birth to a special needs child, they condemned her choice. If they were truly Pro-Choice they would have applauded her for making the choice that's right for her family. They didn't support her choice because they're actually Pro-Abortion. This is the same reason they attacked her daughter for choosing to marry, rather than have an abortion. These are just two recent examples among hundreds. It's one of the ironies of life that the people that support more choice are those in the Pro-Life group. Let me explain.

Pro-Life supporters believe that women have many choices available to them, and that they should take more advantage of those choices. The first choice is whether or not to have sexual relations. Next, they can choose whether or not to use birth control. If they choose not to use birth control, they have chosen to accept the possibility of pregnancy. The so called Pro-Choice crowd claims that abortion isn't used for birth control. Personal responsibility dictates that if you become pregnant you should choose te give birth. If you don't want to get pregnant, and you choose to be responsible and use birth control, you need to know that there is no 100% effective form of birth control. That leads you back to the choices of abstinence or accepting that you may get pregnant and shouldn't consider using abortion as another form of birth control.

All the choices outlined are supported by Pro-Life followers but not by the Pro-Choice crowd. In fact the latter group only supports the choice to have an abortion for any reason, at any time, without repercussions. The argument of women that have been raped, or the victims of incest, is just a red herring. The number of pregnancies from those terrible acts are so miniscule they don't actually affect the number of abortions per year. The rally cry of the "Pro-Choice" group could be: Personal responsibility be damned, we want abortion!

Only you know whether you're a liar or a fool. Do you know what you really want is the right to an abortion? If so, calling yourself Pro-Choice makes you a liar. Did you think you wanted choice without realizing choice is available without abortion? You drank the koolaid and have been made a fool. It's time to face the facts and call things what they really are; if you're not Pro-Life, you are Pro-Abortion, not Pro-Choice.

Tags: Abortion,personal responsibility,Pro Choice,Pro Life

Barack Obama’s complete lack of leadership

2008-09-19T18:16:00.003-04:00

A good time to see leadership in action is during the current financial crisis. What do the two candidates for President have to say about fixing the problems and preventing their reoccurrence? John McCain says the head of the SEC should be fired for dereliction of duties. Two years ago he co-authored legislation to put controls on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which the Democrats killed in committee. He now calls for an oversight group to watch for potential problems in the industry, and head them off before they get out of hand.

Barack Obama won’t comment on whether or not he agrees with the current bailouts, he’s voting present, just like in the Illinois Legislature. He’s now waiting for the President to come out with a plan, so he can look it over and decide whether or not he agrees with it. That’s real leadership for you, I’ll wait for someone else to make a decision, then my advisers can tell me what to think. Once they make up my mind I’ll have my speechwriters tell me what to say about it. Next week I’ll make another speech, bragging about my judgement and claiming that I was the one to lead us out of this crisis.

How can Senator Obama hope to ever be President when he can’t make a decision of his own? How will he function when his traveling teleprompter breaks down? How does he show the great judgement he claims to possess? He says increasing taxes is still his plan, including taxes on Capital Gains. Most Economists agree you should never raise taxes during an economic crisis, especially Capital Gains taxes. Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden, says paying more taxes is Patriotic. If Congress would stop spending money like a drunken sailor, and stop trying to turn us into a Socialist society, that would be Patriotic!

The only way to find Caylee Anthony

2008-08-21T12:52:00.001-04:00

Sending Caylee Anthony's mom home will do nothing to get at the truth about her disappearance. She lied before she went to jail and continued to lie while in jail. Now that she's back home there will be no new truthful information provided. There's only one path to the truth and it's not pretty. It's time for someone to make Casey Anthony put up or shut up.

Casey claim's that her daughter was kidnapped and the speculation is she can't talk without endangering Caylee. The authorities need to set her down and give this ultimatum. Either give us the truthful information you have, so we can put a rescue plan in place, or we'll leak statements to the media that you're fully cooperating. In other words, if you're not lying you can protect your daughter with the truth, or she'll be put in danger with a lie. No caring mother would allow their child to be endangered that way. If she still refuses to cooperate, you'll know she's lying and Caylee wasn't kidnapped.

If Casey Anthony provides the needed info, the next step is to have the feds setup a rescue plan and take action. If she still refuses, assume the worst and start searching for a body. Like I said earlier, the path to the truth isn't pretty. It's time to fold up the circus tent and stop playing games. The truth about Caylee Anthony is all that really matters.

Tags: Casey Anthony,Caylee Anthony,kidnapped

Proof John McCain did not cheat at Saddleback

2008-08-19T07:57:00.002-04:00

The Obama campaign, embarrassed and ashamed of how poorly he performed at the Saddleback civil forum, is circulating rumors that John McCain cheated. This complaint is so pathetic that most thinking people burst out laughing when they hear it. Anyone that has seen John McCain's performance at the forum has seen the proof with their own eyes.

One group says McCain heard the first half of Obama's turn while in his motorcade on the way there. If this were true, it would only explain why he did so well in the first half, during the second part his performance would have suffered noticeably. Didn't happen. Another group suggests that he not only heard the first half but, after he arrived, he listened on a monitor in his waiting room to the second half. This would mean that Pastor Rick Warren lied when he said that the monitor in McCain's room was disconnected. It also wouldn't explain why John McCain did so well throughout the entire forum. He answered questions that Obama wasn't even asked, and didn't falter then, either.

Let's face it, Barack Obama's performance last Saturday was dismal, while John McCain's was stellar. I expect that we really witnessed the difference in leadership between the two candidates. John McCain showed himself to be a man of depth and conviction. Barack Obama was like a malfunctioning hologram, when it seemed like something might have been there, it wasn't real.

Tags: Barack Obama,John McCain,politics,Saddleback Church,civil forum,cheating,Rick Warren

Democrats bow down as Queen Pelosi gives her blessing

2008-08-09T11:15:00.001-04:00

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been quietly telling her subjects in the House they may support drilling, if needed to win re-election. Isn't that special! The Democrats in the House may now bow before the Queen, Her Majesty's blessing is upon you.

As a voter, I think this entire concept is offensive. If I'm your constituent I expect you to listen to me, not another member of the House. Speaker Pelosi represents the granola district of California. This is the 8th district around San Francisco, people with totally different values than most of America. If most of your supporters want drilling, and you only claim support because the Speaker gave her permission, you don't deserve re-election. We didn't send you to Washington to lay down in the face of adversity, even from your own party. We sent you to Washington to stand up for our values and our best interests.

This November the voters need to decide whether they want to elect a representative, or a rubber stamp for Her Majesty, the Speaker. Whichever way you vote, you'll get what you deserve.

Tags: Democrats,Nancy Pelosi,House,Speaker,voting,drilling

Barack Obama the NASCAR driver.

2008-07-31T17:33:00.001-04:00

I was listening to Barack Obama give a speech the other day when it struck me, he should become a NASCAR driver. He could drive the number 1 car as Barry Obama and become the winningest driver in NASCAR history. I know, some of you are thinking I've lost my mind, but stick with me and you'll agree. This would be a great chance for regular Americans to get to know the real Barack.

Obama would, of course, have to be given the number 1 for his car, he could never accept any other. Dale Earnhardt Incorporated would have to relinquish it, they wouldn't dare think of discriminating against him. His sponsors could be Importers of Beluga Caviar and Truffles, or Champagne perhaps.

He'd most certainly become the winningest driver in very short order. Any driver attempting to pass him would be portrayed as another racist, trying to trample his rights and keep him from achieving. Of course he'd never claim they were racist, he'd have his spotter, or maybe the team's owner, do it for him.

Bill Ayers could be his crew chief and between pit stops he could have his crew bomb the other drivers pit areas. Naturally Obama would claim that Ayers wasn't connected to him. He'd just be "some guy that liked to hang around the pits". Reverend Wright would make a fine spiritual leader for the team. If people found out what he was saying during team meetings, Barry could just dismiss him as a crazy uncle. "I wasn't at the meetings when he said NASCAR drove counter-clockwise, in an attempt to turn the clock back to the days of slavery". When Reverend Wright went on national TV and repeated his racist rant, poor Barry would have to throw him under the pace car.

At the beginning of each season he could announce his strategy for winning. Whenever he changed his strategy, he could have his pit crew, minus his crew chief, go on TV to claim "Barry is totally consistent". If sports reporters ever had the audacity to point out the differences, Obama could simply tell them they're wrong. Michelle Obama could speak to fans before the races, telling them how, for the first time in her adult life, she is proud of NASCAR.

Yes, I see a big future as a NASCAR driver for Barack "Barry" Obama. As long as he runs his NASCAR career the way he's running his Presidential campaign.

Tags: Barack Obama,Bill Ayers,Michelle Obama,NASCAR,Obama,politics,presidential race,Reverend Wright,slavery

2008 Elections

2008-07-27T17:40:00.002-04:00

For access to some helpful, non-partisan, election resources, see the post at my other blog, Patriotic Wisdom .

Tags: 2008 election,voting

Obama slaps our Military Wounded

2008-07-25T19:46:00.001-04:00

Tags: Barack Obama,Military,Pentagon,Veterans

In what can only be viewed as a slap in the face to our wounded war hero's, Barack Obama canceled his scheduled visit with them yesterday. While trying to make excuses for not being allowed to go, his pathetic attempts were struck down by the truth. Obama claimed that the Pentagon informed him he would not be allowed to visit the wounded military men and women while on a trip funded by campaign contributions. It sounded like a valid reason, until the Pentagon spoke up with the truth.

The fact is that this was all taken care of before his overseas trip ever started. The Pentagon made special arrangements for his plane to land at the military base, a privilege not often granted. He was told his campaign staff and entourage of reporters would not be allowed to accompany him during the visit, but his Congressional staff would. The Military would also have their media people present to record the visit for posterity. Rather than be without the 3 ring media circus, he chose to cancel the visit and go play basketball at the Hyatt.

I certainly hope that our current members of the Military, and all Veterans considering supporting Obama, pay attention to his actions. I expect many who do will reconsider the decision of supporting someone who only pays lip service to them. This slap in the face should be loud and clear, since actions speak louder than words.

Democrats should take a Drill Pill

2008-07-20T10:38:00.001-04:00

The time has come for our Congressional Democrats to take a Drill Pill. The cost of their insensate stance on America's energy problem continues to mount. Focusing only on "green" solutions will do nothing to help us in the coming decade. Of course we need those solutions as a part of our overall energy policy. The problem is that Congress doesn't have an energy policy, and the Democrats don't want one. They've forgotten that the American people have had one since the beginning. That policy is to be granted access to America's resources needed for "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". The best interests of the American people demand that Congress stop blocking our access.

The Democrats in Congress don't want an energy policy because it would highlight their appeasement of the extremist environmental crowd. This "let's investigate the Oil Companies and Speculators" circus routine is just the Democrats way of pretending to do something. Come November, they'll be telling you that they "took action" to reduce energy costs. Will you remember that the action they took was a meaningless waste of our tax dollars? Perhaps they should hold the Democratic Convention under a Big Top, with popcorn, peanuts and Ringmaster Dean.

John McCain has an energy plan that is much more comprehensive, although it should go even further. It incorporates a variety of "green" solutions with domestic drilling, but doesn't include the Arctic Refuge. His plan, being more inclusive, will lower energy costs much sooner and increase our security. If we can also convince him to open up the Arctic Refuge, it will lower our dependence on foreign sources even more.

Should you think for a moment that the Democrats in Congress are looking out for you, think again. Not only are they blocking access to our own resources, they're now talking about a Gas Tax increase. Yes, you read that right. Jim Abrams of the Associated Press is reporting (see it here) that Congressional Democrats are talking about a ten cent per gallon Gas Tax increase! Get out the sheep shears because the Democrats are pulling the wool over the eyes of millions of Americans.

Tags: Arctic Refuge,Associated Press,Congress,Convention,Democrats,energy,gas tax,Jim Abrams,John McCain,policy

Vote Smarter - Choosing Your Candidate

2008-07-18T12:39:00.001-04:00

During this election cycle we hear a lot of rhetoric from our political candidates. Along with an excessive amount of media coverage, it comes from their ads, their rallies and their websites. All this rhetoric is supposed to tell us what the candidates stand for, what they’ll do and why we should vote for them. So how do we know when they’re telling the truth? Part of the answer is “that’s easy”, assume that when their lips are moving, they’re pandering to their audience. The other part of the answer is “do your homework”. That is, after all, our responsibility when we exercise our right to vote. Whether you’re a Liberal, a Conservative or a Moderate, the same diligence is needed to make an informed choice.

Doing your homework involves two things and, in this age of the Internet, neither is difficult. First, you should listen to what the candidate says and focus on what’s important to you. Secondly, check to see how the candidate has voted on related issues. Does the rhetoric match the voting record? If they have no voting record on a particular issue, what were they saying about it a year or more before they ran for office? If there’s no information on that, are you sure they have the ability to do the job? Any politician can say what he or she thinks you want to hear, and they will. It’s your duty to make sure it represents their real intentions. This is how voters can, and should decide which candidate gets their support.

What I find to be completely ridiculous though, is the method so many voters use to make their choice. Deciding who you’re for, or against, based on their gender, skin color, or age, is an insensate decision. Likewise, only a fool would forget what someone has done, or failed to do. Yet we constantly re-elect politicians that go back on the promises we cared about. America gets the politicians it deserves, because so many of us fail to make educated choices. It’s time we pulled our collective heads out of our, (you know where), and make more informed choices. I saw a recent poll from Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports that said the job approval rating of Congress was at 9 percent. How many of those ineffective imbeciles will be re-elected this November?

We hear Congress blame the President, the President blames Congress, the Republicans say it’s the Democrats fault while the Democrats claim it’s the Republicans. Let’s face it, there’s more than enough culpability to go around, but the real culprit is none of the above. The single biggest cause of ineffective representation in Washington is the uninformed voter. If ignorance is bliss, these people are ecstatic. “I’m voting for my candidate because they want to fix the economy.” Gee, that’s great, what’s their plan? Will it work? Do the others want to break the economy? “My candidate wants a smaller government.” Good for them, but what are they going to cut? The IRS, Pork Barrel Spending, Social Security, Homeland Security, the Military, or some other areas? Do you agree with where they’ll make the cuts or do you even know? When they speak, does the information ever get past your ear canal? When will we start paying attention and make considered decisions before heading to the voting booth. There’s no time like the present.

Tags: Candidate,Congress,Democrats,government,President,Rasmussen,voting

Media Stars to Orbit around the Obama Sun

2008-07-17T17:52:00.004-04:00

You would think that Barack Obama is the Sun and his gravitational pull causes the Liberal Media to orbit him, unable to resist without the fear of spinning out of sight. That, at least, is what I believe caused the TV Networks to decide to send their main Anchors along with Obama on his upcoming trip to Iraq. It certainly wasn’t the news of an Iraq trip by a Presidential Candidate. John McCain recently completed yet another trip to the region, without the company of the Network’s stars. Of course, John McCain is a lot more familiar with the region, the conflict, our fighting Heroes and the Commanders on the ground. I guess he just didn’t need the entourage Barack Obama requires to find his way around.

Some are saying that this could be a dangerous time for Obama. Any slip-ups could be greatly magnified. Really now, who believes they would actually focus on any gaffs. When he makes them, and you know he will, I’ll be surprised to see them reported more than once by the Networks, and they’ll probably wait until after midnight. To see the real story of what happens, you’ll need to check the Internet News sites and Blogs, where information breaks first.

If you’re foolish enough to think this trip is to make an informed decision about the best course of action, think again. He’s already laying out his strategy for what he’ll do with Iraq if he manages to get elected. At least we can’t accuse him of letting facts get in his way. Gee I wonder if Obama will learn the languages of the region before his trip. You know, so he won’t be too embarrassed by them all speaking English.

Barack Obama – Elitist or Regular Guy?

2008-07-15T18:14:00.007-04:00

There have been claims by some detractors that Barack Obama is an elitist, out of touch with mainstream Americans. His supporters say he’s a regular guy with a modest upbringing. To support this claim they cite his simple Kansas roots and claims that, at times, his mother collected Food Stamps. There is some slim basis for these claims, but only if you choose to ignore the facts. I think there is much more evidence to support the idea that Barack Obama really is an elitist. To be fair, I don’t think Obama is aware that he’s an elitist. Those raised, and/or living in that rarified air usually think they’re as regular as the next guy is. They just don’t seem to realize the next guy’s an elitist too.

I tend to ignore rumors, and take statements from supporters and detractors with a rather large grain of salt. The truth usually lies somewhere in-between and I prefer to do my own research and make up my own mind. In preparing this story I tried to look at what gems of revealing information could be gleaned from pro Obama stories. I found several which contained information from other sources, so I went to the original stories they referenced. What I found is a Barack Obama whose upbringing was markedly different than what he tries to portray. What I did not find was any evidence of his having Kansas roots. He was born in Hawaii and was raised there primarily, with a four-year stint in Indonesia. He never lived in Kansas, his only connection to it being that his Mother and her parents lived there before he was born.

In an interview earlier this year he said "But I also always remember that I was raised by a single mom. There were times where we were on food stamps in Hawaii. I lived in a small two-bedroom apartment with my grandparents for a long time. My grandmother still lives in that apartment."1 While he tries to paint a picture of being raised in a financially strapped atmosphere, the truth shows a different world. While his mother became single when he was two, she remarried before he was old enough to attend school. Even Barack questions why she was collecting food stamps, given the circumstances. "For example, I was going to a fancy prep school, and my mother was on food stamps while she was getting her Ph.D." Her parents are reported to have been providing financial support while she attended college. Her Father was a successful furniture salesman while her Mother was a Vice-President of the Bank of Hawaii. His Grandparents, not his Mother, primarily raised Barack. The apartment he mentioned is a Honolulu High-rise, not exactly the spartan domain he tries to portray.

After Barack’s Stepfather graduated from college they moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. Barack claims to have mastered the "language, culture and history" of Indonesia in less than six months. From a 2007 newspaper article, "He describes making friends easily, becoming fluent in Indonesian in just six months and melding quite easily into the very foreign fabric of Jakarta."2. His recollections of the subject seem to be at odds with what those that knew him at the time have to say. "Teachers, former playmates and friends recall a boy who never fully grasped their language and who was very quiet as a result."2 His teacher, from the first school he attended, said she tried to give him extra help learning the language but he never quite grasped it. According to her, he became quiet and sat in the back corner of the room, unable to adjust or fit in.

Barack Obama can’t claim a regular guy’s education either. In Indonesia he attended a private Catholic school for grades one through three, then switched to a predominately Muslim school for the fourth grade. When he returned to Hawaii, his Grandparents enrolled him in yet another private school. He continued along this privileged educational path through high school and college. "As a teenager at Hawaii's exclusive Punahou prep school"3, one of the largest private schools in the country, he wasn’t surrounded by any "regular guys". His college years were spent at Columbia University and Harvard Law School, not exactly bastions of the poor or middle class.

Barack Obama continued to live the elitist life as an adult too. Moving to Chicago, he had a plethora of neighborhoods from which to choose. Poor, middle class and wealthy locations are available throughout the city. Barack felt he fit best in Hyde Park, the wealthiest, most liberal, most elite neighborhood he could find. Surrounded by the likes of William Ayers, the unrepentant radical activist bomber, he started cutting his political teeth. Ayers is warmly regarded in this community so Obama sought him out before his first run for office, going so far as to hold his first fundraiser in Ayer’s home. Most regular guys would look for a neighborhood hall to await the results of their election bid. That, of course, would never do for an elitist. "On an early March night nearly four years ago in Chicago, Barack Obama supporters milled about the Hyatt Regency, munching on cheese trays and making small talk while reporters were shuffled up to the penthouse suite to chat with the Democratic Senate hopeful and watch early results."4 The penthouse suite, isn’t that just like a regular guy.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t even dug into the remarks he made at the political fundraiser for him in San Francisco earlier this year. I think the "clinging" comments have been discussed at length so I won’t belabor the point. His more recent commentary, made to a group of voters in Georgia, continues to show his elitist way of thinking. "Instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English—they’ll learn English—you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. We should have every child speaking more than one language." It takes a special audacity to spew this elitist rhetoric. After spending first, second, third and fourth grades in private schools learning the Indonesian language, how are his foreign language skills? As he recently said to a group in Ohio, "I don't speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing!"5

When choosing a President to run our country, we need someone that will understand our needs, and will respond to them beneficially. They have to know what’s best, not for the elite few, but for the regular working class American. That’s a group Barack Obama will never be capable of understanding the needs of, he just wasn’t raised like us. No matter how he speaks as a candidate, he will rule as a liberal elitist. If he should ever fool enough people to get elected President, we’ll all learn how an elitist rules. I hope an adequate number of voters can see through him before Election Day, or we’ll all learn our lesson the hard way.

1. Barack Obama's Interview on KHNL News 8
February 17, 2008

2. The not-so-simple story of Barack Obama's youth by Kirsten Scharnberg and Kim Barker
ChicagoTribune.com March 25, 2007

3. The Democrats' New Face by Joe Klein
Time Magazine October 15, 2006

4. How Obama mystique has grown by Sara Hooker
Daily Herald February 7, 2008

5. Obama the Embarrassed Monoglot by John McCormack
from the Blog at WeeklyStandard.com July 11, 2008

The Great Melting Pot is cracked

2008-07-11T12:48:00.005-04:00

The United States of America has long been a Great Melting Pot of people from cultures the world over. The term itself wasn’t used until 100 years ago when Israel Zangwill’s play "The Melting Pot" premiered, but the concept began with our founding. Long before the 1908 release of that play our country was welcoming people from all corners of the earth. This Land of Opportunity offered new hope for those whose homelands offered little. For some it was the chance to start anew, in freedom, while others came in servitude, to pay off the cost of their voyage and then live their dreams. Still others were brought involuntarily, in Slavery, void of the hopes that so many others brought with them.

No matter how they arrived, they each brought with them a richness of culture, which they still maintain. Thanks in part to a well thought out Constitution, and the freedoms it provided, America became a land where people could meld together without losing their rich history. Eventually, even those brought in bondage were freed, and began a long and arduous journey to equality. The Civil Rights Movement, which gained such strength in the 1960’s, was the beginning of the end of that journey. Some even gave their lives fighting for Civil Rights and the opportunity for all to meld with society, without discarding their heritage.

Yes, America became the Great Melting Pot of the world and we are proud of that designation. The land where immigrants, from all over the world, come for a new beginning. The land where all those cultures, and their rich traditions, are shared with others. Festivals, Holidays and all forms of celebrations take place across the country each year. We share with each other, the clothing styles, music, religious beliefs and the foods of the various regions of our homelands. In all this we still manage to bond, to meld together to become what even some of our enemies admit is the greatest Nation on Earth.

With all those years of coalescing you might expect us to be a fully integrated society by now. How wrong, and perhaps, disappointed you would be. The need for power causes some leaders to guide those that follow, on an insensate quest backward. Rather than empowering their followers, they subjugate them. Instead of encouraging them to look forward, they dwell on the distant past. Their rhetoric doesn’t inspire self-reliance and personal responsibility, it mires their supporters in Socialist ideals. The government owes you for past transgressions they committed against those you have never known. Stand up for your rights to free housing, food and health care for these are things that shouldn’t be earned, they should be provided. They owe it to you! Remember those that died on the slave ships being brought to this country. Don’t forget those that survived the trip, and how they were enslaved for decades. Cling to memories of segregated lunch counters, restrooms and schools. Certainly those things should be remembered by all of us, just as the Holocaust and other atrocities need to be. History forgotten is destined to be repeated. But we must move beyond them, to remember, without clinging.

The time has come to move ahead. We must become Americans first, with our ancestry a closely held second. It’s time to discard the use of "African-American" and just be an American who is proud to be African. Americans, as a people, cannot leave racism in the dust while a race insists on being separate. Teaching Ebonics in place of English, and using it to teach, is not a solution, it’s just another problem in disguise. If your leaders weren’t so busy empowering themselves they might tell you to take a look around. You’re not alone in that poor education boat. The problem is shared among people of all races, when they get stuck in an under-funded school system. If School Districts were required to pool all education funds, then evenly distribute them per student, things would be different. Students in South Chicago would have as many books as students would on the North side of town. East Boston schools would have access to the same resources as the schools in Boston proper. It would take some time but the result would be a more level playing field for people of all Races and economic conditions.

Think of how it would be if we replaced "Race based initiatives" with "people based initiatives" or "circumstance based initiatives". Instead of being separatist we would become inclusive, rather than helping ourselves we would help each other. It’s time to seal the crack in the Great Melting Pot and come together as one. Some of today’s leaders sing a different song. Let their cries become no more than wailing in the wind, for their motives are selfish. If they spoke the truth they would have to say: "Ignore our motives, and how we try to hold you back. We don’t want you to achieve, we want you to receive. If you were empowered, we would become powerless. If you were self-reliant, we would be unneeded. If you look to the future, we would fade into the past." They won’t speak the truth so allow me. It’s time to let go of the past, to join together in the present and to start building a better future for Americans of all ethnicities.

Role Model? What’s a role model?

2008-07-08T13:15:00.004-04:00

I’ve heard that there was a day, in the not so distant past, when people in some professions were looked up to as Role Models. Policemen, Firemen, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers and Judges were the foremost among them. Role models, as a group, generally showed good judgment in their public affairs, even when their private life differed. The youth of America looked up to them as an example of proper living and they seemed to take that responsibility seriously. Somewhere along the way, someone forgot to remind the teachers of this ideal.

Let’s be clear here, there are still a great number of teachers serving as good role models, but they get little of the press. In spite of the good ones, it seems like the teaching profession has become inundated with some witless wonders whose only goal is to satisfy their own selfish desires, no matter what the consequences may be. Of course these harebrained idiots make it easy with the help of websites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube but the sites are not the problem. Some make fatuous excuses like "I thought it was a private space", while others offer no excuse for their stupidity. Teachers proudly prancing and dancing while wearing little or nothing are not the type of role models most parents want. They show a complete lack of judgement and do not deserve the honor of teaching our youth. Parents should demand their removal and they should be turned away by all School Districts in the country.

Taking things even further are those perverted child abusers having sex with their students. They aren’t capable of comprehending the damage they cause our children. We entrust them with the education of tomorrows leaders and they corrupt them by teaching lascivious conduct. Some of those softheaded fools proclaim "we’re in love" or "I wasn’t the aggressor", all the while failing to understand the concept of personal responsibility. We’ve even seen cases where they’ve taken flight with their victims in tow, adding kidnapping to their list of moronic decisions.

The time has come for society to demand harsher sentences for those convicted of these crimes. Jail time wouldn’t be enough, but it is a start. We should expect mandatory sentences without probation or parole. Required registration as a sex offender could be next, as well as a lifetime ban on being allowed to work with anyone under the age of eighteen. Society needs to send the message "do not mess with our children".

I sometimes wonder whether or not the imbeciles I’ve been discussing (they probably can’t recognize themselves, so we can speak freely) have any brainwave activity. Perhaps we should require they pass an EEG before than can be allowed to teach. I know that really won’t work but, seriously, it’s time to start doing something.

The Constitution and the role of the Federal Courts

2008-07-06T10:52:00.006-04:00

The Constitution serves as the fundamental law of the United States and is the very foundation of our government. Although I’ve never heard anyone argue that point, I regularly hear people argue about how to treat it. Among these people are Federal judges, including members of the Supreme Court. Some say it is a living, breathing document that needs to be adapted to modern times. Others say it should be viewed by the original intent of the Founders. I say that it is a living, breathing document, which should be viewed by the original intent of the Founders. Let me explain just what I mean.

Our Founding Fathers were men with some of the finest minds available. Twelve of the thirteen states sent delegates to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, now commonly called the Constitutional Convention. The delegates understanding of the importance of the task at hand is summed up in a letter written by one of them, to his son. George Mason wrote "The Eyes of the United States are turned upon this Assembly and their Expectations raised to a very anxious Degree. May God Grant that we may be able to gratify them, by establishing a wise and just Government." The Constitution was not only crafted with a great deal of thought, it was agonized over, discussed at length, heavily debated and went through several drafts. The goal was not to simply piece something together that would suffice, it was to lay the very foundation on which our country would stand. They understood that this document needed to be crafted to stand through the ages.

If we believe they succeeded, and I, for one, do then we must decide if it needs to be adapted to modern times, or if it should be viewed by the original intent. The fact is that those jurists that say it should be adapted to fit modern times are changing the role of the courts, and in the process, eroding our rights and freedoms. Our Constitution requires the separation of powers between the three branches, with each having specific duties. The Constitution is a "living and breathing" document because it can be changed by the people, through Constitutional Amendments, not by the courts that change the original intent. The role of the judicial branch is to determine whether a law fits the Constitution, or is at odds with it and whether a law is properly applied in a Federal case. When the Constitution fails to meet the needs of modern life, the American people have the ability to change it at their will. When the majority of Americans decided the tyranny of slavery should be banned, we passed the Fifteenth Amendment. When we acknowledged the importance of women, we passed the Nineteenth Amendment. This is the Right of the People, not the duty of the Judiciary. The debate over how difficult it can be to amend the Constitution can rage on without me. The importance of the document is reason enough for me appreciate those difficulties.

Two decisions from the last term of the Supreme Court serve as examples of the two schools of thought, and why judicial activism erodes our rights. Let’s first look at the D.C. v Heller decision, decided from the "original intent" point of view. Justice Scalia delivered the opinion of the court regarding this Second Amendment case. After discussing the basis of the suit itself he stated "we are guided by the principle that the Constitution was written to be understood by the voters; its words and phrases were used in their normal and ordinary as distinguished from technical meaning." He then cites two prior cases where this principle was established. In other words, the Constitution was written in a manner that allowed ordinary people of the day to understand its meaning. He then goes on to break apart the words and phrases used to determine how people of the era would have understood them. Using dictionaries and other books of the day, as well as State Constitutions with similar provisions, he determines what the majority considers to be the meaning of the Second Amendment. This process is commonly thought of as strict constructionism, or ruling by the original intent. To me, this is a commonsense and logical method, which preserves the duty of the court.

Now let’s look at Kennedy v Louisiana, a decision where the majority ruled by the "living, breathing document that needs to be adapted to modern times" approach. Here Justice Kennedy, the swing vote on the Court, delivered the majority opinion. In that opinion he said "the Court is guided by objective indicia of society’s standards, as expressed in legislative enactments and state practice with respect to executions." And "A review of the authorities informed by contemporary norms, including the history of the death penalty for this and other nonhomicide crimes, current state statutes and new enactments, and the number of executions since 1964, demonstrates a national consensus against capital punishment for the crime of child rape." Notice that in this case they did not look back to the Founders, but to "contemporary norms". I submit that the method used in making the opinion has taken away the Rights of the People. In the Balance of Power, we elect officials to make laws to protect society. When the Supreme Court strikes down those laws based, even in part, on whether or not there has been enough legislation passed, they have undermined our Rights. The case was about whether or not the Death Penalty was "Cruel and Unusual Punishment" for someone committing child rape. The role of the Court is to look at the original intent of the clause, as it pertained to "other nonhomicide crimes"". In deciding whether they feel enough State Legislation’s have recently addressed the issue, they have actually prevented our Elected Officials from addressing the issue in the future. This, to me, is a clear example of an insensate ruling. Extending the same logic to future rulings, they could decide that a new, more humane, method of administering the Death Penalty is Unconstitutional because it violates the "unusual" section of the Amendment, not having been in common use over the past forty four years.

In closing, I think our Founding Fathers did a magnificent job in crafting our Constitution. It’s time our Federal Courts stopped eroding our rights with decisions based on what they think we might currently want. If and where the Constitution needs updating to fit the times, We the People are completely capable of doing that ourselves.

Welcome

2008-07-03T23:30:00.008-04:00

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition defines Insensate as "Lacking sense or the power to reason."

Hello and welcome to my first weblog. The title is based on the concept that things are said and done, by one or more people, which lack sense. The people themselves may be brilliant, and yet they still make a statement, decision, or commit an act, based on improper, or a complete lack of, reasoning. At no time will I personally attack those people, but I will attack their reasoning. This blog will feature my comments and observations on a wide variety of issues and items. Whenever I learn of something that I believe meets the definition of insensate, you’ll see my opinions on it here. I think and speak from a decidedly conservative point of view so consider yourselves forewarned.

Comments and observations, by their nature, contain opinions, right or wrong. If they were always right they’d be called universal truths, which they are not. Be that as it may, my opinions are usually backed by facts, which I often cite, and are logically thought out. Your comments are always welcome, and appreciated, as long as you observe the few guidelines listed below.

I invite comments that agree with mine, as well as those that disagree. I will not edit your comments for spelling, grammar or content, however I reserve the right to delete them if I feel they violate any of these simple rules.

These things will not be allowed:

Personal attacks on anyone, period.
Profane or lewd comments.
Graphics of a lewd or pornographic nature.
Infringements on the Copyright of others. Don’t include it, or link to it, if you don’t have permission.
Comments designed to incite hatred or violence.
Comments promoting commercial interests.
Off topic comments, don’t change the subject.
Links to sites that violate these rules.

That isn’t hard is it? Just a few simple rules designed to promote common courtesy and avoid being offensive. We can sometimes disagree without ever being disagreeable.

My intention is to cover as broad a range of topics as possible. At times it may seem like I’m mainly focused on the political arena because, let’s face it, they do offer a fertile source of material. In spite of their willingness to provide ample fodder, I’ll try to mix it up. My posts won’t be daily but they will be on a fairly regular basis. Older posts will be available in the archive section for as long as storage space permits.

Thank you for joining me and welcome to my world.

1. Modern Language Association (MLA): "Insensate." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 29 Jun. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Insensate>.